The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-12-21
WHOLE No. 1864
Che 1)I)psifian
Failing Etcsight.


sc When ought begin to wear spectuc,rs7 20
Is the inquiry Of all who, having passed the
uphill of life, are making their way down.
ward on the other side. Tive necG ssitv Of
glasses comes sooner to some than others.
according to the variety of circumstances and
conditions which are allotted to humar kind
hence it wonld be otherwise to name any
particular age. The sad necessity. however,
comes with timely warnings, each SUCCESSIVE
one becoming more and more decisive. To
the hearty. healthy, temperate and strong,
TIE symptoms" OF needed spectacles begin
To make their nhwelcome appearance about
the age of fifty years. To our wives. SO
unwisely industrious as to stitch. stitch,
stitch, until the bell strikes midnight under
the plea, " ! have to do it, the indications of
failing eyesIght are ten years earlier; but
whether at fifty or forty, they are the sanle.--
Among the very first is an instructive prefer
ence Tor the larger print next, and hctcru
we are aware Of it, il is found that habit has
been formed of selecting the lightest spot in
the room for reading or fine sewing; after a
while; year or more, there is either a dis
position to pnt the newspaper farther from
the eye, OF there is some little adjustment OF
1t necessary in order to enable one to read
with entire comfort; after while, there is a
disposition to stop reading for second CT
two, and wink tile eyes several times; or to
rest them by looking at something at dis
lance, as il to gain more strength to see dis
tinctly the lines and letters read then comes
the feeling Ut aid given to the eye by placing
the finger near the line read, as to steady the
paper, or as if to enable the eye to get at the
line more readily. Reader. when you find
yourself reading by the aid of Your finger,
thus, you are beginning to be an old man
"gray hairs are upon you;'' your sight has
begun to fail you, and you should at once
purchase glasses. Those made of Braz an
pebble, being natural glass, are the best,
because they are not so easily broken. are not
readily scratched, and do not gather moisture
SO soon, hence do not need to he so often
wiped they are more expensive than the
common kind. Common glasses, in blue
steel tram $, cost from one to three dollars:
pebble glasses. six dollars.
When spectacles are first worn, they should
not be employed steadily, only in the early
morning OF dim light, or with fine print or
sewing.
1t is a very bad practice to keep the
| spcctaclcs on all the time, in order to savo
trouble, for the cyesIght fails much more
rapidly under such circumstances, and those
of greater power must be more speedily used
W hen the sight is beginning to fail, the eyes
shonld be favored as much as possible this
Can be done,
LIST. By sitting in such positinn as will
allow the light to fall upon the page or sewing
oblquely over the shoulder.
3D. BY not using the eyes for such prr-
poses Wy an artificial light, or before sunrise,
| or after sunset.
3d. BY avoiding the special use of the eyes
in the morning before breakfast.
4th. BY resting them for half a minute or
so, while reading or sewing or looking ut
small objects, by looking at things at dis
lance or up to the sky, relief is Immediately
felt by so doing.
9Th. Never pick any collected matter from
the eye-lashcs or corners of the eyes with the
finger-nais; rather moisten it with the saliva
and rub it away with the ball Of the finger.
9th. Frequently pass the balls of the fingers
over the closed eyelids, towards the nose
! this carries oil any excess Of water into
the nose itself by means Of the little cana
which leads into the nostril from each inner
| corner OF the eye, which canal tends to
| close M in consequence OF the slight intlama-
tion which attends weakness of eyes.
18th. Keep the feet always dry and warm 80
as to draw any excess Of blood from the
other end of the body.
9Th. Use eye glasses at first, carried in tho
| vest-pocket, attached to guard for they are.
instantly adjusted to the eye with very little
trouble; whereas, if common spectacIcs arr.
nsed such process is required to get them
ready, that to save trouble, the eyes are often
strained to answer a purpose.
| 9th. Wash the eyes ahnndantly every morn;
ing. If cold water is uscd let it be tapred
| against the closed eye with the fingers of the
| hand, not striking hard afiainst the balls of the
eyes. But it would seem a better plan to
| open the eyes in pure warm water, because
warm water is more penetrating than cold I;
it dissoves much more readily and rapidly
any hardened matter that may be about tho
| lids, and is more soothing and more natural.
| lOth. The moment the eyes feel tired. the