The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-11-15
How Eyes Of the Young are Damaged.

Resuming now the consideration of
near-sight, NE proceed to suggest some
of its principal catises, as follows:
l. