Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 013.djvu/179



Aving formerly given a Specimen of my thoughts about Vision, I purpos'd to defer the publishing any thing more relating to it till a more entire Treatise (about the Particular uses of the parts of the Eye in Vision) had been finisht, which I intimated my designing at that time; but this will require the consideration of many more years, and indeed the Subject is so admirable, and may be of such use to convince the Scepticism of the age, that I hope it will not be time lost: and if I have sufficient opportunities, or be assisted with the practical Observations of others whom I dare confide in, I may perhaps add withall the Pathology of that Useful part, to make it the more acceptable to the World. In the mean time I have been prevailed with to make this inlargement of the forementioned discourse, in order to the fuller explaining my thoughts, and the clearing some difficulties which have been propounded against it.

In that small Essay I endeavour'd to shew. 1. That the fibres of the Optic Nerve, as rising from the two protuberances of the thalami Optici, were more concern'd in Vision then either the Cornea, Humours, or Retina (as they are consider'd by Writers in Optics); not only because sensation