Page:Language of the Eye.djvu/42

24 texture of this organ would excite some fear that it might readily suffer injury; but the eye may be compared to a room with a blind (iris), pane of glass (the cornea), and strong shutters (the lids), which do not resist violence, but endure it, without suffering injury, being so active, flexible, and resilient, that its very vibrations form its armour, as the yielding wave bears the haughty bark. The muscles, glands, nerves, and bones are more fully described in the diagram, which is drawn from a section adopted by that intelligent authority, Dr. Franz. The muscles move the eye towards the object; it centralizes upon every object, every letter of a book separately, but with such activity, that in a moment the eye has reported to the brain every object and colour in a room. The lachrymal glands supply all that lubricating moisture which prevents superficial injury to the organ in its active motion—the tears appear through the small orifices, and pass into the duct away. The optic nerves and arteries, the various humours, transparencies, and powers should be subjects of the greatest interest to those who delight in the study of the organs and physical abilities of the human frame: yet the author fears a more elaborate consideration of this part of these subjects would be scarcely acceptable in a little book, the chief object of which is (in a popular manner) to attract attention and deeper solicitude to the subject, and thus incite the reader to a more extensive examination of the nature (physically and philosophically) of this most solemnly interesting and highly important organ.