The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-04-27
Preservation of the Eye.Sight.

fIcSeT faGlOu VI tuc Gyc.Oi6Aes
The eye, 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, tits sure
ly only plain duty to do everything 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 avoiding
exposure to cold or.wet or damp, atten-
tion to the general health and temperate
living. Others are dependent upon NAL
construction of the organ itself, and for
these the skillful optician must be ones
physician.
A disease of the eye not by any means
uncommon, and which when taken early
can usually be cured, is amaurosis, or
gutta serena. There is great weakness
and some obscurity of vision in the ear.
lier stages; the patient has an uncertain
gait, and strange look out of the eyes,
from the sluggishness with which the eye
contracts in the light There is also at
the same time deterioration of the gener-
al health. If this disease comes on from
overwork, anxiety of mind, or debility
from whatever cause-perfect rest, tonics,
sea air and cold bathing become impera-
tive, if total blindness is to be averted.
Overwork and poring too long over
books and papers, especially in the. dusk
or by gas-light, 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 dis
cern an object or line the 6O0th of an
inch in diameter at distance Of six
inches, and we should call person near
sighted who could not read the ordinary
small type at q 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; everything
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 indistinct and
the letters running into each, other
These are symptoms which can be re-
moved by attention to the general health,
rest, tonics, and frequently three or four
times day. bathing the forehead and
eyes in cold water. But never neglect
them. Cold bathing to the whole body
every day-making habit of it, in, fact
lis grand conservation of sight. For
this purpose, if the person can bear it,
the shower-bath is the best. But in
taking plunge bath, always dash little
water in the face first, then spring boldly
in; don't take the water toe at a time.
When your eyes are at all weak, never
work or read in the twilight, and never
20 out in very bright sunshine, especially
if the ground is covered with snow. Out
in Greenland, after shooting for five or
six hours on the ice, we used always to
come on board as hungry as hawks, but
blind as moles. We we're all right while
on the snow, but 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 a great
measure by extreme contraction of the
pupil. Cold water to the eyes and a few
whifs of chloroform tend to dispel it.
blindness is rather strange af-
lection, aud any one so afflicted should
never attempt to learn to be an artist, a
signal-man, or sailor. However, J. am
convinced that this affection is often
more apparent than real. I 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 belladon-
ma or solution Of atropine before goingto
party or ball. That it is done, and
pretty frequently too, have.had ample
means of ascertaining. A more certain
way ofspoiling 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 sufficient
amount of both bodily, and mental e1er-
ton, early hours and the bath are the
chief preseryatives to the eye:sight.-
Harper's Basar.