The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-21
THE SENSE OF SIGHT.
An Interesting Lecture on Inc SHp-
ject by DIR. T.. Wniiams, OF Miatmi
College.

From the Gin, Commercial.
1t may be asked, why do certain ex-
ternsl objects affect Us in particular ways,
and in no other? We are the occupants
OF an animated physical frame, endowi ed
with certain capacities for being acted
upon by other objects in motion. We
are impressed by certain things in special
ways through particular organs. We
may study the physlca. phenomena OF
the material world and the structure OF
the organs OF senses down to the utmost
reach of the microscope. Yet the why
of sensation of all kinds is as profoundly
dark as The mystery of cur existence.
The kind of organs we possess for re-
celving certain impulses or stimuli, or
motion, as it is properly called, deter
mines the effect. So We are led to the
study ofthe physiology ofsensation. The
immediate effect produced on the mind
bv ANYTHING acting on the bodily organs,
is called sensation. Hence we speak, and
that very feelingly often, ofthe sensation
of hunger or of thirst, of pain. OF light, OF
sound. The senses have aptly been call
ed the avenues of the mind, and sensation
the impression that comes III through
them. To enjoy a sensation we must
have An outward organ of sense to be
acted upon, and mind to take notice OF
the impression. The one is external the
seminal or chink in the outer wall; the
other the prisoner in his cell, with or "
five or six loop-holes for communication
bv animal telegraph with the outer world.
The Doctor described how, leading
from each organ of sense to the BRAN,
the organ If the mind, numerous nerve
fibers conduct influence. Each nerve Is
made up OF a large number of microscop-
ic transparent tubular threads, contain
jp,, q fluid similar to n mixture of oil and
white of egg. If we apply the same
stimulus. say current OF electricity to
one sense. We produce taste, to another
smell. and So on.
Il settled fact with psychologists
that NO possible kind OF irrI alton on any
other organ of the body than the eye or
ontic nerve can ever give the sensation OF
Lrh,. The weakest electrical current
PASSED through the eye or optic nerve
PRODUCES flash of light. y blow on the
eve or even very moderate pressure with
tho finger or the end of rencli, with
the eyes c,oSed. produces a luminous clr
Gle with the colors of the rainbow. W 10
hss not seen stars from blow on the
head or fail on the feet? II the optic
nerve i, pinched or pricked at any part
of Is course. not pain, but Il flash OF light
I i, the specific !e'llt. This sulJe tive
. prrccvtjon of light does not depend upon
the objective development OF light in the
! rrtiaa, a. was once supposed. l. Is pure
/ " sensation, but there is no light or
| sight about 1t.
Waves Of either or light alone, and act.
/ inc alone on the rttina, can give sight or
visjon. Hence the ab olute Stiffness OF
ALI pretended clnirvoyance, with their
rnters or toes, or umb,hcu>, or anything
erse han the eve. Yet right here in the
heart of this great and enlightened
city. with public schools on the brain
spch rr,ten>louS are turned to prNciics
account. All such nonsense should be rul'
o. cut Of the courts Of common sense and
common dncency.
II was next shown how the capacity OF
sro,ifr nerves for taking up certain
Kinds of motion or stimulation and pass
ing by all others is due to the mlcress@p,
ir structures IN which each nerve hOei
ends. The pulps ut the ends OF the nm
gers are we'll adapted for taking up th'
sense OF touch. Taste is confined to the
tip. sides and base of the tongue, and per
haps to the front ofth palate. In th'
mucous membrane it is proved that the
nerves end in little bodies resembling
buds. After showing how the nerves O
smelling, hearing and sight terminated
and explaining their peculiar privileges
the Doctor proceeded to say that the spe
/ cific arrangement at the peripheric end o
the optic nerve is called the eye. The
whole organ is arranged with special re
ference to the safe lodgmcnt ofthe nerves
under circumstances where they are &C
cessible to their favorite stimulus, light