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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
THE EYE OF THE OX. 
BY E. BECEIT TRUMAN. 
H OMER, the sublimest, because tbe most natural, of the 
classic poets, expresses bis idea of tbe majesty and 
beauty of tbe countenance of Juno, by tbe epithet boopis, 
ox-eyed. Tbe simile may, perhaps, appear a veiy bumble one; 
but, by a little study of tbe formation of tbe bullock’s eye, we 
may see that not only is tbe object worthy of the Homeric 
application, but that it contains numberless beauties of which 
the ancient Grecian never dreamed, disclosed to us by tbe aid 
of tbe dissecting-knife and tbe microscope. 
Tbe delicacy of the internal organization of tbe eye requires 
it to have an abode where it will be protected from external 
violence. Such a dwelling-place we find in the orbit or socket 
of tbe eye : which is formed of bone on all sides, and fined by 
a cushion of fat, in which tbe eyeball is embedded ; so that in 
tbe event of a blow being received on the only attainable 
aspect, the front of tbe eye, its force is transmitted to, and 
broken by, this soft layer of fat, and thereby prevented from 
rebounding injuriously on tbe eye from the unyielding wall 
surrounding it. 
Having removed tbe eyeball from its socket, and divested it 
of the fat and tbe muscles, let us examine tbe contour of tbe eye 
(Plate XI., fig. 1). We see it to consist of two portions, of dif- 
fering curvatures, tbe part in front (a) having the greater con- 
vexity; the remaining and greater portion having tbe form of 
a somewhat-flattened globe. Tbe projecting body (/) is tbe 
optic nerve, tbe nerve that conveys the visual impressions to 
tbe brain; at c and cl are tbe attachments of muscles cut short; 
and at e some blood-vessels are seen. 
We will now examine, one by one, tbe different structures of 
which tbe eyeball is composed ; and which consist (1) of tunics 
or protective coverings, (2) of a series of refracting bodies to 
bring tbe rays of light to a focus internally, and (8) a nerve to 
receive tbe impression of light (with certain auxiliaries). 
Tbe outermost covering of the eye consists of two very dis- 
similar parts ; namely, tbe cornea and tbe sclerotic. Tbe cornea, 
