Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1895 — CARE OF THE EYE. [ARTICLE]

CARE OF THE EYE.

A Few Simple Rules for Preserving the Sight Intact. A few simple rules carefullyobeyed will do much to preserve the eyes in health, Light and color in

rcomf are important The walls are best finished in a single tint Windows should open directly upon the outer air, and light is better when they are close together, not separated by much wall space; not distributed. Light should be abundant but not dazzling. It should never come from in front nor should sunlight fall upon work or on the printed page. Never read or sew in the twilight, after an exhausting fever, nor before breakfast. Look up frequently when at work and fix the eyes upon some distant object. Break up the stretch of wall by pictures that have a good perspective. These rest the eye, as does looking out of a window. When at work on minute objects rise occasionally, take deep inspirations with the mouth closed, stretch the body erect, throw the arms backward and forward, and step to an open window or out into the open air for a moment. Two desks of different heights are valuable for a student or writer, one to stand by and the other to sit by. Plenty of open air exercise is essential to good eyesight. The general tone of the nervous system lias much to do with the eyesight. Prolonged or excessive study frequent!}' has pain or poor vision as symptom. The use of tobacco may bring about defective vision, and alcohol sometimes destroys it utterly, owing to nerve inflammation that it sets up. City life, with shut in streets and narrow outlook, favors the production of errors in vision. When looking at distant objects the normal eye is at rest. To see near by, muscular effort is required. This effort, when constant, changes the shape of the eyeball. After the eighteenth or twentieth year, parts of the eye that earlier shows signs of bulging, or becoming near sighted, may acquire new strength, and those who escape myopia up to this time are naturally free from it after that. The children of near sighted parents are in special danger. They require constant care. It is best to have all children’s eyes examined for defects when they are 10 years old. Near sight and color blindness are barriers to the army and navy, to certain fine and mechanic arts, and to many industrial pursuits. Their early recognition saves time and money, and often prevents the discouragement of defeat. Ounces of prevention are better than tons of cure. There are but few forms of partial or total blindness that were not at one time the reverse of hopeless. In view of this fact, the duty of parents and guardians is clearly manifest. Ignorance must be replaced by knowledge, carelessness by enlightened forethought. Precautions in the way of type, light, color and rest and exercise, togethei with occasional calls upon the oculist, will probably secure fair sight for life.