=Reascension of Couched Cataract.=--This subject has been partly dealt with in the preceding paragraphs. Naturally, it was a topic which attracted a good deal of attention from the early writers, who commented on its relative frequency immediately after the operation, and gave elaborate instructions to prevent its occurrence. Some of them went so far as to suggest the frequent repetition of the operation, if necessary. In their experience it would appear that, if reascension failed to occur within the first fortnight, the prospect of the lens remaining down was good. Nevertheless, they were familiar with the fact that, even after years of a happy result, the cataract might suddenly be found to have returned to its old position opposite the pupil. In some cases this misfortune followed a blow or fall on the head, or a severe jar of the whole body. Similar stories may be heard in an Indian out-patient room to-day. This is a point which must be taken well into consideration by any who think fit to resort to couching in selected cases. =A Comparison of the Corneal and Scleral Routes for Operation.=--It has been already shown that the Indian operators of the present day vary in their technique, some attacking the lens from in front through the cornea, and others from behind through the sclera. It is interesting to note that there is a similar difference in practice amongst those of the modern surgeons who have adopted couching in special cases. There can, however, be no doubt that the weight of opinion among the old writers was all in favour of the posterior operation; and Mackenzie, whose practical experience was, we may hope, vastly greater than that of any modern surgeon, summed up the position in these words: “In this way (_i.e._, through the cornea) neither operation (depression or reclination) can be satisfactorily performed.” We may close this subject with another word of warning to any who are inclined to favour the couching of lenses in selected cases. From the time of Celsus onwards, surgeons who have had large experience in couching have warned their disciples that it is an operation much more easy to undertake than to carry to a successful technical issue, and have cautioned them against venturing on it until they have seen it performed many times at the hands of an expert. One cannot conclude better than by a quotation from the writings of Lieut.-Colonel Henry Smith, who has had very large opportunities of observing the results of cataract couching. He is known to be a very skilful operator, and one, therefore, who is little likely to exaggerate the difficulties of any ophthalmic procedure, yet he writes: “It is no easy matter to completely dislocate the lens, and, in my observation, the partial dislocation is more frequent than the complete in the hands of adepts of the art.”