CENTURY IX. 101 



light, proportionable to the visual spirits of those 

 creatures. 



Experiments in consort touching the eyes and sight. 1 



867. The eyes do move one and the same way ; for 

 when one eye moveth to the nostril, the other moveth 

 from the nostril. The cause is motion of consent, 

 which in the spirits and parts spiritual is strong. But 

 yet use will induce the contrary : for some can squint 

 when they will ; and the common tradition is, that if 

 children be set upon a table with a candle behind them, 

 both eyes will move outwards, as affecting to see the 

 light, and so induce squinting. 



868. We see more exquisitely with one eye shut, 

 than with both open. The cause is, for that the 

 spirits visual unite themselves more, and so become 

 stronger. For you may see by looking in a glass, 

 that when you shut one eye, the pupil of the other 

 eye that is open dilateth. 



869. The eyes, if the sight meet not in one angle, 

 see things double. The cause is, for that seeing two 

 things, and seeing one thing twice, worketh the same 

 effect ; and therefore a little pellet held between two 

 fino-ers laid across, seemeth double. 



O 



870. Pore-blind men see best in the dimmer lights ; 

 and likewise have their sight stronger near hand, than 

 those that are not pore-blind ; and can read and write 

 smaller letters. The cause is, for that the spirits visual, 

 in those that are pore-blind, are thinner and rarer than 

 in Others ; and therefore the greater light disperseth 

 them. For the same cause they need contracting ; but 



i The statements in these paragraphs, to 872. inclusive, are taken from 

 Arist. Prob. xxxi. 7. 2. 11. 15. 26. 29. and 3. 



