CiAcciOj on the Nerves of the Corned, 
79 
former to the cornea- corpuscles_, and the latter to the branches, 
from which they are derived. I say, candidly, that when I 
commenced this inquiry, I had fallen into the error of believ- 
ing that, if not all, at least some of the finest nerve-fibres 
distributed to the cornea, really terminated in its cor- 
puscles; but a rigid and exact investigation has since 
convinced me that I was greatly mistaken. I have often 
succeeded in tracing beyond the cornea-corpuscles some 
nerve-fibres which, at first, seemed to end in them. The 
truth is, that sometimes some of the finest nerve-fibres, 
which could be followed as far as the cornea- corpuscles, could 
not be traced further on, so that they appeared really to 
terminate there. But I think this appearance depends on 
the continuation of the fibre being destroyed either by the 
pressure of the thin glass, or by the action of the chemical 
agents which we are obliged to employ. Because if it were 
not so, the above-mentioned appearance would be more fre- 
quently observed. 
After these brief remarks upon the great importance and 
the difficulties of the present inquiry, I shall proceed to state 
what my observations have shown with regard to the distri- 
bution and termination of the nerves of the cornea ; and I 
shall divide, but only for the sake of a clear and methodic 
arrangement, the whole subject into two parts. In the first 
part the nerves, with all their peculiarities, will be considered ; 
and in the second, the manner in which they end will be 
described in detail. 
I. — Of the place where the nerves enter into the 
CORNEA — OF their NUMBER AND SIZE. 
The nerves of the cornea derived from the ciliary nerves 
pass from the sclerotica into the laminated structure of 
the cornea, rather nearer the posterior than the anterior 
surface. They are seen at its margin in the form of several 
fine trunks, which, as they pass in diff'erent directions from 
their entrance, form with the border of the cornea various 
angles. I have observed that, when the cornea of some 
small animals, namely, frog, eel, mouse, and sparrow, is 
transversely divided into two parts, at the microscopical ex- 
amination, most of the fine trunks divided across their course 
are found in the section corresponding to the posterior part 
of the cornea, while the network formed by them is found in 
the anterior part. The conclusion from this observation is, 
that the nerves, in entering the cornea towards its posterior 
surface, after dividing and subdividing, reach the anterior 
VOL. XI. g 
