The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-02-27 00:00:00

Pi/LICE INTITLLIGENCE.

Goon A twist Foe PoLicis,oFFlcEtts.—A woman named
Alice Jackson, the
,keeper of a beer-house, had appeared on
'l a 'hursday to answer n information laid against her by an in-
spector and policeman, fir having had company in her house at
an illegal hour. The magistrate. however, had entertained al
misgiving as to the accuracy of the evidence, on oae point,
tendered in support of the information by the officer., and the
consequence was, the sentence was d7ferred until an io.nectioo
of the premises had been made by Mr. Commissioner Dowting.
The ease came on again on Friday, when Mr. Dowling gave
the result of his examination, which proved that the decia rat ioos
of the defendant were correct, and that the inspector nod police
officer had, eittiet fitfully or through misconception, g,iven in-
-correct evidence. The inspector declared that he had ilit.':ikett
the tenon'. of Mr. Hall's questions; tint the magistrate t Lnow-
ing, we presume, as others well do, that his interrogatories are
generally as remarkable for distinctness as for point) seemed
disinclined to credit the declaration, as did also his brother ma-
gistrate. -Mr. Ball then remarked, that he was very so,.ry" to
see officers persevere in giving their evidence in so loose a
manner. It was a very painful thing to the magi., rates. a, all
times, to convict upon a case like the one then before them. be-
cause the lowest fine which they could indict was lOs., a very
serious coin to beer house keepers generally, and for the non•
payment of which penalty they were very frequently .eat
prison. But if it were a painful thing to convict upon distinct
and indubitable evidence, what a sad thing it would have been
if they hail inflicted that heavy penalty on a poor woman
eight children, and on information which proved to be totally
wrong. Yet. they must be guided be evidence; and i; ()flit:els
would mislead them by false evidence, how were such things to
be altogether avoided? The business of an officer was 'o
an information on what he considered adequate grounu., hut
never, for the purpose of obtaining a conviction, to stretch a
case against any one. What reason had they to do so? Ge
knew of none, except it was the wish of standing high as active.
and vigilant officers, by being able to point to the'numner nt
convictions which they hail obtained. But he himself stmuld
think much better of an officer who hail brought before him 2)
cases which had been dismissed, than if he had obtained a
hundred convictions by wrong evidence. No officer, they might
depend nem' it, would raise hiMself in the estimation of the
magistrates by stretching a case against any individual: anti
they ought to know that there was no disgrace attachable to
them, nor could any injury result to them, on account of the
dismissal of acase which they might bring before the magistrates.
Ile felt extremely glad that he had not, on the evidence givea
by the officers on the preceding day, proceeded to pass sentence
on the poor woman; and he thanked Mr. Dowling for having,
by his report, enabled him to come to the facts of the case.
Under the circumstances, he ordered the defendant to be ac-
quitted, and stated that they should consider whether or not the
officers would be allowed to'remain in the service.

