The structure and physiology of the eye, as affording evidences of design, with illustrations : being the substance of a lecture delivered before the Loughboro' Literary and Philosophical Society, March 6th, 1855 / by B.W. Brown [sic].

Browne, Benjamin Webster.

Date:: [1855]

Credit: The structure and physiology of the eye, as affording evidences of design, with illustrations : being the substance of a lecture delivered before the Loughboro' Literary and Philosophical Society, March 6th, 1855 / by B.W. Brown [sic]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

23/58 (page 17)

$The second coat we have to notice is Sclerotica (from <rx\t]go$ .—hard); it is so named from its hardness,—being the most external and by far the most dense covering of the Eye ;—this forms the posterior segment of the ball, it terminates nearly in front, and, as you are aware, is of a bluish white colour. It is very opaque, .and this is as necessary as the tube of a telescope,—simply because the Eye is a perfect Camera. The covering forms an excellent defence, being firm and elastic, for those delicate and fragile structures which it contains,—viz., the Vitreous Humour, and the Retina, which we have yet to speak of. The Sclerotica, on inspection, is evidently possessed of greater (fensity at the posterior part of the Globe, where little danger might be apprehended, than towards the anterior, where one might believe g-eater protection was necessary ; and in the study of comparative Anatomy, we find this to be the case in all animals. Surely, there nust be some evident design for this construction; let us examine a litle and pause. Well, this increased density of the covering seems t« have reference to the number of Vessels and Nerves which enter tie orbital cavity at this point,—particularly the Nerve of Vision, vhich being large, requires this extra support. We find the tunic •ery thin towards the front of the Eye, and were it not for the dark .■oloured secretion within, would be nearly semi-transparent. In the dissection of the Eye, a considerable roughness may be seen on the surface of the Sclerotica—almost immediately beyond the transparent cornea,—which is designed for the insertion and tendinous expansion of the several muscles which move the Globe. So clearly indicated are the proofs of design by the Great Creator. If we pursue our examination and inquiry, we observe the coats of the Eye are more dense in fishes, than iri those animals which live on the surface of the earth. Do you ask of me the reason? Perhaps, I cannot explain the circumstance better than by giving the forcible language of that distinguished Anatomist and' Physiologist, Sir$