THE EYE. 387 



is therefore attached to the capsule, not in a straight but in a 

 slightly undulating line. 



With respect to the structure of the parts in question, much 

 pains have recently been bestowed upon the elucidation of that 

 of the proper vitreous body; although it cannot be asserted that 

 at present the truth has been arrived at. Briicke's view, ac- 

 cording to which the vitreous body, like an onion, consists of 

 concentric lamellae parted by a gelatinous fluid, was contradicted 

 by Bowman, who has shown, that the concentrated solution of 

 acetate of lead used by Briicke for the exposition of these 

 lamella, produces the appearance of lamination not only on 

 the superficial surface but also on that of any section what- 

 ever, but without rendering true lamellae manifest. Hannover's 

 opinion, according to which, after treatment of the vitreous 

 body with chromic acid, numerous dissepiments are found in 

 it, running from the surface towards the axis, so that in a 

 vertical section a number of " rays" are perceptible proceeding 

 from the central point, and the whole resembles an orange 

 laid open, appears to have more in its favour, inasmuch as, at 

 any rate, the vitreous body of the new-born child, according to 

 Bowman (Lectures, p. 100, and fig. 5, p. 97), when treated with 

 chromic acid, very distinctly exhibits an areolated aspect of the 

 kind described, but it should be remarked that from the same 

 author's observations, the conditions are widely different in 

 the eye of the adult, for, in this instance, in chromic acid 

 preparations, a few concentric lamella are found externally, 

 to which succeed very irregular radiating septa, and lastly an 

 irregular central cavity. If to this it be added that these 

 lamella formed by chromic acid also cannot be demonstrated 

 as true membranes, and that in the fresh vitreous body no 

 trace of them is perceptible, the appearances produced by this 

 second reagent can likewise not be considered as proving much. 



A more correct notion of the constitution of the vitreous 

 body would appear to be derivable from the study of its de- 

 velopment. It has been long known that the vitreous body in 

 the foetus has vessels on its surface and in the interior; it 

 might thence have been concluded that some tissue for the 

 support of these vessels must also exist — but no one has, till 

 recently, sought farther information with the aid of the micro- 

 scope. Bowman was the first (1. c, p. 100 and p. 97, fig. 7) 