BRUTAL CONDUCT.—On Saturday, at the Police-office, the
second mate of the Ellen Brookes, named Starkie, was brought
before the magistrates on a charge of brutally kicking one of
the hoes of the .vessel on the face, and nearly breaking his jaw.
The complainant, named William Carney, who
,appeared with
his head tied up and his face dreadfully swollen,' stated that on
Friday aftrnoon he seas at work on board his .ship, and did
not perforM what he was desired to do to the satisfaction of the
second mate, -when he knocked him down, and then kicked him
in the face. The prisoner denied that he had struck him, but
he had been aggravated to kick him. Mr. Parkinson said. the
boy was in a dreadful state, when brought to Bridewell; he
thought his. jaw was broken, and had him sent to a surgeon.
An oftice,r stated,•that he had taken the boy to the surgeon, who
said, the jaw was not. broken, but it was a very dangerous
bruise, and great care must be taken of the boy, or lock-jams
would ensue. Mr. Hall said, it was a most cowardly thing to
kick a man on the ground; it was trot like an Englishman.
What countryman was he? The prisoner replied, that he was
an American. Mr. Flail said-it was a most brutal-thing; the
prisoner was utterly regardless where he had kicked him. Mr.
Hall then addressed the captain, who was in court, and said,
he must protect the boy in future, or the prisoner would wreak
his vengeance upon hint. The Captain. "Oh, not at all; that
man has been most partial to that boy. He must have been in-
solent." Mr. Hall, "Bless my soul! is he to kick. a boy be-
cause he is insolent.? But there is no evidence even of that. If
he was insolent, is that to justify him in abusing a boy in this
way. A young boy like that might be injured to the end of his
days by such treatment. It is a case in which the magistrates
think they oright to go to the full extent of the law. You must
pay £5, including COsti, and, in default of payment, be commit-
ted for two mouths to the Borough gaol."
Sniztmun OF WEIGHTs.—On Saturday, at the Police-office, a
man named Higgins, the keeper of a marine store, appeared
before the magistrates, to answer the charge of having posses-
sion of one of the 'Customs' weights. The officer of Customs,
named While, stated, that he was passing the defendant's shop,
he saw a half cwt. exposed for sale at the door, with the broad
arrow upon it. He asked the defendant where he got it, and,
after some Consideratinn, he told him he had bought it along
with a. number of other weights. Ire (witness) then requested
him to give the weight up, but he would not, so he called a po-
liceman and told him to take charge of it. The defendant stat-
ed, that he had botight• the *eight, along with a number of
others, from a person named Boardman, who was present. Au
individual,_ who gave his name as Henry Boardman, cabinet-
maker, here stepped forward, and stated, that be had bought
32 cwt. of old weights, from the inspector of weights and lova-
Ellres, on the proviso that he should get them adjusted, and that
this was one of t tient, The weights were stint in the inspector's
own cart to the adjusting office, and there adjusted ; he after-
svaids sold them to the defendant. Mr. Hall inquired what
right the inspector had to sell them? The witness replied, that
they were seized by the inspector and forfeited by she M-tyor.
Mr. Hall said, it was very extraordinary conduct; they utast
send for Mr. Atkinson, the inpect or, and inquire into il. Mr.
Atkinson was sent for, but not being mils the rase again came
on. Mr. Hall then said, if the defendant's oats detence was,
that he bought the weight of a
son, it was no defence at all,' becausePelson who bought it of At kio-
interfere with the Queen's weights;
‘
;-B‘;,i kn
iti:otehm nnhe g
ought
it
(o)
break t bemaip tor old metal, Wherw;se the mischief which he
was appointed to prevent would be ('OO Boi the ',robs
bility was, if Atkinson was timere to exri.a,n the master—atot
he
must explain it mu some other time— • ha: he hat; never seized
this weight, having the broad arrow upon it, at all bus that it
haul been stolen. There was the tomtit e.amow upon it. which
was a notice Ie i;l5 ivipt t, buy. T;), witless.
man. SRid. pernans ties contil e•:olaitt s•. tle-hes,,; time
say, that tie bat: s”,,ed the weieht ii;iechaisot„ The in.,
se'smetor WOO klOl eVeR his' .I,t, tie woulmm 2-1 itjPip
Out .moms, Ilk 01i, ear, 'll.m roe shag InlnMSe.
(id. a cwt m ilea] to Me. Alkimistm.. who said tie hod
hat. .he same ',loopy to .- toil fn them by an 11.0 o'oll,?thsr
he. M
: t vecy moo-
said. he ,goads 4 m'rV nut' h line to -re
t:1 ;4t
.st
;lit a m
ought not to tia‘e uuugiil the
.!odreoowriattaitetst:. Suitt;
did!t" ;IOU: 7ts :17;.',•.12'1' thatll a):(7ttuti
bought die tveig:Os to make money of rheum, and mnad,'t. it.!thm
Om hem of .1,064 tml, eat It. Mr. ;tall sale. he ,marl tgotteloio tae
lontiav at ten
-.use then a' tar as lie cotmlo : should oni he
mere
and-slute Lis etola"niawtiloCoAinkiitnusi.Z.'"g'''sue'l37:°)Pr"inliu°sdi

-----
LIVERPOOL MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

LECTURES ON PIIYSIOLOGY.

