TBANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 
91 
Bmarks upon the Vital Principle. By James Billet, M.R.C.S. 
He object of this communication was to show the affinity of the vital principle, 
srnibfc vital properh’, to electricity—electricity subjected to certain influences by 
itteoaof its presence in the animal body, whereby its characteristics were renuered 
not JO traceable and distinct as when placed in other circumatances. 
ftiwtwjjowfs in the Anatomy of the Eye, chtejly with reference to its Power 
of Adjustment. By William Bowman, F.R.S. 
The author describes a lover of the cornea which has been hilberto overlooked, 
lad which he calls the snleriorelatlic lamina. It is placed in front of the lamellated 
linoe and the conjunctival ejiitheliiim rests upon it. It is homogeneous and traiis- 
aad correspimds to ihe “ basement raenibrano” of the skin and mucous mem- 
It Is unalfected by acids nr by boiling, aud has much rcacmbUuce to the 
ntHiBrarie uf Deuiotin (or iiorterinr elaslic lamina) aad to the capsule of the lens. I 
h Ismiul down to the lomcllated tissiie of the cornea by fibres which pass into the 
bur nt live more sujiprficml lamella! and lose themselvea upon them. At the border 
dthc eomca it tenninates iu almilur fibres which penetrate the sclerotica- Its pur- 
poie icems to be to siwlain the due curvature of the front of the cornea and to support 
epithelium. 
The next point noticed is the nature of tho interstices of the lamellat«l cornea, 
the author shows to be tubular, and to form a system of channels having a very 
WniiB snangemeiit. They are capable of being injected with mercury or coloured 
>i*», »nd liftVD a remarkably straight course, lying in numerous stiperimscd senes cor- 
^•ding to the lartnfll®. They appear not to be ctmiinnous with the lyinjilmtics 
w Wood-vesveU, but yet probably serve us the special conduit* for the uutniion ot 
“^tidfidly transparent atniciure. 
n. I pHssc* to consider the nature of the cimneition existing between 
lens and the outer ctwo, and conceives that a muscular structure intervenes to 
IJhifh itmy reasonably be nasiziied the adjusting power of the eye. This striicmrc is 
pay ring lying between Ujq sclerotica and ciliury processes, tind generally known 
“ajrtthe name of the ciliary ligutneut. The uulhor terms it the ciliarf/ mvede. 
.^^posti’rior elastic lamina of llic cornea is described as terminating in a nlexitovm 
MWic ilbrwis tissue pasting in a radiating direction towards the ciliary ligament. 
t Mue may be traced in three divisions : —Uu A set going to the im and termed 
y ari of the iris. and. The principal portion giving origin to the ciliary muscle. 
'«• A set which posses to the sclerotica utter leaving it bo as to enclose the sinus 
^t^ruiridis.' 
to the nature of Ihe connexion subsisting between the lens and the 
gr^^dyofthe chomid, the author dcacribes the ciliaiy muscle as po.ssessing a 
J2f^ly fibrous texture, the fibre* passing from the margin of Iho cornea over the 
2" ciliarj' body, and being inserted Into that tough layer of choroid 
^ from which the cilinrv folds imsa towurd* the lens. Ho shows that the muscle 
""‘triced variety,' loadeil with nuclei ; that its hUiod-vewels "T 
those of such muscles; and that though its nervous supply is very J ' 
Zl* '■elntlon to its incss. He argues that the motor clement of the cihaiy 
S fro"' the third nerve, is larger than the iris can be supposed to ri^uire, 
that this struemre, tihich deceives u coi.sidmb o 
particularly n* it contains none of the distiiigui ^ 
"'’‘I file correspondence in arransement and 
»»BW •^™'‘'ire and thil whicli Sir F. Crumpton long dvMr^bed 
bird, and enters minutely intone 'anatomy of Khoimt 
of cHablishing the idemity of the wo ^ 
. i'^ M probably .an analogous sinicturc 
«, anu which was lately described bv Dr. Todd and hmiselt. 
^ Wtiwr then considers what would p^obabIy be the action of the muscle upon the 
