The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-04-20
A Few Suggestions as to the Best Means
Of Preserving the Eyesight.

| OF preserving the EyeSlgnt.
The eve, of all organs of the body, is
the most delicate and beautiful, the
most fearfully and wonderfully made /;
and if we remember that it is subject to
over forty different diseases, any one of
which may derange or even destroy it.,
it is surely a plain duty to do every
thing we can to retain the blessing of
good sight.
A large number of these diseases are
of an inhammatory character, and these
can generally be kept at bay by avoid
ing exposure to cold or wet or damp,
attention to the general health and tenn
perate living. Others are dependent
upon malconstruetion of the organ it
self and for these the skillful optician
must be ones physician.
A disease of the eve not by any means
uncommon, and which when taken early
can usually be cured, is dmGuroSis, or
gsttG serena. There is great weakness
and some obscurity of vision in the
earlier stages; the patient has an un-
certain gait, and a strange look about
the eyes, from the sluggishness with
which the eye contracts in the light.
There is also at the same time deteriOr-
alton of the general health. If this dis
ease comes on from Overwork, anxiety
of mind, or debility-fron whatever
cause-perfect rest, tonics, sea-air and
cold bathing become imperative, if total
blindness is to be averted.
Overwork and poring too long over
hnp pl-s Ill, 81
dusk or by gas-Gght, will, in process of
time, weaken the strongest eyes in the
world.
This is more especially to be avoided
if you are at all near-sighted. A
healthy, well-formed eye ought to be
able to discern an object or line the
600th of an inch in diameter at a dis
tance of six inches, and we should call a
person near-sighted who could not read
the ordinary small type at distance of
twelve inches.
Long or far sightedness is one of the
earliest symptoms of advancing old age
when it is not the result of poverty
of blood, in which case it may
be corrected by iron tonics and Quinine
every thing that tends to strengthen
the body and nerves generally keeps it
at bay.
Many people complain of fatigue in
the eyes, or weakness of sight; they
can not read or write for any length of
time without the page becoming indis-
tinct and the letters running into each
other. These are symptoms which can
be removed by attention to the general
health, rest, tonics, and frequently
(three or four times a day. bathing the
forehead and eyes with cold water. But
never neglect them. Cold bathing to the
whole body every day-making habit
of it, in facts a grand conservation of
sight. For this purpose, if the person
can bear it, the shower bath is the best.
But in taking a plunge-bath, always
dash little water in the face first, then
spring boldly in; don't take the water
toe at time.
When your eyes are at all weak, nev-
er work or read in the twilight, and
never go out in very bright sunshine,
especially if the ground is covered with
show. Out in Greenland, after shoot
ing for five or six hours on the ice, we
used always to come on board as hun
CRY as hawks, but blind as moles. We
were all right while on the snow, bat
the steward had to lead us to the table
and assist us in eating. In about two
hours we came round again. This snow
blindness is caused in great measure
by extreme contraction of the pupil.
Cold water to the eyes and few whiffs
of chloroform tend to dispel it.
Color blindness is rather strange
affection, and any one 50 afflicted should |
never attempt to learn to be an artist,
a signal-man or a sailor. However,
am convinced that this affection is often |
more apparent than real. l mean that |
it is not so much that the man does not |
know the difference in the cOlOrs as
that he fOrgets to name them Alright.
Surely it is unnecessary for me here |
to raise my voice against that silly and !
most perniciOus habit that some young
ladies have of dilating the pupil with |
belladonna or solution of atrOpine be-
fore going to party or ball. That it
is done, and pretty frequently, too,
have had ample means of ascertaining. |
A more certain way of spelling the eye
sight could hardly be devised let those
who doubt me try it for one season, and
see, as the blind man said.
Regular living, temperance, a suffi-
cient amount of both bodily and mental !
exertiOn, early hours and the bath are
the chief preservatives to the eyesight. |
.HGrper'S BGzdr: