DIOPTRICS OF THE EYE. 303 



is stimulated.* We may conclude, therefore, that the bilaterality 

 of the reflex in the higher animals is dependent upon the partial 

 decussation of the optic fibers in the chiasma, a sensory stimulus 

 upon one retina giving rise to impulses which are conveyed to the 

 two sides of the brain. It is possible, however, that in addition 

 commissural connections may exist between the central connections, 

 the motor centers in the midbrain. It is usually stated that 

 the effect of the light upon the sphincter muscle is greatest when 

 the retina is stimulated at or near the fovea and that it varies 

 directly with the intensity of the light and the area illuminated.! 

 The Action of Drugs upon the Iris. The condition of con- 

 striction of the pupil is frequently designated as miosis (mi-o'-sis) 

 and the condition of dilatation as mydriasis (myd-ri'-as-is). Many 

 drugs are known which, when applied directly to the absorptive 

 surfaces of the eye or when injected into the circulation, affect 

 the muscles of the iris and therefore vary the size of the pupil. 

 Those drugs that cause miosis are spoken of as miotics, and those 

 that produce mydriasis as mydriatics. Atropin, the active prin- 

 ciple of belladonna, homatropin, and cocain are well-known myd- 

 riatics, while physostigmin (eserin) and muscarin or pilocarpin are 

 examples of the miotics. There has been much question as to the 

 precise action of these drugs. For an adequate discussion of this 

 question the student is referred to works on pharmacology; but 

 it may be said that the evidence from the physiological sidej indi- 

 cates that atropin causes mydriasis by paralyzing the endings of 

 the constrictor nerve fibers in the sphincter muscle, while phy- 

 sostigmin and muscarin cause miosis by stimulation of the endings 

 of these same fibers. In the case of cocain it is probable that the 

 drug first stimulates mainly the endings of the dilator fibers in the 

 dilator muscles, and in stronger doses causes additional mydriasis 

 by paralyzing the constrictor fibers. The stronger mydriatics 

 paralyze not only the sphincter pupillae, but also the similarly 

 innervated ciliary muscle, thus destroying the power of accom- 

 modation. When atropin is applied to the eye the individual is 

 unable to use his eyes for near work reading, for example until 

 the effect of the drug has worn off. In ophthalmological literature 

 this condition of paralysis of the ciliary muscle is spoken of as 

 cycloplegia, and most of the mydriatic drugs are also cycloplegics. 

 On the contrary, the stronger miotics stimulate the ciliary muscle, 

 and therefore during their period of action throw the eye into a 

 condition of forced accommodation. 



* Steinach, "Archiv f. d. gesammte Physiologic," 47, 313, 1890. 

 fSee Abelsdorff and Feilchenfell, "Zeitschrift f. Psychologie und Phys- 

 iologie des Sinnesorgane," 34, 111, 1904. 



J Schultz, "Archiv f. Physiologic/ 7 1898, 47. 