.he seventh of

On Wednesday evening Dr. Epps delivered t
his lectures to an overflowing audience.
The fleshy portions of man are technically called muscles.
and upon these muscles depends our power. if we take a round
of beef or a leg of mutton, we find that upon cutting across the
flesh, it appears to divide itself into several distinct portions at
different places. Now these are the different muscles of which
the flesh is composed. The whole flesh of our body has been
separated, by the skill of the anatomist, into 450 distinct mus•
cles, each of which has a distinct duty to perfotm. These muss
Iles are composed of smaller muscles, and the smaller muscles
are again composed of fibrous threads. Like-hempen cables
they thus are enabled to hear the severest strains. The mus-
cles are abundantly supplied with blood-vessels and nerves.
There cannot be the smallest doubt that nerves are distributed
through the muscles, because the power of feeling, which we
have in the muscles, is dependent upon the nerves which come
down from the back lame. Every muscle is endowed with irri-
tability—that is a power of contracting whenever any stimulant
is applied to it.
,Those muscles which are hollow seem to have
the greatest power of contractibility. The heart, for instance,
is a large. muscle, and is the intestinal canal which moves when
we are asleep or awake,- independently of our will, and thu:-
keeps us alive. Every muscle has the Vower of contraction or
relaxation. Wherever a muscle is called into action it passes
into the state of contraction, when it is nut used it is in a state
of relaxation or rest: The muscular system must be in a healthy
state, or we cannot perform the duties we • have to perform in
this world.
Those. perhaps, who practise gymnastic exer-
cises, possess healthy muscles. Most persons have observed
that the flesh of-domesticated animals is white, whereas that of
game is dark. 'The breasts of domestic fowls are likewise known
to be the whitest parts of them, sti bere as in game every part of
the body is equally dark. This arises from the continual ex-
ercise which.wild animals give to their muscles. Domestic
fowls, for instance, do not move their wings; wild fowli do,
and thereby bring the muscles of the wing and breast into con-
tinual ptay, and 'wherever there is a flee play of the muscles the
circulation oft he blond proceeds more freely. This whiteness
of the breast t,f .he triw„t is; therefore a disease, and instead
wholesome food is decidedly the contrary. _Domestic fowls,
taken as an average, are not such good food as a surloin of beef:
Gatne is (rood feinl,•trecause the wild anima/ exercises all his
niuscleS; sub then by promotes the circulation of the blood '--
it is the best food we can eat, and if we have dear friends who
are sick, we cannot do a kinder thing than to send' theist game,
for it is the best thing the stomach will digest. There is a
common notion that chicken broth and chicken are good for
sick persons.—The broth is excellent, but the chicken is objec-
tionable, and the sick person who eats it is sure to be thrown
back a fortnight by dyspepsia. A good old fowl is of much
easier digestion than a chicken. We should endeavour to give
our muscles proper exercise, in order to keep them in a healthy
condition. When anatomists speak of the origin or insertion
of the muscle, they speak of its commencement, where it re-
ceives its power, and of its termination, where that power is
applied. The centre is called the belly of the muscle, because
it is the thickest in that part. When the muscle contracts there
is a swelling in the centre as may readily be lseen by raising'
the lower portior of the arm. When a man loses the power
of contracting his
.muscles he is said fit be palsied, and spas-
modic when he contracts them against his will. - Doctors now
understand- the nature of these complaints, and are thereby
enabled to cure the spasms and palsy. The poor little know,
when they behold with envy the rich riding in their carriages,
the miseries which they endure, and the medicine they have
take in con'sequence of not using their muscles, or they would
'not only bear their own lot without repining, but actually pity
those who purchased indolence at so great a sacrifice of happi-
ness. On the other hand it must be added that too great an
exercise of one set of the muscles is injurious to the bunion
constitution, and_,produces distortion and deformity..' to this,
children in the factories are, unfortunately, too much subject,
and the alleviation of the miseries of this too nan h neglected
branch of society ought to form a portion of the labours of the
philanthropic all over this kingdom. The physical education of
children is exceedingly defective, in consequence of which, it
,
is exceedingly (Men ct to find in our fashionabl: boarding-
schools a Nom* lady who is not in stone degree deformed.
"We men are• not deformed, we are nobly shaped creatures."
When we walk,, we lift up the hip by means of muscles, and
throw our leg out by means of other muscles. Every time we
do Ibis the Museles covering the front of the body are brought
into a state of contraction. These muscles press upon the in-
testines, which they thus continually turn over, so as to bring
some portion Of them into contact with the chyle. if persons
would.tmly use the oroans with which the Crearot has endowed
them, they would have no need for modicine at all. The very
pressure pfoiteced in the set of walking has a favourable leo-
dencY in exciting rind rolling the intent tics about. Ladies have
perpe,naliv inflaturnialioils of the sdoniveb; they go to a doctor;
and if perehance they meet with an honest one—for smith do
exist, although theii ale now eves, he says to them they must
take walking e%?reiSe.., Walking causes a perspiration all ever
.the body in coll'enneriee of the blood flowing freely through the
various blood vi,isels in the system. Whenever the feet lieceme
s cold you may be sure seMething, is wrong. Biding in a carriage
t 3 a ety bad eie(CisS, and thetadre *d fi'M.4 are iv

