Show What Tears Are I tkalo Of The principal element in decomposition of a tear as may readily be supposed is i water The other elements are salt soda phosphate of lime phosphate of soda and mucus each in small proportions A dried tear seen through a microscope of good average power presents a peculiar appearance The water after evaporation I leaves behind it the saline ingredients which amalgamate and form themselves into lengthened cross lines and look like a number of minute fish bones The tears arc secreted in what are called the lachrymal glands situated over tho eyeball and underneath the lid The contents con-tents of tl glands arc carried along and I under the inner surface of the eyelids by means of six or seven very fine channels and are discharged a little above the Cart i lage supporting the lid The discharge of tears from the lachrymal lachry-mal glands is occasional and accidental 1 as is commonly supposed but continuous It gees on both day and night though less abundantly at night t hrough the con duits and spreads equally over the surface sur-face of the lids After serving its purpose the flow is carried car-ried away by two little drains situated in that corner of each eye nearest tho nose into which they run and called the lachrymal lachry-mal points = Brooklyn Standard |