The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-10
"MAKINGn EYES.
THOSE (ARTIFICIAL) WINDOWS TO THE SOUL
HOW THEY ARE MADE.

THOSE (ARTIFICIAL) WINDOWS TO THE SOUL
HOW THEY ARE MADE.
A New York Times reporter has been in
vestigating the business of manufacturing
false eyes, and notes his researches in the
shape of an interesting article: zone would
be surprised to learn of the large number OF
people who carry these CLASSY receptions in
their heads. At any rate, the trade seems to
be thriving one. A glass eye well made
will last twelve month, sometimes longer;
but generally after ayear's wear the eve Of
tends, and the wearer is forced to pluck it out.
This is owing to the action of the secretions
upon the material of which the artificial eve
is made, a roughness being produced on the
inner surface which causes irritation. The
composition of the material used in making
artificial eyes is, in most cases, the secret of
individual manufacturers, each of whom
has some point of difference in his own
method of preparing the same. The labor
in making false eyes is not so much in the
shaping, coloring, &c, as it is in the pre-
pairing of the material of which the shell is
constructed. 1t is necessary to guard
against brittleness, and, at the same time, to
procure q substance that will resist the ac-
ton of the secretions of the eye. The
French makers use butter of anthony,
chalk, boraX and uranium in preparing the
material. Other makers use bone matter
manganese, oxide of tin, arsenic, and fine
flint. Mr.. j. t. Davis, of New York, uses a
spar found in Connecticut, avoiding metallic
oxides, thus securing greater durability.
This spar, in order to be made ductile and
fit for use, needs to be subjected to an intense
heat for thirty-six or fOrty-eight hours.
After a manufacturer has prepared the ma
terial it is in shape like the glass tubing
which glass blowers use in their work. The
eye maker must be a skillful artisan, for the
delicate work requires finished touch and
correct judgment. By means OF hydraulic
pressure strong, steady flame is obtained
from the blow-pipe, and to this heat the
tubing is subjected. As soon as the tubing
is melted to white heat, and the point of its
sUBJEcTIoN To THE FLAME,
the artist blows the bulb and shapes it. Then
follows the working in the colering matter,
which is done by fusing colored tubing into
the surface of the bulb. So the pupil, iris,
and delicate veins on the ball of the
eye are initiated. The process is
a neat one. The colored tubing is drawn
out in the hneness of the finest silk thread
and from It's melted tip is left the delicate
vein tracery and radiated shading. After
the eye has been painted into the bulb one
of the tube stems is removed, leaving the
bulb tipping the other stem, the whole
looking as much like young onion peeled
and attached to it's roots as anyt hing else.
Starting from a given point the maker
draws line around the outer surface of the
bulb, and by dextrOus movement cracks
off the shell-like eye from the remaining
stem. The shell is then taken up by forceps
and thrust quickly into strong full flame
from the blow-pipe, thus turning and round
ing the rongh edges and annealing the sur
face. That is the most delicate Job of ali,
as mistake in judgment results in the
cracking of the shell and its
consequent worthlessness, The enam-
eled surface of well-made glass
eye is really lovely. Eye-makers keep
their specimen wares in cases similar to
velvet lined jewel boxes, and the buyer can
be fitted with an eye in short time and at
a reasonable price. When it is considered
how varied is the appearance of the human
eye and how different its shapes and pecu
liarities, it will appear that the optist
achieves no little triumph in successful
application of his art. The fame of the oecu-
lists of this city is widespread. and the
successful treatment of this sensitive organ
none but the truly semitic can hope to win
renovn. AS an auxiliary branch of the pro-
fessicn, that of the optist assumes import
ance. When the skilled surgeon has dine HIS
work and with tho knife snd applied ,nsdi.
eintn kas oslockod dSsRse ana Rmelis n.sd
pain, the oyo-malie1 steps in, and with the
perfected results of his handiwork, supplies
a handsome covering to the scars of disease