The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-01-16
Talks about Eealth-our Eyes.

Indigestion is the principal source of weak
eyes. Reading in the cars often disturbS the
vision. A delicate and wonderful apparatus
WITHIN the eye is constantly busy in adapting
IL to the varying focal distances. The jerk
ing motion OF the cars compels an exhaustive
effort to maintain the required adoption
Thousands OF eyes are spoiled by reading in
cars and other vehicles. Recently was con-
suited by railway express man who had be-
come totally bind by reading the newspapers
in the cars. Thousands who have never CON
sciously suffered any Inconvenience from the
habit, are Obliged to wear glasses prematurely,
to correct an unsteadiness OF vision produced
in this way. Reading with the gas hight be-
fore you is another cause of weak eyes. This
should always hang quite high, and behind you,
and allowed to shine over the shoulder. Ii
convenient it should be over the left shoulder.
If Using kerosene, it is best to employ lamps
that hang ON the wall. Neither should YOU
read with face towards the window. e -'siH
Reading by twilight is dangerous. Gradu-
ally accommodating itself to the receding light,
the eye is unconsciously strained. have seen
more than one case OF grave disease of the
eye produced by an undue effort to use vision
too long at twilight.
White paint is another mischief to the eyes,
White paint outside, white paint inside, white
everywhere. During the season of brightest
sunshine, the glare hurts the eye. wonder lift
is not in bad taste likewise? notice that ar
lists have none about them.
In our constant reading the eye is much
tried by the white paper. hope that the
tinted paper, with still deeper color may be-
come fashionable. ~
Avoid reading by artificial light when YOU
can. We read TOO much. We read as we eat,
peli-meh, hotchity-potch; no mastication, no
digestion. II as a people, we read less, We
might know more. Few indications are more
unpromising in child than remarkable
passion for books. doubt il good lady who
caned on me the other day with her son, win
ever forgive me tor what [ said to her. Her
boy was of the regular Boston type, great
head and eyes, with small and narrow chest.
She said in a mournfu voice. but with evident
pride, "Ah, doctor, he has such passion for
books As soon as he is out of bed he is down
at some great book, and scarcely leaves it but
for mis- meas. He never plays like other chill
dren." told her among things unless she
could break up that habit, her son would very
Likely turn OUT d0H, Sne left very soon with
belief That did not understand her sons
case. 1 should have about as much hope of a
man who gave himself up to childish sports
as should of a child who gave himself up to
the habits and lire OF man.
The newspapers have much to answer for
in the way of small type and imperfect print
ing. would cheerfnly give two hundred
dohars year to support newspaper which
would give us, morning and evening, half
column OF the really reliable news, instead of
titeen columns of diluted specuIatlons and
tricky canards, the reading of which hurts our
eyes, and wastes our precious time.-fDr. Dio
Lewis. ..,..,..,...- ..t...... ID, -