Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-03-08
WATERFOWL REPUBLICAN.
Use and Abuse of Eyesight.


DR.. S. H. Clark Of Newark, n j., he's
contributed an interesting article to the
January issue of the Methodist Quarterly,
on the above subject, from which we extract
the following useful suggestions.
ADJUSTMENT OF LIGHT.-Ne cry few give any
attention to this subject until warned by
evidences of the failure of eyesight. This
warning is often practically too late. Light
may be deficient, or may be excessive in
quantity. The introduction of gas into our
private houses has undoubtedly produced
injury to the vision on account of its mis-
application and mismanagement, The
AROUND burner furnishes light of as good
quality, and fame as steady, as can be
procured in any way If properly shaded
and guarded, no better light need be
desired. Several of our eminent jurists,
who have much experience in night work
prefer sperm or wax candles. There is no
d1ubt that great improvements will yet be
introduced SO that the gas fame will be
made to furnish light more like the white
light of day, and more steady. 1t must
of necessity be concentrated, and for this
reason be less excellent than daylight;
besides, it lacks the chromatic onstituents
OF the light which the sun supplies.
TIE BEDROOM. Tho window of the bed
room should not look toward the rising
sun. Unless designing to rise before the
sun is up, the bedroom window looking
toward the east should be carefully pro-
tected by shutter or blind. We haye a
case of serious ophthalma now under cur
care, which owed its origin to a short ex-
posure to sunlight before rising in the
morning. Such cases are not unfrcquent.
For the same reasons. namely, that the
pupil is in dilated condition, and there
fore unprcpared for the accession of light,
evil results have occurred from gazing
at the moon or at an eclipse, Tiewingpano-
ramas, and other similar exposures.
SHADES FOR GAs.-When gas is used it
should never be unshaded The shade
should be diaphanous: it should never be
made of thick paper, or tin or any Opaque
substance, nor should it ever be lined with
rejecting material.
We have suggested shade Of ''blue
barage," or tissue" which being cut Of
the proper shape, it can be readily drawn
over the ordinary wire frame, which is
sold in the shop, to sustain the common
paper shade. This continuance is en-
ployed and gives much satisfaction in sew
eral of our seminaries of learning.
BAD HABITs,-Looking at panoramas
fireworks, lightning reading By the light
of the moon or at twilight. The telescope
or the microscope, are all dangerous modes
of employing the eyes. On this subject
we might say much if space afforded
There are two methods of injuring the eye
by the false direction of light, which we
must pause to mention that is, reading
by a side light or while lying in bed The
universally of the first habit has led to
the frequent observation among ocuIists
that the left eye is more apt to be diseased
The evil effects of the latter are illustrated
IN the case of a patient who has applied to
Us while writing this page. He has as
thenopia in the left eye, caused by reading
in bed while lying upon his right side. It
is true the light should come over the left
shoulder, but it should fall from above,
and the head should be erect.
LIGHTS IN CHURCHEs.-We do not know
of a better place to enter our protest
against the method of lighting churches
We are often told by our patients that it
takes halt the week to recover from the
effects of the gas light on Sabbath evening.
The subject of deranged vision must enter
the church after having passed through
darkness from his own lighted home, to
meet glaring, dazzling light wherever he
turns his eyes. If he would look at the
preacher he must endure the ordeal of
facing Argand burners, or gas jets, shining
directly in his eyes. Surely on this subject
there is too little consideration.