The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-17
The influence of scnool.llre on sight.

DIR. Liebreich, ophthalmic surgeon and |
lecturer at st. Thomas Hospital, London,
has been making investigations on this sub
ject in English schools, and finds almost
everywhere arrangements more OF less M
furious to the organ of sight. 1t is import
ant that this subject should be considered
in our own schools. An article In the
american Aftisd, gives nm abstract OF Or.
iiebreich's remarks, from which we select
the following
The changes in the functions of the Vi
sual organ developed under the influence
of school-life are three in number
y decrease of the range of vision
2. Decrease of the acuteness of vision.
3, Decrease of the endurance of vision.
Decrease of the range Of vision, or short
sightedness, is developed almost exclusive
ly during school-life. 1t is true that short
sightedness is, often hereditary, but this
must not be thought to mean that the chill
dren of short-sighted parents are born with
this defect.. They have only the predispo-
isition to become short-sighted, and this
predisposition is developed during school
life, more or less, according TO crcum-
stances.
Il, Decrease of acuteness of vision is gem
orally the result of positive diseases OF the
eye, which may exceptionally be induced
at school. This defect is, however, often
produced in one eye by unsuitable arrange
ments for work, which disturb the common
action of the two eyes, and weaken the eye
which is excluded from use.
Decrease of endurance is a very frequent
affection, and arises principally from two
causes. The first is a congenital condition
called hWermd1Opid, which can be correct
ed by convex glasses, and which cannot,
therefore, be laid at the door OF school HE.
The second is disturbance IN the harmonl-
.ous action of the muscles of the eye-a de-
feet which is difficult to cure, and which IS
generally caused by uns utable arrange
ments for work.
These three anomalies all arise from the
same circumstances, viz insufllclent. OF
iill-arranged light, OF wrong position our
ing work.
"a, insufficient or il-arranged light obligef
us to lessen the distance between the eye
and the book while reading or writing
We must do the same if the desks or seats
are not in the right position or OF the righ
shape and SIZE. When the eye looks at
very near object the accommodating appa
pstSs and the muscles which turn the eye
so that the axes converge toward the sam
object, are brought INTO conai.io.i
greater tension and this is the princlpa
cause of short sightedness and its increase
If the muscles of the eye are not stron
enough to resist such tension for any lengt
of time one of the eyes is lett to itself
and while one is directed to the object tn
other deviates outwardly, receives falls
images, and its vision becomes lndlstlncl
tOr, perhaps, the muscles resist these d!ti
,culties for time, become weary, and thu
lis produced the diminution Of endurance.
In order to prevent these evils, the llgl
should be sufficiently strong, and fall
= the table from the left-hand side; and, 1
far as possible, from above. The studen
should sit straight, and not have the boo
"a nearer to the eye than ten inches at U
least. 4 Besides this the book should
raised twenty degrees for writing, and Tor
degrees for reading. The proper light
most easily obtained if the class room is
an oblong shape; thewindows being m o
Of the long sides, and the desks aTranIig
parallel to the short walls, so that the hg
falls from the left side. The desk OF t
master should be placed near the short W
toward which the scholars look.