11 -it,.; I,IVV,RN

~,W=SIELCO M`r7.77,C

whilst we can —d it our business by walking, In riding, the
pressure comes upon he loins, lieuf•e coacumen are subject to
affections of the bowelt.. These men 'are very eariv- cut MI, un-
less they lie by and take physic at freqUent interva You 'nay
rule upon limseback as much as you please.
A i
the ',use hy f the muscles o I i.e legs and thighs,llte'd e'Lls l'cl
ei.r)ud% nt
cie
of wh" is lh"' he sends the blood i 6(.10:1611g dirongh them.
lie raises his hips in m-iter to rise front the saddle: he uses his
arms to Curb and ,guise the horse: it) shot I,
in tidia a man
calls all his muscles into !flay, acid, if he does oat ride hard, he
g.
ofodwieS a very h •aeafial circulation or the blood over the 1
whole of the body. This is orte of the best remedies for disease,
afici there no clout). ha ih. majuriiv of cares of consort-union'
might he in red by ruling early in the morning.. The mode of
riding which is better ih.en all others is sea vova,ging. Jt none
of the lte4 medicines on the fate of the ea ft, and if some of
those who are poorly were to take a sea excu.sion, the effect
would be highly beneficial. In voyaging at sea. voo are always-
ou a level, a circumstance of great importance to str.•ti as are
afflicted wiflt diseaN.s of the lungs. because their aie subjee. to
nearly the saute pressure of Ihe atmosphere. We have another
beueiit —that is in feelino• a little sick. To feel sick is one of
.the best things, because it produces perspiration, which per-
spiration is of great use to those troubled with a fret lions of the
chest. Besides this we enjoy al sea deliehi fully pure'aif add a
freedom from the cares of business, by which our system be-
comes at once ecileri and invigorated. If pet sons ate uying of
consumption, put them on ship board and. seal ,hem
Dancing is an excellent engagement, when enjoyed at. reasoft-
able hours, and does not deserve file ridicule with which tonne'
persons treatit. There is no in-door amosemen. which calls the
muscles into active play more than da acing. a rot Oa llint account
Ii ought .0 oe encouraged. Fencing. is also an excellent ener•
vise. because it e:,pauus tire chest. and brings 10.0 action the
muscles of the Gymnastic aod calisthenic exercises,
when pro le!ry taizen, are or streas o,il iv iu slie-tigthening the
butnaut'rame. have oeed reduced .0 a at ience,
so that they may he safety indhlged. in or a pruner course of
training.. topcoat person should put on a tocoat when he goesoui
()f doors, out. on the coolyary, a here he comes in. %Viten a matt
welisS he puts I S oiood into cireula.ion. and there is no clash: e
of cis faking cold when he is waltzing. A lon-coat causes an
accumulatiod of pecsoirat ion, and when he iakes it 01l on enier-
log the lionse, evaporation PiltilleF, and he is ON posed to &ails;
ill consequence to wit ica he takes cola. It is .he saute when a
man stops in warm Oath lon long. When we have gO. a flush
o?:ierspiration in walking. we should psi on a coat on reachiog
tout li is astonishing that the very means which people have
.o enable Ihem to keep nut the cold are the very means by
1%1,101 ihev take it. Mackintoshes are the very worst things we
have, e7.vent to Leen out the wet. They oroduce an ()acorn-
f.),...We warmth by keening in the,perspiratiou. 'L.-bete is no
mine iianger in drini.ing* colt; water when we are if) a
artie of persoiration than when we sie cold, if we walk alter-
wards, lit lue latter case the lei tureiwould not answer for the
life or any individual four da,s afierwards.
Ou...alented townsman, Mr. John to-mori.ow
evening, ( WeUnesda commence a course 01 teciuses 00 the
beauties of geographical knowledge, ithistrated by highly.
wrought cud pi.-Inresoue views on glass. which will lie callilirieit
iiv ioeaus or the magic tamers. l'hese lectures ease iaeeo
erzreedifigly air rat live in Iteighihmring rowas,,.a.id,
uo
(WU )1., will prove uenehcial to the Meciratii.-s1 Institution.

