Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-12-25
OUR lHlRD EYE.
Soiontists Claim That We Have
an Extra Optic.
This Recently Discovered Organ Exists
Alao In sertebratcs OF the Lower
Ordors-- where It Is
Located.


Located.
Recent researches Prove that man
and all vertebratcs seem TO possess the
rudiments of third eye. This discoy-
cry Is not only very interesting, but
also remarkably insiructivc.s since the
rndimentnry third eye Of a man has, by
ono OF the most noted philosophers of
modern days. been looked upon as be-
ing he seat of the soul.
As organs by proper use develop In
strength and perfection. so they be-
come weak by lack OF use. if for many
generations an organ should remain
without use. It's structure ia time be-
comes simpler aud more imperfect. If
such process continues throughout
ages. an organ, by constant dis,fse, will
become reduced TO a mere rudiIuent OF
what IL was in the species using the
same. Thus. species of birds that only
walk and run, but never fly. have only
rud.mentary wings, as the ostrich;
Willie in the eagle and the albatross
the wings are seen In n state OF perfec-
ton.
uf certain lizards. ~ was found that
near Tho top OF head, under the dark.
opaque skin. and often in the very bone,
IN almost perfect eye exists, although
horny ~ light ever could reach ii. This
eye bows u crystalline lens, retina OF
very fc'nplcx structure ana an optic
nerve; IN fact, all the essential parts
az perfect eye. But being covered by
the opaque skin of the animal II is alb
sOluteiy useless. II this optic nerve is
tracea 70 the brain IL is found to con-
meet the eye win the so-callcd pineal
gland Of the brain. This pineal gland
IS, OF course, In no sense OF word a
real gland but a definite portion OF the
nert ous tissue of the brain, invariably
lncnted Just back and partly over the
ccrrhrnfa, and in front OF the rounded
brnin-mass which generally is consid-
cred 70 correspond TO the corpora
qundrigemina in man.
This bird eye OF the spotted lizard
Is cniled the pihenl eye, on account of
he utlNe connection OF the retina with
he pineal gland. Now, while in GER
isin lizards this highly developed eye
IS useless because it is covered by
'nnqie skin, and IN others even deep
y bFtdcd in bone, II would seem proba-
lie TINT in an earlier stage of develop
nent this pineal eye was not rudl-
nentagy. but In constant use. A very
light modification would accomplish
mis- namely. the transparency of the
Kin covering the eye. This is exact i
The condition of the normal eyes In !
''r ics to-day; the skin covers them, S
ht ~ Is transparent where IL passes n
srr the eye. In the skalls of some Of q
ic gigantic reptiles Of the earlier age :.
this globe, paleontologists have long y
90 found large round pcrforation. =
this was the socket of the .
liid or pineal eye of the ichthyosau- 5
-. the plesiosaurus and the labyrin-
odon. ri
l'nt much more important conclu- .,
an n'nst be drawn from this tiscov-
" namely, that in all vertebrates,
en- including man, the traces of this w
lfh eye remain to-day. The pineesiI A.
= OF lizards being connected with. the
rye pinehl gland of the same, il -
49, 'f''fh 'i"l tht plHtVF Ehuu itSSiA
but the nerve center or optic thalmus
r this third eye. IN all reptiles and 10
'phibia the pinseal gland is large; so st
is also in fishes. In higher animals 81
? cerebruv'n develops very much, over In
pwipg tHe more posterior portions of
+ +" BY this prepondcrance OF
&C nerve mass the pineal gland be-
mes covered by the cerebrum and as -
mes more and more rudimentary
rms. But IL remains with obstinate
rtinacity 10 is even always present
man-though here only of the size of NJ
'ea and rudely resembling pine cone
shape. IL seems also degeherated in
neture. having hardly any nervous
sue. These facts OF form and struct-
; have given rise 60 it's name, that of lin
zeal gland.-Popular Science Month
True Form of the Moon.
You were doubtless taught, as was Ri
IL.