34-2 DISORDERED EYES. 



had been cut out, a little red fpot, which one while was 

 lefs and almofl unobfervable, and then again fomewhat 

 larger ; but there always continued to be a very fmall 

 opening, from whence a purulent humour flowed into 

 , the eye. By the natural combination of the nerves and 

 veffelsof the two eyes, the left eye muft participate in 

 what was defective in the right ; and as often as this 

 was enflamed, the other was likewife red. 



Before 1 proceed in my narrative, it is necefTary for 

 me to remark, that my eyes themfelves, in regard to 

 the proper faculty of feeing, whether near or at a dis- 

 tance, were to be reckoned among the ftxongeft. I 

 can even now as readily read a tolerably fmall writings 

 held to me at the diftance of three paces, either by a 

 candle or in a light room, as if it were clofe before me. 

 I have frequently, while a boy, made the foolifh attempt 

 to look ftedfaftly at the fun for a minute together at 

 full noon r without ever feeling any other efFect from it 

 than that the figure of the fun kept dancing before my 

 eyes for fome time after. Oft have I read by clear 

 moonlight whole chapters in a very fmall print greek 

 new t eft-am en t, and in the little hebrew bible of Rei- 

 neccius ; and even now I can diftinguifh objects at a 

 diftance better with my naked eye than a common eye 

 can do by the help of a telefcope. The organization 

 therefore of my eyes themfelves is, in reality, as good 

 as it need to be ; only the inclofure of them, the eye- 

 lids, have not a proportionate perfection. 



My childhood was now palled, in an almofl inceffant 

 pain in the feyes ; as feldom a week went by without my 

 ' eves beinff more or lefs enflamed anew, or inferred with 

 little ulcels. Notwithftanding the ordinary though t- 



leffnefs : 