On Saturday evening Or. (Nips brought tiis delightful lec-
tures i 0 j close. Not even Ot. Lartlntir himself %vitt) all tiisac-

cointilated populariiy cook. draw such nometous audiences as
we have witnessed during the whole course. a cir,omstaoce
which must he as pleasing to the ,sordid Doctor unused* as it
has been of importance to the fume( of the iustilulion.
Toe skin, or the substance whit b covers the whole of our
bouies, is loaned of three coats Is ing one over ;he oilier. The
otitei emit is that which is known under the name of Starr skin,
onidernrits. The second coat is called the reta mucosa or hie
u ttliidie.erildeuatili that it, what is ( ailed the (rue skin,
because ti:ne more than the Whet coats. The scat skin
is a dead skin and is nerfectly insensible to any injuries whir
a
it may receive. The immense advantages of this will be reaciil,
perceived when we consider to what a number of iojories our
bodies are liable. This skin peels off many persons, their legs
I)l.es:eat grates like those upon an elephani. The colour or in-
dividuals depends upon the tint or the second coat, or mucous
net. The-irue skin is die most important portion of the skin.
It is not (lead but on the contra, v aborMantiv supplied with
nerves, and is furnished with a (mother Of glints which.4r,
continually pouring forth from every portion id our bodies a
oraatii yor the peispira6te Tois in ,leneral weld° not per.
Cei VP, unless we walk fast, when it is poured 10011 in large and
percept iole quantities. lt takes place, however, ever \ t»oinent or
Our lives. al id may be seed at all times isi h an optical Mass.
Ina( Ingenious man, Lord Stanhope, onstruct.id an imoriiineur
to indii ate. the tluanil,v of perspiration whit Ii was passed oiti oi
the amiv in a given tiise, A gentleman of toe name of Seouin
made an experiment by which be ascertained that Went y.roric
ouni•es of perspiration are given out by a healthy person from
Ms body its I wentv-four hours, bit, 'llou-recent experiments have
i.etermined it. to lie ounces. This perspirahle matte'. otri-
son, and is as bac; to our health as carbonic acid. This skin is
kind or lung plaint all over our boric, which is perpe:nally
puri:ving our blood by getting rid of minces of perApiraul,
fia.d *it) '2l hours. This truth will then at once st like us, that Ir
.
I oi,r skin cannot perform its ituty of gettinir iid of this amouot of
(rimier we shall not be able to enjoy health. :such is the case,
to persons who are dry skinned are constantly liable to ;ever
I anti bead•acties. !I is essential to health that we should devise
means hi, which we r (mkt ensure a peifect adieu oursk io.
‘Vlienever it inediriii man is called in to a use of lever he eo-
ueavnors to assist nature by promoting perspiratiod, which :ll-
wit the fever Wiieu we consider lhai we cannot pro•
perspiration unless we tlw pot's of tire halo open
by removing, ,he oily mallet will( a is alwaYs poured out upon
he
skin, we cannot injure health. A grew portion of the diseasesof '
the poor of this country are I() be tiscribed to want Or rte toil
iv..; there tan be on q ;test ion' if tome we. e„alb-
this bowl, it would he hi' most useful ineatc4 to promote Itor to b-
pii:ess of the 4).01' and to diminish the amount or misery and
disease io the town, because cleanliness is one of the inosi pc-
it;►k::ill eSs hto uc'alth. 61
or eil; 'y le)ecrisn's}n, a"n. sin
hould dd hareat lea
st
ciiii)lllclesai
eado.d
iye tubeias et
;sun).
khii
is)
‘t ?eh. VI
so

