Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-16
EYEs ARE SIMILAR TO
PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA
Scientific Writer Explains Why We
DO Not See Objects Upside
~ Down.
lIY GARRETT q. SERNISS,
Eminent Writer Subjects OF
Scientific interest.


Il would like to hnow why. II
upon the mind the same way as "a
images on plate. we do not see
things upside down, since the i'm
ages arc inverted on the plate
. II. \. j. s. Chicago.
When we begin 10 explain the
paradox 20 which you refer We get
4 a curious glimpse at the world of
complex Illusions in which our ply
steal life is involved. !; is hardly an
what ii seems, ana that all OF our
senses deceive us continually. but,
fortunately. always II! the same
manner, SO that. by uniformly treat
ing them as mcndacious. and ac-
ceptin2 their assurances is con-
trary sense. we can manage usually
q TO force their contradictory and
fraEmcrtary reports into some sort
& of accord and Conscience. And when
4 we consider that al! o! our impress
siOrs and beliefs abou; the real
lutely upon what We can gather
s from the imperfect a.sl deceptive
sources OF Information. We ought at
least be willing 10 adm;; that there
may be, and probably IL. some in
Iei!iGence tina; knows more than We
do-cvem infinitely more.
Lens Rr>crses Them.
II is true that as you suggest.
tho limoges formed on the rc,ina OF
the eye resemble those formed ON
and they are formed in the same
way. viz. by 4 lens. which rcvcrSes
them. Yet. although IL is only by
means o. these images that wc have
ourselves. we do not sec such things
upside down" as the cE lens pic
lures them. hu; RICH, sue up
Now. exactly what is right side
l., inn, nc \. !,
reference 10 the dircction of the
force OF gravity. which position is
brough; 10 our attention by the
sense OF touch. OF the sense involved
sense wc have learned that he tops
OF trees aud houses, and our own
heads when sc assume tho erect
position, etc. are away from the
two senses giving uS contradictory
information. or >it would bc con-
Trajectory II NC din not unconscious
~ reverse the information wh.ch
one .. them furnishes so as TO make
IL agree with the other The image
formed in the eye would. II the
mind accepted its plan statement.
snow. things eSaeily reversed in
position reported by. the tactic
utcuchl sense. But the mind has
learned to trust the tactic sense.
and SO forces tho other into accord
by reading its report In contrary
sense. Let me quote Professor HuX-
ley's statement OF this explanation:
External objects Reverted.
1T is difficult TO understand why,
While all the pictures of external
objects are certainly inverted on the
rttina. we nevertheless see them up-
right, until one reflects that the re-
tina in itself, has no means o! in
ditatinE TO the mind which OF It's
paris lies at the top and which at
the bottom. and tina; the mind learns
to call an impression on The rctina
high or low right or LEFT, simply
an impression with certain coinci-
dent tactilc impressions. When on"
par, o. the rctina is affected the
object is found TO be near The right
hand: when another. the left; when
another the hand has 10 be raised
10 reach the object: when yet an
other. il has TO bc depressed. Thus
the several impressions on the re-
lower. quite rresneciivciy OF their
real positions. OF which the mind
has, and can have. no cognizancc."
Touch SENSE Fundamental.
1t is an interesting reflection tina,
the sense Of touch appears 10 be the
instinctiveiy trust. and by reference
10 which we test the reports Of all
the others. The farther We get
away from aciui! touch with things
about them becomes. Distant OBJ
jccts make their Impressions upon
us by exciting suecia! forms OF the
sense OF touch. 'or instance, a star
touches IN" nerve Of vision with q
ray OF light triiiions OF miles in
length. y cannon lircd on tn. other
side OF bay touches the auditory
nerve with sound waves. etc. Whcr
Nc feel that our eyes have dc seivcd
us-by showing US = ghost, Tor cX-
an,ole-we Try 10 test their repori
by the most trustworthy sense Of
touch. and becaus" t2 shoSi is said
to be inscnsibie y tough we doub'
whether it has amy existence
In the matter of appari,ions ,h::
singular fac; may be considered
The ret ina possesses what has bee.
called its proper light" j. e. II:
own lishi. Anyone may test til,
existence OF this rctinal light .!
closing the eyes in dark room
the luminosity perceived in suci
circumstances Is variable. II Is pos
sible tnat. according as IL happcnr'
TO affect different parts Of the re
tina. this light might suggest To al
uncritical mind the presence of
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