The structure and physiology of the eye, as affording evidences of design, with illustrations : being the substance of a lecture delivered before the Loughboro' Literary and Philosophical Society, March 6th, 1855 / by B.W. Brown [sic].

  • Browne, Benjamin Webster.
Date:
[1855]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The structure and physiology of the eye, as affording evidences of design, with illustrations : being the substance of a lecture delivered before the Loughboro' Literary and Philosophical Society, March 6th, 1855 / by B.W. Brown [sic]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    compose ? The intelligent mind contemplates the works of the Almighty,—not so much as evidences of His existence, as marks of His wisdom, power, and beneficence,—marks which it perceives in small things, as well as in great. To the intelligent mind, indeed, the faintest star that twinkles in the firmament of heaven, equally with the glorious luminary of our system,—the drop of rain equally with the mighty ocean,—the grain of sand equally with the loftiest mountain,—the infusory animalcule equally with the gigantic whale— bear evidence to the wisdom and beneficence of their Almighty Creator. Yet, although in everything presented by the fair world around us,—from the smallest to the greatest,—marks of the wisdom and beneficence of God may be perceived,—it is pleasing and instructive, in a high degree, to have our attention directed to instances in which, from the striking harmonious arrangement, wonderful contrivancies, and adaptation of means to ends,—wise forethought and beneficent design are more than usually conspicuous. Perhaps, the history of the senses (especially that of Vision) presents us with such instances of as interesting and instructive a character as are to be met with in the whole domain of nature. In short, whoever, minutely investigates the interesting subject of Vision, finds himself compelled involun- tarily to exclaim in terms of the highest admiration of the superior beauty and contrivance of its organ—the Eye. Its exquisite beauty,— the brilliancy of its structure,—the complication of its movements,— its exquisite sensibility,—all tend to excite our astonishment and delight. It is by the Eye we receive that [necessary information relative to objects so vast, which the powers of other organs cannot grasp,—the other senses cannot comprehend;—it has been empha- tically termed the great inlet—the high road to knowledge, of good and of evil,—it is in fact, the very window of the soul. Amongst the several senses, it must be almost universally ac- knowledged, there is none so important, so valuable,—so intrinsically
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