335 
in the Retina of the Eye. 
and wounding the capsule of the crystalline lens, so as to 
disengage the lens, without removing that part of the capsule 
which adheres to the vitreous humour ; by which means, the 
retina remained undisturbed, and could be accurately examined, 
when a strong light was thrown into the eye. 
The aperture in the retina, surrounded by a zone with a ra- 
diated appearance, was distinctly seen, on the temporal side of 
the insertion of the optic nerve, and about ± of an inch distant 
from it, apparently a little below the posterior end of the visual 
radius. The aperture itself, in this view, was very small. After 
having viewed it in two different eyes, I took an opportunity of 
showing it to Sir Joseph Banks and Sir Charles JBlagden, 
who both saw it with the same degree of distinctness. 
At first, I believed it necessary to have a very fresh eye for 
demonstrating this aperture, but I have since found, that it is 
more readily seen in an eye two days after death ; the zone, 
which is the most conspicuous part, being of a lighter colour 
the first day, than it is upon the second. 
I have also succeeded in preserving the posterior part of the 
eye in spirits, without destroying the appearance of this aper- 
ture. This preparation I am unwilling to bring to a public 
meeting of the Society, since it may be liable to be injured by 
being much shaken ; but I hope my having shown it to Sir 
Joseph Banks and Sir Charles Blagden, will be sufficient 
evidence, both to the Society and others, that such a prepa- 
ration can be made. 
I am induced to make this remark, by recollecting that a 
celebrated anatomist of Edinburgh denied, in his last publi- 
cation, that the anterior lamina of the cornea can be separated 
from the others, as a continuation of the tendons of the four 
