Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-03-30
For the Banne
THE EYE.

The eye is the most delicate, complicated,
beautiful and useful piece ofmechanism which
We can contemplate. 1t is very delicate, yet
perhaps it is the source o. more pleasure and
profit to us than any Of the other senses.
The eye is composed of several coverings
inclosing humors, and a lens per orming the Of
fee ofconvex lenses. The outer covering is a
firm white membrane, and from its hardness
is called 'selerotiea.' Its Office is to protect
and give form tOthe eye. The muscles which
move the eye are attached to this coat. The
eornea as it forms the front part OF the eye,
covers the pupils and iris. and protects them
from injury. This, as it is convex transparent
and made fast to The selerotied, very much re-
sembles the crystal Of a watch set in its case.
The brilliancy Of the eye is caused by the light
being reflected from its polished surface.
The iris, that part which gives color to the
eye, is a curtain in front 10 regulate the guam.
tity of light entering the eye. 1t has circu-
lar opening in the centre called the pupil, thro'
which the light is admitted-only the light
which falls upon the pupil is of use in vision.
When the pupil is fully expanded, it admits
nearly twelve times as much light as when most
contracted; there ore when we 60 from a strong
light to a faint one, We at first immagine that
We are in total darkness, until the pupil has
time to expand and admit more rays.
There is a fluid clear as the pureSt water, in
form of a menisens Cor little moon) between
the cornea and crystalline lens, to aid in col
l%ecting and transmitting the rays oflight to the
lens. This lens brings the rays o flightt to afocuS
on the retina and increases their intensity.
The vitreous humor is a body resembling
melted glass occupying the globe OF the eye.
This alse is in form of a menisens.
Tie inner coat OF the eye, called choroid, is
covered on the inside with a substance resem-
bling black paint. which absorbs the rays of
light after they reflect upon the retina.
The optic nerve is the medium by which the
sense Of sight is produced on the brain. This
nerve pierces the selerotied and extends over
the inner surface OF the choroid. It is the seat
of vision and called the re;ina. Although in
vision there is a distinct image formed upon
the retina of each eye, yet as the optic nerve
OF both unite before they reach the brain, the
impre ssion is also united, and but one idea is
excited.
How much wisdom and benevolence are
manifested in the construction and location oil
the eye. Without the eye we should be in to-
tai ignorance OF most Of the beauti ul and sub
lime works of creation. We might inhale the
fragrance of the rose, but Of its delicate hue'
and soft tints, we should know nothing. W.
might wander through the most lovely wales
Of which earth can b~oast-might climb the
mountains towering height; might listen as the
waves Of the sea broke upon the beach-an
yet without the sense of sight, all their beauty
grandeur and sublimity would be lost to US
and wandering through the most picturesque
~scenery-from the vine-clad Wales Of the sun
ny south to the craggy cliffs of the frozen zone
would be but a tiresome journey, which coul'
afford us no qualification.
Sight may we'll be called "the most periec
and delightful of all our senses, and while w
are living in the enjoyment Of it, we will, witt
the poet, who vas deprived Of this great bles
sing, sing:
$50 much the rather thou
Celestial light shine inward,
And thy powers through all
i The mind irradiate.
LILLE.
Plymouth, Indiana.
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