Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-05-01
OUR THIRD EYE.
Sole ntists Claim That We Have
an Extra Optic.
This Reesntiy Discovered organ Exists
Also In yertsbrates OF tho Lower
Orders Where It Is
Located.

Recent researches prove that man
and all yertebrates seem TO possess the
rudiments of n third eye. This discoy-
also remarkably instructiye,since the
rudimentary third eye Of n man has, by
one of the most noted philosophers Of
modern days. been looked upon as be-
ing the seat of the soul.
As organs by proper use develop in
strength and perfection, so they be-
come weak by lack of use. II for many
generations an organ should remain
without use, its structure in time be-
comes simpler and more imperfect. If
such a process continues throughout
ages, an organ, by constant disusc, will
become reduced TO q mere rudiment of
what il was in the species using the
same. Thus, species OF birds that only
walk and run, but never fly, have only
rndimentary wings, as the ostrich;
while in the eagle and the albatross
the wings are seen In a state of perfec-
ton.
Now, in closely examining the Skulls
Of certain lizards, il was found that
near the top OF head under the dark,
Opaque skin, and often in the very bone, Z
an almost perfect eye exists, although
no ray Of light ever could reach IL. This
eye shows q crystalline lens, a retina of
very complex structure and an optic
nerve; in fact, all the essential parts
Of q perfect eye. But being covered by
the opaque skin of the animal it is alb
aoluteiy useless. If this optic nerve is
traced TO the brain il is found 10 CON
meet the eye with the so-called pineal
gland OF the brain This pineal gland
Is, Of course, in no sense of q word
real gland, but a definite portion of the
nervous tissue Of the brain, invariably
located just back and partly over the
cerebrum, and in front OF the rounded
brainmass which generally is consid-
cred 20 correspond TO the corpora
quadriFcmina in man.
ibis third eye OF the spotted lizard
is called the pineal eye, on account Of
the nerve connection Of the retina WITH
the pincal gland. Now, while in GER
tain lizards this highly developed eye
Ia useless because it is covered by
Opaque skin, and in others even deep
~ bcdded in bone, il would seem proba-
bic that in an earlier stage of develop
mcnt this pineal eye was not rudi-
nentary, but in constant use. A very
'light modification would accomplish
his-namely, the transparency of the
kin covering the eye. This is exact
y the condition of the normal eyes in
cptiles to-day; the skin covers them.
mt IL is transparent where il passes
'ver the eye. In the skulls of some Of
he gigantic reptiles of the earlier age
4 this globe, palcontologists have long
go found large round perforation.
'robably this was the socket of the
bird or pineal eye OF the ichtbyosau-
us, the plesiosaurus and the labyrin- r
iodon.
But much more important conclu-
ON must be drawn from this discov-
'y-namcly, that in all vertebrates,
ZEN including man, the traces of this
lird eye remain to-day. The pincal
70 OF lizards being connected with the
rye pineal gland of the same, il
oud seem that the pinenl gland itself
but the nerve center or optic thalmus
+ this third eye. In all reptiles and
lphibia the pineal gland is large; so
rs also in fishes. In higher animals
cerehrum develops very much, over
owing the more posterior portions of
brain. by this preponderance of
nerve mass the pineal gland be-
mes covered by the cerebrum and as
mes more and more rudimentary
ms. But il remains with ohstira+a \
IL is even always present
man-though here only of the size of
ea and rudely resembling pine cone
shape. IL seems also degenerated in H.
ucture, having hardly any nervous
'ue. These facts of form and struct-
have given rise 20 It's name. that of
eal gland.-Popular Science Month