384 Mr. Ware's Case of a young Gentleman , 
the time of their arrival, a Portuguese boy, fourteen years old, 
had been put under my care, who was in a similar situation ; 
and, in this case, notwithstanding all the efforts I could use, I 
found it impossible to fix the eye, in order to extract the cata- 
ract, without employing a degree of force which might have 
been highly injurious. I therefore relinquished my intention of 
performing the operation in that way, and determined to make 
use of the couching needle; being prepared, either to depress the 
cataract with this instrument, if it was sufficiently solid for the 
purpose, or, if it was soft or fluid, (which I rather expected,) 
to puncture its capsule largely, so as to bring the opaque crys- 
talline into free contact with the aqueous and vitreous humours. 
In order to fix the eye for this operation, I was not afraid to 
make use of a speculum oculi ; since a pressure, which would 
have been highly dangerous in extracting the cataract, might be 
applied on the present occasion with perfect safety. Conform- 
ably to my expectation, the cataract was of a soft consistence ; 
in consequence of which, I was not able to depress it, and 
contented myself with making a large aperture through the 
capsule, by means of which the crystalline was brought into 
contact with the other humours, a considerable part of it coming 
forwards, and shewing itself directly under the cornea. 
This being the immediate result of the operation, it could not 
be expected that any improvement should be made in the sight 
of the patient at that time. In a few days, however, the opaque 
matter was wholly absorbed ; the pupils became clear ; and the 
lad recovered the sight of both his eyes.* Encouraged by the 
* It should be remarked, that the sight obtained by children who are born with ca« 
tracts, is seldom so perfect as that which those recover, after the operation, who are 
