The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-03-04
The Philosophy ola Tear.

Beautiful tear! whether lingering upon the
brink ofthe eyelid, or darling down the fur
rows ofthe cUre-worn cheek-thou art beau-
titul in thy simplicity, great because of thy
modesty, strong from thy very weakness
Offspring of sorrow! who will not own thy
claim tosympathy? who can resist thy elo-
quence? who can deny mercy when thou
pleadcst? Beautiful Tear! I'
Let us trace tear 10 its source. The eye
is the most attractive organ of animal bod
les. Ii is placed in n bony socket, by which
it is protected, aud wherein il finds room 10
perform the motion requisite 10 its uses. The
rays oflight which transmit the images of
external objects enter the pupil through the
crystalline lens. and fall upon the retina, up
OH which, within the space represented by
a sixpence, is formed, in all beauty and per-
lection, an exuct image of many miles of
landscape, every object displaying lis proper
color and true proporiions-irees and lakes,
hills aud valleys, insects and flowers, all in
true Keeping. are there shown at once, aud
the impression produced thereby upon the
iIamens ofthe optic nerve causes n sensa-
ton which communicates 10 the mind the APP
parent qualities Of the varied objects we be-
hold.
That this wonderful faculty of vision may
be uninterrupted, il is necessary that the
membrane, which forms the ex-
ternal covering of the eye, shall be kept moist
and free from the contact ofopaque substance
es TO supply the fluid which shall moisten
and cleanse the eye, there is placed at the
outer and upper part ofthc ball a small gland
which secretes lachrymnl fluid, and puts it
ont at the corner Of the eye, whence, by the
motion of the lids, it is equally spread over
the surface, aud thus moisture and clearness
are AT once secured.
When we incline to sleep, the eye becomes
bloodess and dull. The eye
lids drop, to shut out everything which might
tend to arouse the slunIbering senses. The
of the lachrynial glandsis probably
all but suspended, and the organs OF sIghi
in the general rest. When, after
n long nights sleep, the eyelids first open,
there is, therefore, n dullncss of vision, arIs-
ing, probably, from the dryness OF the cornea;
then occur the rapid motions Oft eyehds,
termed "winking," sometimes in
stinctlvely aided by rubbing with the hands,
and after few moments the windows OF the
body have been properly cleansed and set in
order, the eye adjusted to the quantity oflight
il must receive, and we are "awake" for the
day, and may go forth to renew our acquain-
lance with the beauties OF nature.
II is from the gInnds which supply this
moisture that tears flow. Among physloio-
gists il is well known that emotionS--mpres-
sions upon the nervous systein--exercise u
and immediate influence upon the
secretons AS for instance,the mere Thought
of some savory dish, or delicious fruit, or
something acid---ofthe juice of the lemon
will excite an instant flow Of the sayary HUI
id into the mouth. An emotion Of the mind
influences the lachrymal glands, which copl-
ously secrete and pour forth the crystal drops
and these, as they appear on the surface Oh
the eve, we denominate tears.
A similar action, called forth ny another
kind of excitement, occurs when dust or 9th
er irritating substance comes in contact with
the eve; the glands instantly secret abundant
", and pouring n crystal fluid ont upon the
surface, the eye is protected from iWury'ando
the offending substance is washed away
The feelings which excite excessive laughter
or ioy, also stimulate the secretion-the eyes
are said to "water." Il is only when the crys--
tol drop comes forth under the impulse OF
sorrow-thus speaking the anguish OF the
mind--that it properly can he called tear,
Thence it's sncred character. and the sympa-
thy which it seldom fails TO create.
Every tear represents some indwelling sor-
row preying upon the mind aud eating out ITS
peace. The tear comes forth to declare the
inward struggle, and to plead truce against
further strife, How meet that the eye should