Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 June 1898 — Why You “See Stars.” [ARTICLE]

Why You “See Stars.”

If a man falls so as to strike his head violently on the ice or on the pavement, or if he gets a blow over his eye he is said to “see stars.” The cause of this curious phenomenon is found in a peculiarity of the optic nerve. The function of that nerve is to convey to the brain the impression of light. It recognizes nothing in the world but light. It is susceptible to no other impression, or, if acted upon by any other agent, it communicates to the brain the intelligence of the presence of that agent by sending along Its fiber flashes of light only. Irritate this-nerve with a probe or other Instrument, and it conveys no sensation of pain, but simply that of luminous sparks. The pain of the blow on the eye or the fall on the head is realized through the nerves of general sensation; but, insusceptible to pain or other feeling, the optic nerve sends to the brain its report of the shock by flashes, sparks and “stars.”