7 8 
Dr. Young’s Lecture 
has elasticity enough to reassume its proper figure, on the 
removal of a force that has compressed it. The capsule is 
highly elastic ; and, since it is laterally fixed to the ciliary zone, 
it must co-operate in restoring the lens to its flattest form. If 
it be inquired, why the lens is not capable of becoming less 
convex, as well as more so, it may be answered, that the lateral 
parts have probably little contractive power ; and, if they had 
more, they would have no room to increase the size of the disc, 
which they must do, in order to shorten the axis ; and the parts 
about the axis have no fibres so arranged as to shorten it by 
their own contraction. 
I consider myself as being partly repaid for the labour lost in 
search of the nerves of the lens, by having acquired a more 
accurate conception of the nature and situation of the ciliary 
substance. It had already been observed, that in the hare and 
in the wolf, the ciliary processes are not attached to the cap- 
sule of the lens ; and if by the ciliary processes we under- 
stand those filaments which are seen detached after tearing 
away the capsule, and consist of ramifying vessels, the obser- 
vation is equally true of the common quadrupeds, and I will 
venture to say, of the human eye. * Perhaps this remark 
has been made by others, but the circumstance is not gene- 
rally understood. It is so difficult to obtain a distinct view of 
these bodies, undisturbed, that I am partly indebted to accident, 
for having been undeceived respecting them : but, having once 
made the observation, I have learnt to show it in an unques- 
tionable manner. I remove the posterior hemisphere of the 
sclerotica, or somewhat more, and also as much as possible of 
the vitreous humour, introduce the point of a pair of scissors 
* Vid. Hall. Physiol. V. p. 432. et Duverney, ibi citat. 
