Mr. Young's Observations on Vision. 173 
transparent body, composed of a considerable number of si- 
milar coats, of which the exterior closely adhere to the inte- 
rior. Each of these coats consists of six muscles, intermixed 
with a gelatinous substance, and attached to six membranous 
tendons. Three of the tendons are anterior, three posterior ; 
their length is about two thirds of the semi-diameter of the 
coat ; their arrangement is that of three equal and equi- 
distant rays, meeting in the axis of the crystalline ; one of 
the anterior is directed towards the outer angle of the eye, 
and one of the posterior towards the inner angle, so that the 
posterior are placed opposite to the middle of the interstices 
of the anterior ; and planes passing through each of the six, 
and through the axis, would mark on either surface six regular 
equidistant rays. The muscular fibres arise from both sides of 
each tendon ; they diverge till they reach the greatest circum- 
ference of the coat, and, having passed it, they again con- 
verge, till they are attached respectively to the sides of the 
nearest tendons of the opposite surface. The anterior or pos- 
terior portion of the six viewed together, exhibits the ap- 
pearance of three penniformi-radiated muscles. The anterior 
tendons of all the coats are situated in the same planes, and 
the posterior ones in the continuations of these planes be- 
yond the axis. Such an arrangement of fibres can be ac- 
counted for on no other supposition than that of muscularity. 
This mass is inclosed in a strong membranous capsule, to 
which it is loosely connected by minute vessels and nerves ; 
and the connection is more observable near its greatest cir- 
cumference. Between the mass and its capsule is found a 
considerable quantity of an aqueous fluid, the liquid of the 
crystalline. 
2 A 
MDCCXCIII. 
