[a] In Dissectionibus anatomicis vix aliquid admirabilius, aut artificiosius structurâ Oculi humani, meo quidem judicio, occurrit: ut meritò, per excellentiam, Creatoris appelletur Miraculum. Gul. Fabr. Hildan. Cent. 2. Observ. 1.
So likewise that accurate Surveyor of the Eye, Dr. Briggs, whose Ophthalmography I have met with since my penning this part of my Survey. His Character of this curious piece of God’s Work is, Inter præcipuas corporis animati partes, quæ magni Conditoris nostri sapientiam ostendunt, nulla sanè reperitur, quæ majori pompâ elucet quàm ipse Oculus, aut quæ elegantiori formâ concinnatur. Deum enim aliæ partes vel minori satellitio stipantur, vel in tantam venustatem haud assurgunt; Ocelli peculiarem honorem & decus à supremo Numine efflatum referunt, & nunquam non stupendæ suæ Potentia characteres repræsentant. Nulla sanè pars tam divino artificio & ordine, &c. Cap. 1. §. 1.
[] It is a good Reason Frier Bacon assigns for the Sphæricity of the Eye: Nam si esset planæ figuræ, species rei majoris oculo non posset cadere perpendiculariter super eum——Cùm ergò Oculus videt magna corpora, ut ferè quartam cœli uno aspectu, manifestum est, quòd non potest esse planæ figuræ, nec alicujus nisi sphæricæ, quoniam super sphæram parvam possunt cadere perpendiculares infinitæ, quæ à magno corpore veniunt, & tendunt in centrum Sphæræ: Et sic magnum corpus potest ab oculo parvo videri. For the Demonstration of which he hath given us a Figure. Rog. Bacon. Perspect. Distinct. 4. Cap. 4.
Dr. Briggs saith, Pars antica, (sive Cornea,) convexior est posticâ: hâc enim ratione radii meliùs in pupillam detorquentur, & Oculi fundus ex altarâ parte in majorem (propter imagines rerum ibidem delineandos) expanditur. Ibid. §. 2.
[c] Suppose the Eye had the Retina, or back part flat for the Reception of the Images, as in [Fig. 1.] ABA: it is manifest, that if the Extremes of the Image AA were at a due focal distance, the middle B would be too nigh the Crystalline, and consequently appear confused and dim; but all Parts of the Retina lying at a due focal distance from the Crystalline, as at ACA, therefore the Image painted thereon is seen distinct and clear. Thus in a dark Room, with a Lens at a Hole in the Window, (which Sturmius calls his Artificial Eye, in his Exercit. Acad. one of which he had made for his Pupils, to run any where on Wheels). In this Room, I say, if the Paper that receives the Images be too nigh, or too far off the Lens, the Image will be confused and dim; but in the Focus of the Glass, distinct, clear, and a pleasant Sight.
[d] Blemmyis traduntur capita abesse, Ore & Oculis pectori affixis. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 8. Occidentem versus quosdam sine cervice Oculos in humeris habentes. Ib. l. 7. c. 2. From these, and other such like Fables, in this last cited Chapter of Pliny, no doubt our famous Romancer Sir J. Mandevile, had his Romnantick Stories related in his Travels.
[e] See [Book V. Chap. 2. Note (e).]
[f] Galen deserves to be here consulted, who in his Book De Usu Partium, from many Considerations of the Hand, such as what is here mentioned, as also its Structure, Site and Use, largely proves and reflects upon the Wisdom and Providence of the Contriver and Maker of that Part.
[g] Thus in Hares and Conies, their Eyes are very protuberant, and placed so much towards the sides of their Head, that their two Eyes take in nearly a whole Sphere: Whereas in Dogs, (that pursue them) the Eyes are set more forward in the Head, to look that way more than backward.
[h] Sed lubricos Oculos fecit [Natura] & mobiles, ut & declinarent siquid noceret; & aspectum, quo vellent, facile converterent. Cicer. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 57.