888 THE CORNEA, BY ALEXANDER ROLLETT. 



coil of 6,245 turns) rendered active by two large chromic-acid 

 and carbon elements, the poles coupled in one and the same 

 direction. The primary coil was entirely covered by the 

 secondary. 



A series of shocks thus applied, caused the corpuscles to 

 diminish in size when seen from the surface ; partial retrac- 

 tion and attenuation of the cell processes were also observed. 

 The most remarkable result of the electrical excitation is not 

 however presented by these phenomena in the protoplasm of 

 the cells, but rather by the sudden appearance in the cornea 

 of the contours of v. Re cklinghau sen's serous canal system 

 (lacunae of the cornea), so that I must regard the electrical 

 excitation of the cornea as a veritable experimentum crude, 

 proving the existence of these much-disputed structures. 



The visibility of the serous canals depends on the above- 

 mentioned contraction of the protoplasm of the cells of the 

 cornea. 



We shall describe with greater minuteness the consequences 

 of electrical excitation hereafter, when speaking of the serous 

 canals. 



The lively movements however may here be mentioned, 

 which are observable in the corneal corpuscles of inflamed 

 cornese, when the fresh membrane is exposed to a constant 

 current of blood serum,* as well as the retraction of the pro- 

 cesses of the corneal corpuscles after the application of a four 

 per cent, solution of phosphate of soda,t a phenomenon which 

 cannot be regarded as a mere shrinking, because the radiated 

 form is preserved with stronger solutions. 



In the foregoing remarks, sufficiently definite statements 

 may be found in respect to the corneal corpuscles to de- 

 monstrate that the views entertained by Schweigger-Seidel 

 respecting them cannot be regarded as correct. 



We shall hereafter recur to two experiments of Schweigger- 

 Seidel, which lead fco the isolation of its laminae ; namely, the 

 injection of the cornea by simple puncture with iodine serum, 

 syrup, or diluted alcohol, and the boiling of the cornea in 



* Strieker and Norris, loc. cit., p. 4. 



t v. Recklinghausen, Virchow's Archiv, Band xxviii. , p. 179. 