pre ro• ourpose 01 sei reiitig oil. This oil is 000reo ow over
he surrace•of the body. we are so fooiisit io °nutty as in
s'ilave of not beards. 'rite ..easoo why this is so colti, tilt anci

iianleasani an operation is because we ;lo onl p,,rfOrm in Ihe
'00,.r way, phis fatty attict-eoti*tini;ex. a fwnruiahln obstaf•le
io the edge orihe razor, but if geniis Cu ?..otild only tape the
rot. 04,e to trash theii• tares will, cnuts ;ittrh, tvatPr te.l'ore thry hither

'their Faces, so as to .ctoo‘e this matter, wouto 1-ino the razor
pass ovei them- fooes toorli easkr. Thi,“ity anther is intimately
most ied with the oulli4 0" the hair. Woen•wre Mill out these
oai•s 0. MTH' gTOII, uut of riese hug's. The oair,,,,epend „non
the condition or the As we ;45t old, the imam, seem to
lose their pourer ho a ceriain and the oair whi, It was
black becomes unite. Many persuits, tadieg, d„
not like to have white halm.. ~nt, try so 1,1,1 e, Ibis h„sli,„„nv of
approachinv, age. Now. it is astonishing butt earnestly
strive to appear )1-Kiwi.. an(l what miseries tees will 5,010.'5 io
attain that object. When a lady wishes to ease her hair oiod.
she sends for the hair-dresser in • tie econing. ~Los a ve,A.

stiong alkaline solution, and washes sae. towr Wit Ii ita e!;11.,;(;
all-the grease out of it. flayi;u wiped the hair drY, he .a Les
the hair between his fingers, and soaks it with tlP'iatlie
containing a preparation of lead. Oeing done, lie rolls up
the hair, covers it with a wet piece of blotting paper, and enclo-
ses it in a waterproof cap. The lady goes to bed, sleeps with
her hair in this state. In the morning the hairdresser comes
and combs out the hair, which is then a beautiful glossy black.
Some ladies undergo this operation three times a year. This
process, however, in a short lime injures the bulbs of the hair,
and
to this disease
in the first
and the hair ceases to grow altogether a just punishment to
those who would oppose nature. We find, that nature will not
be interfered with. Whenever our hair feels sore upon brush-
ing
rmayhe
nbien
isnu.rei
tt
ihse
very
riys
esaosnyi ettnh wrong
ast
at the first, but if neglected, its eradication is difficult, The
cinogveir ti
person to whom we are most indebted for the knowledge of
water and baths is an individual whose name is associated with
the history of this town, and is a name which, in a scientific
.point of view, will stand at the highest point of eminence. Ile
alluded to the late Dr. Currie, who had set forth the medical
advantages of bathing thein clearest and most satisfactory
manner. No person will take cold after a warm bath, if he
take it properly. A warm bath should be taken in the middle
of the day, if our object is to gain strength; or at night, if we
wish to get rid of a fever. In the farmer case, an hour before
dinner is the time when the most benefit can be derived from
it. The great misfortune is, that the luxury being so great, per-
sons are ibilured to indulge in it too long. Ten Minutes or a
quarter of a hour is sutliciently long for a person to remain in
a warm ba:11, after which. on dressing, a person may take im-
mediate exercise on the streets, without any fear or tukitiv: cold.
There is no necessity, as many persons think, for going to bed.
afterwards. It is a curious fact, that the skin upon the palms
(jibe hand and the soles of the feet is thicker than upon any
other part of the body.' Some persous would take this to be the
simple result of work; but it is found to be the same when the
infant is born, and shows how beautifully the Creator has pro.
vided for the continued labour which these • organs have to per-
form.

