Position of the eyes in sleepiness. 161 
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result. But this result is impossible except by optic divergence, 
for by convergence the images would approach each other, 
unite and then cross over and become homonymous. 
Thus, then, it is certain, that 7 the act of falling to sleep the 
eyes diverge. Whether this position is retained in profoun 
sleep, I have tried in vain to determine. The attempt to 
make observations on the eyes of sleepers, for this purpose, 
invariably introduces disturbing influences which vitiate the 
result. I have also attempted observations on sick infants, who 
often, in a weak condition, drowse with the eyes half open; but 
I have always found, under these circumstances, the action of 
the ocular muscles irregular and the position of the optic axes, 
therefore, unsteady. Nevertheless it seems highly probable 
that in profound sleep, also, the position of the optic axes is 
divergent. 
of absolutely perfect relaxation, the optic axes coincide with 
the axes of the i 
contraction to bring the optic axes to a condition of parallelism 
and still more to a condition of convergence, as in every volun- 
