What Tears are Made Of.

Evening Star, Issue 8716, 7 January 1892, Page 4

What Tears are Made Of.

The principal element in the composition of a tear,' aa may readily be supposed, ia water. The other elements are salt, soda, phosphate of soda, and muous, each in small proportions. A dried tear, seen through, a miorosoope of good average power, represents a peculiar appearance. The water, after evaporation, leaves behind it the saline ingredients, which amalgamate and form: themselves into lengthened ctosb lines, and look like a nnmber of minute fish bones. The make-up is just the same, whether the tears are for joy or grief. The tears are secreted in what are called the lachrymal glands, situated over the eyeball and underneath the lid. The contents of these glands are oarried along and under the inner Burfaoe of the eyelids by means of six or seven very fine channels, and are discharged a little above the cartilage supporting the lid. The discharge of tears from the lachrymal glands is not occasional and aooidental, as is oommonly supposed, bnt continuous. It goes on day and tight—though less abundantly at nightthrough the conduits, and spreads equally over the snrfape of the lids. After serving its purpose, the flow ia oarried away by two little draine, situated in that corner of each eye nearest the nose, into which they ran, and called the lachrymal points.