writers cataracta seems to be included under the general term
pannus, meaning opacities of every kind. Indeed Gilbert says,
"Ungula, egilops, cataracta and macula are species of pannus,
all arising from the same causes and cured by the same
treatment." A few lines later, however, in distinguishing
these various species, he adds: "Cataract arises from a
humor collected between the tunics of the eye": and again
it is said to be blood filling the veins of the eyes, and
especially those of the conjunctiva, and derives its name _a
caracteribus_ (?). The truth is none of these writers seem to
have any very definite knowledge of the distinction between
the various opacities of the media of the eye, all of which
were included under the general term pannus. But, what is more
remarkable, Roger, Roland and The Four Masters make no mention
of the possibility of surgical interference in these cases,
but content themselves with elaborate collyria and ointments,
or simply with internal treatment. Gilbert, on the other hand,
while recommending these collyria and ointments, and even the
internal remedies, adds the following:

"_Interior autem macula, quae tela vocatur, subcornea situata,
si vl'e (?) purgatione precendente et colliriis et pulveribus
non removetur, acu torta immissa per caprinum angulum
extrahatur aut inferius replicetur_" (f. 137a).

And again (f. 141d):

"_In uvea sunt largitas et constrictio et aqua sive
cataracta.... Aqua quandoque per medium pupille descendit,
inferius stans, subuvea apparens, quae perfecte curatur