Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/241

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Ancient and Modern Learning.
201

stalline Humour taken out of an Ox's or a Man's Eye, be placed in the Hole instead of the Glass. The Way how the watry Humour of the Eye, when by Accident lost, may be and is constantly supplied, was first found out and described by Monsieur Nuck (g)(g) De Ductibus novis Aquosis, who discovered a particular Canal of Water arising from the internal Carotidal Artery, which creeping along the Sclerotic Coat of the Eye, perforates the Cornea near the Pupil, and then branching its self curiously about the Iris, enters and supplies the watry Humour.(h) Galen de V. P. lib. X. c. II. As to the Vessels which moisten the Eye, that it may move freely in its Orbit, the Ancients knew in general that there were Two Glands in the Corners of the Eyes (h);(i) Observat. Anatomicæ de Oris Oculorum & Narium Vasis. but the Lympheducts, through which the Moisture is conveyed from those Glands were not fully traced till Steno (i) and Briggs (k) described them; so that there is just the same Difference between our Knowledge and the Ancients(k) Ophthalmographia. in this particular, as there is between his Knowledge who is sure there is some Road or other from this Place to that, and his who knows the whole Course, and all the Turnings of the Road, and can describe it on a Map.

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