Cataract

A gleaming scalpel in his hand gloved left hand on the thymus gland. He slices with extreme precision the pupil's frontal third division. Leaves just enough at bottom end to later stitch it back to mend. His handiwork has been well learned to justify a fortune earned. He operates by the old book, I hand to him the Crowley Hook with which he dives into the eye, inverted lid, attached a sty, and wiggles until something gives a miracle if this one lives. A minute, slightly more, it slips out, onto cotton balls and drips with yellow gel and blood-stained gristle assistant mops, and starts to whistle. A gentle irrigation follows until all crud has left the hollows. We pack the victim now in bed surrounded by sandbags, instead of pillows or soft covers, because his fate now simmers, hovers until a fortnight well has gone. And, after that life may go on. Note: Cataract operations as described are no longer done in such a 'crude' manner. Also, instead of leaving the lens crypts empty and relying on thick glasses to replace them, today, artificial lenses are placed in situ.