The eye is a body which has relation to our fine senses. It
is constructed upon the principle of oldies. We find that the
eye is covered by a tout transparent coat, which is called the
cornea. Through it the I.' enters m conformity with the
laws of optics. One ofthatlight always travels
thesel)g"laws is,
in straight lines so long a,
density. Another is, that wLynasses through media :of uniform
one body into another of ‘ll6re"rviteri ray
'of light passes form
one
line
or
refracted.
when
it is it is hem Mit of its
reflected. Thus, when a ray ()flight passe: back it is s.tid to he
into water, it is bent out of its course, because the atmosphere
medium than the atmosphere. In this sort orawttetsr is
a denser
pass into dense bodies, they converge to a central when
raYB
unfit
,called
the focus, and the eve is constructed for the purposeP
plishing this. When we cut through ther to • !)eunu"l-
- aliquid
rays
out. .Now water being dense, the conseqence is, that the
of light passing in through the transparent covering are refrras?S-
ed or brought towards a centre on their passage through this
aqueous humour. The crystalline lens occupies the cents, of
the eye. It is a beautiful lodysconstructed upon the principle ,
of an increase of thickness or density from its outside toward's its
centre. It is a hard body, quite transparent, and the utmost
skill of opticians could not construct a body of similar power as I
an optical instrument on account of the gradual iucrease 'of •
density, which has been previously noticed. There .are three
transparent bodies in the eye—the-first is supplied by water, the
second by the crystalline lens, and the third by the crystalline.
humour which occupies the whole of the posterior pat
of chi:..
crystalline lens. At the bark of the eye we haVe beautiful
black body called the nerve of sight. It is coloured black tir
absorb all the rays of light winch are not wanted. The itopres- .
sinus of bodies are received by the optiyal nerve, and in this
way we are enabled to judge of the appeatance Of bodies. The
eyes Of different persons are of different colours. This arises
from a membrane called the iris, in which there is a little hole
through which we see the pupil or apple of the eye. This iris
has the power of contracting and dilating, so as to expose more
or less of the pupil, according to the quantity of light to which
it tray be exposed. Thus we find, that when the glare of a
candle is suddenly thrown upon the eye, the pupil Immediately
contracts, and on the contrary when we leave a light room and
enter it dark one it becomes larger. The object of the iris
ice
to shut out all extraneous light, and it contracts or dilates with-
out any knowleo,ge on our part by self-acting nerves. The reason
why doctors examine the eyes is to ascertain whether the pupil
bast he poWer of contracting and dilating; if it has not, the
brain is not in a proper state, and the cause should be immedi-
ately looked to.
The question is, how ate we enabled to realiie all the benefits
of this organ, for if the eye is so delicate a body,. it is liable to
injury. In order to afford them proper protection, the eyes are '
placed in deep sockets. The bone which cut loses the eye next
the nose is very thin and easily injured, but the outside hone is
much stronger, because it is always exposed to blows. Butt the
-eye has to Move about in the socket, and io order to enable it
to do so with ease, the socket is filled rip with fat to act as
padding. When persons get ill this fat is absorbed, and the e
sinks in. When a man's eye sticks out it is a sign that he en-
joys too Tench of the good things of this world. There is
another Contrivance by which we are enabled to realise benefit.
Supposing our eyes were fixed in our bodies, so that we must
tort, our bodies whenever we wished to lo.k at a person, we
should be very uncoinfol.table; but, in order to save us this
trouble, the Eyes
are endowed with four muscles, one of which
is placed aboVe;alYothet beluk and the others at each side.