337 
in the Retina of the Eye. 
Annals of Medicine for 1797, an account of a publication con- 
cerning it by Professor Reil, entitled, The plait, the yellow 
spot, and the transparent portion of the retina of the eye. 
After these are described separately, the following circum- 
stances are mentioned. “ Soemmering takes this appearance 
“ to be a real hole. Buzzi, on the contrary, thinks that it is 
“ merely a transparent and thin portion of the retina. 
“ Michaelis seems to agree with him. Reil and Meckel are 
“ rather in favour of the existence of an actual hole. 
“ Michaelis saw the plait more distinctly in foetuses of 
M seven or eight months, than in adults ; and the transparent 
u portion lay concealed within it, but the yellow spot was 
w wanting : nor is it to be observed in the eyes of newly-born 
“ children. After the first year, it becomes somewhat yellow, 
“ and the depth of the colour increases with the age of the 
“ subject. Soemmering says that this spot is pale in children, 
“ bright yellow in young people, and becomes again pale in 
■ “ old age. Its degree of saturation seems to be intimately con- 
“ nected with the state of vision : it constantly diminishes, in 
“ proportion as vision is obstructed. Where one eye only is 
“ diseased, in it the yellow spot is wanting, and the plait is 
“ small and wrinkled ; while, in the sound one, they are rather 
“ more distinct than usual. 
“ Michaelis discovered no vestige of these appearances in 
“ the eyes of dogs, swine, or calves/' 
Professor Reil's mode of dissecting the eye, to show the 
aperture and plait, is exactly similar to that mentioned in Mr. 
Maunoir's letter. 
It will appear, from the account of this orifice in the retina, 
which precedes these observations of Professor Reil, that the 
mdccxcviii, X x 
