114 REVIEW — MR. PERCIVALL’S HIPPOPATHOLOGY. 
the disorganization of the entire globe of the eye appears to put 
an end to its merciless visitations: so long as any structure is left 
for it to prey upon, so long may the devouring malady be ex- 
pected to return.” 
Now, in the first place, we have seen cases in which, although 
cataract has supervened, all the other parts of the eye have 
escaped or recovered from the ravages of the disease so com- 
pletely, that, were not the cataract actually present, no one could 
predicate that the organ had been the subject of disease; and, 
in the second place, we affirm that, in a vast majority of cases, 
genuine ophthalmia invariably ceases as soon as cataract, either 
partial or complete, is fully established. We do not deny that 
the eye may be occasionally inflamed and dull, but we do deny 
that, with very few exceptions, the specific disease ever reap- 
pears after the disorganization of the lens has been effected. 
We are alluding now to the parts anterior to the lens ; with those 
posterior to it the case is different. On the subject of absorp- 
tion of cataract, we quite coincide with Mr. Percivall, that in 
real lenticular cases, whether partial or complete, absorption 
never takes place ; and we only regret that the term — spurious 
cataract — should have been applied to those fleecy lymph-like 
deposits that are so frequently removed. 
The operation of extraction for cataract was performed many 
years since by a highly-valued surgical friend. The subject was 
an aged carriage-horse, blind in both eyes, the property of the 
late Lord Rolle. The operation perfectly succeeded, the inflam- 
mation was moderate, the wounds healed favourably, and the 
eyes cleared entirely ; but, as may be anticipated, the practical 
result was quite nugatory, for vision was so very imperfect that 
the animal remained as useless as before. He used a common 
speculum, made of the necessary size, which we ought now to have 
by us, but that is doubtful; and an oculist’s knife, with which, 
and the fingers of an assistant, he performed the operation with- 
out any difficulty. 
In conclusion, we take leave of the author with every feeling 
of respect. In his work, so far as it has yet progressed, is much 
new and valuable matter, which, with what is not new but 
equally valuable, has been most admirably arranged, and the 
