Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-11-06
The Eyes.

/ have not yet mentioned to you the
most delicate, most useful, and most
wonderful organ we have. Who can
guess what il isG Through 1t one-fourth
of all our knowledge comes; IL gives us
more enjoyment and more real useful
work than any other. Can't you tells
1t is the eye, or rather the pair Of eyes
that rest In the socket Of the skull, and
give beauty and Intelligence to the head.
The eve is about an inch In diameter,
or the size Of small black walnut. Ii
is not one solid mass, but delicate little
globe, with one fine coat inside another,
reminding you OF the rings OF an onion.
The outside coat-what we call "the
white"-is not sensitive, but thick and
strong, and is called the hard or sclero-
tic coat; ii gives shape to the eye, and
also has the muscles which move the
eye attached TO Ii. In the front there Is
an opening, which is called the cornea
from the Latin word meaning horn
il is a good deal like the crystal OF a
watch; 1t does not shut off the sight,
yet IL preserves tho delicate things be-
hind Ii. The cornea has little glands
filled with an oily fluid that keeps the
surface moist and makes the eye look
bright. Behind the cornea comes the
iris, which has the power TO grow
larger or smaller, and at the same time
opens partly or closes tho circular OPEN
ing in the center, called the pupil. The
color OF the eye, as we say, Is spread on
the inner surface Of the iris. The cornea
being convex, like watch crystal, the
space between aud Il the iris Is filledbya
transparent, water-llke fuid, called the
aqueous humor, which sustains the out
side covering, and at the same time
keeps IL always the same distance from
the pupil. The outer edge Of the iris Is
attached to a thin coating called the
choroid, which goes all around the back
of the eyeball underneath "thc white"
Just behind the pupil Is an opening
called the crystalline lens-the eyes
magnifying glass. IL is Ike circular
glass button, and Is convex on both
sides, and is held In place by delicate,
transparent envelope, which connects
IL with the Goats" Behind Il Is the
back chamber OF the eye, as the space In
the center Is called. This Is filled with
the vitrcous or CLASSY humor, which Is
like the white Of egg before IL Is cooked.
The chamber Is lined with the eyes In
ner coat, or retina. This Is network
curtain. like the most delicate web OF
ground glass; IL Is too fragile TO bear It's
own weight, being made up Of the fine
last ends of the optic nerves. IL Is here
that the eye actually sees, just how, no
one has been able to explain. But this
is known, that light reflected from OBJ
jects enters the eye through the pupil to
the crystalline lens, where Its rays are
made to come together, or focus as we
say, on the retina, where there Is a pic
ture OF the object at which we arc look
ing. From the retina the optic nerve
carries the knowledge OF what the pic
ture Is to the brain.
Outside this beautiful little organ
there are two closely. fitting sliding
screens, lined with mucous membrane,
and fringed with short and regular rows
Of hairs that curve outward. These are
the lids and eyelashes, which protect
the eye from exposure, and keep out
dust or other harmful things IN the air.
Just within the lashes are oil glands,
which keep the edges smooth, and pre-
vent them from sticking to each other.
Under the eyelids, near the small ends
Of the brows, are the tear glands, which
constantly moisten the eye with water
that flows into the little tear lake, the
small sac near the nose, when some
thing happens to excite too many tears.
Then they overflow on the cheek.
hope you appreciate the value Of these
eyes Of yours, and take good care OF
them.