FIBRILLAR STRUCTURE OF THE CORNEA. 397 



from the deeper to the more superficial layers of the cornea, 

 been incorrectly regarded as something different from the 

 fibrillar substance of the cornea. The so-called supporting 

 fibres (Stiitzfasern), or fibrse arcuatse, are nothing but fasci- 

 culi of fibrils pursuing this devious course. They may be 

 beautifully seen in sections of cornese that have been hardened 

 in alcohol of 92 per cent, diluted with its own volume of 

 water. 



Such sections made on cork with a very sharp knife, then 

 placed upon a slide, and observed under water, show also that 

 the substance between the fibrse arcuatse has a finely punc- 

 tated character. 



Fig. 383. 



Fig. 383. Section from the cornea of the Ox, hardened in dilute 

 alcohol and immersed in water, a, Innermost layer of the anterior 

 epithelium ; 6, external layer of the cornea, with the fibrae arcuate 

 (supporting fibres). 



This punctation is caused by the transverse section of fibrous 

 bands. In a similar manner we see in sections of the cornea 

 prepared as above the bands of the deeper layers of the tissue 

 divided partly longitudinally and partly transversely ; and in 

 the latter case, instead of the striation corresponding to the 

 fibrils, there is likewise a fine punctation. These transversely 

 divided bands appear however to be well defined. They form 

 long thin striae between the super- and sub-jacent thin longi- 

 tudinally striated layers, which incline to one another over 

 the pointed ends of the stria corresponding to the transverse 

 sections. In regard to the form of the sections of the bands 



