The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-07-15
The Eyes.

Trouble with the eyes is becoming very
common among our pupils in advanced
classes. The normal eye is capable of an
almost infinite variety of uses. 1t can see
near and far with equal facility, but like
anv other organ. if used almost exclusively
in one direction, its loses its range OF
ability. Hence, if kept too constantly on
the printed page, the rarge of vision is
impaired, and it may become near-slght-
ed by much reading of fine print.
II. W. Williams, M. D., in the January
number of the Atlantic says: "One OF
the first rules laid down by a teacher to
his pupils should be not to keep their eyes
fixed upon their books.-Apart from the
probable injury to the eye itself, by too
close application, I am satisfied that
lessons, especially those requiring thought,
cannot be as well committed to memory
when the eyes are fixed upon the page, as
if they are permitted to wander. The
eyes must, of course, look at the book
often and long enough to take in the idea,
but If they are too steadily kept there, the
perceptive power seems to occupy itself
with the visible objects to an extent which
is unfavorahle to other mental processes.
~ ifSLliiSulSLiC CHSiafSt an S0io w ".S3
II know now how to make face think"
And he explained that the secret lay in
giving a certain expression to the eyes by
causing their axes to have a very slight
divergence from each other. This cores
ponds with my observation, and this posi-
tion of thought is exactly the opposite of
that assumed by the eyes when looking at
a book.
When the optic nerve has become super
sensitive to light, a good candle is a great
relief Of course, it will not make the
room bright as gas or kerosene, but it will
furnish light enough for reading, and the
soft light will be much less trying to the
eye.
Twilight is very grateful to the eye if
we rest in it, but very trying if we read or
sew in the transition stage from day to
night. or night to day.-The use of artifi-
cial light at early morning is very bad for
the eyes, much more SO than at evening.
TO 60 from sound sleep and deep darkness
into the light Of gas, especially for study
or piano practice, is very injurious.
The study of any foreign language is
much moro trying to the eye than the
reading Of ones own. The words lack
the familiar look, and hence they are not
50 easily recognized. The searching for
words in the dictionary is particularly hard
for the eye, and if the alphabet be dlssi-
milar to ours it is still more trying.
Hence those who have weak eyes, and
those who don't want to have them, should
avoid piano practice and l~exicons by arti-
fetal light, especially at early morning,
Those whose eyes are in any degree sensi-
tive will accomplish more in the week or
month to study only by daylight, and
during the evening avoid gas and give
themselves up to plain knitting and cheer
full conversation for deep study. close
thought even, if the eye is not used. tends
to determine the blood to the head, and
makes the eyes worse if it be inaamed or
painful. Embroidery, or even any kind
of worsted work, is bad, as bright colors
affect sensitive eyes very seriously.
Reading from a moving page is also try
ing to the eyes. Many persons who have
travelled much, tell me they have perman-
emily impaired their sight by reading on
the cars. Young ladies who go out to
walk with a book cheat themselves in two
ways. The exercise they get is not good
for anything, and the moving page and
the brighter light than within doors, in
jures the eye. To make bodily exercise
profitable the brain must rest from books
and send its nervous and circulatory force
into the muscular system.-[Herald of
Health.