Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-11-25
VOLUME X.--NO. 50.
WHOLE NUMBER, SEQ.

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falls, or other causes, and the lens, which
is naturally clear as crystal, becomes white
and Opaque. Opacity of the lens, or what
is called cataract, may be produced without
laceration of the membranes, by merely
interfering with the circulation Of the
vessels which supply it. The writer was
lately called to visit an aged female who
had been suffering acutely for months, af-
ter submitting, while in health, to the ma
nipulating itinerant. The lens was dislo-
Gated and pressed on the sensitive nerves
at the margin Of the pupil. The pain oc-
casioned by pressure Of this kind may be
compared to that produced by pressing the
exposed nerve Of tooth with tooth-pick,
but in the former case the pain is continu-
Gus, and not so easily removed as in the
latter. Other cases of injury attributed
to manipulation, such as cross-eyes, double
vision, &c, have come under the writer's
notice. Last month, in presence Of the
editor, be operated for cataract in the case
Of the lady, whose vision, with the aid Of
spectacles, was perfect until she was in
duced by plausible advertisements to pay
} for a course of lessons. After the third
lesson vision became indistinct, and blind
ness ultimately followed. Beer was called
to examine gentleman who had always
enjoyed excellent sight, until it Was
lost in moment: The patient had
been a, party Of friends, when person
stopped suddenly behind him, and covering
both eyes with the hands, wished him to
guess who it was. The former, without
speaking a word, endeavored to escape
from the pressure, and when the eyelids
were opened, he was entirely bereft Of
sight. Although there was not the least
appearance Of injury, the sufferer remained
hopelessly blind. From this melancholy
example, Beer concludes that the eyes are
liable to injury even from moderate pres
sure.
There is popular notion, sanctioned
even by medical men who ought to know
better, that the eyes are preserved by ope-
ming them every morning in basin Of
cold water. Some of the worst cases Of
pctergium of film on the surface of the
eye have been witnessed in those who
water gets into the windpipe, the nostril,
or the ear, irritation is produced, and when
the eyes are opened under water, the SEN
'ation is any thing but agreeable. The
eye is fabricated BY secretion admirably
adapted to facilitate the motions of the lid
over its surface, and as this secretion is
partially soluble in water, it is as incon-
sistent with common sense to wash it
away, as it is to remove the oil from the
wheels of machinery 1t is unquestion-
ably important that the cleanliness of the
organ be maintained yet this may be &C.
complished in the usual manner, without
opening the lubricating surfaces. When
the secretion is vitiated By cold or other
causes, quinceseed tea, or milk aud water
are preferable, for ablution, to water alone
Avoid eye-waters, many of which contain
lead, or there are ten chances to one they
will produce an iucurable film. To make
this clear, dissolve little sugar of lead
in water, and pour the transparent solution
in a wine-glass containing watery solu.
tion of common salt. When the fluids arc
mixed, white precipitate Of chloride Of
lead falls to the bottom Of the glass.
When eye-waters containing lead are per.
mitted to pass to the surface Of the eye.
the tears furnish a comm N salt, and
the lead is precipitated. The transparent
portion of the eye is sometimes entirely
tatooed with this white leaden powder,
and vision becomes indistiuct, or even De.
stroycd.
When the general health is robust, it is
what an amount of labor the
organs of vision will endure; yet when
it is depressed, especially by mental dis
turbance during periodical function, they
are easily deranged by tooclose application
to business. When they have become
weak, much of their preservation depend.
on the proper management of the light to
which they are exposed. When the light
is in excess, it should be diminished aud
when it is deficient, labor should be dis
continued. The light blue of the sky and
the verdure of the fields are the colors to
which the organ Of vision is naturally
adapted, and which it will endure with
most ease. The fame Of good oil lamp
is more regular than that of gas or candles,
and is, therefore, to be preferred. The in
permitting Pickering Of gas is particularly
injurious, as it produces constant contrac-
lions and dilation, of the pupil, and undue
exercise Of the whole organ. BY placing
, shade of light-blue tissuc-paper over the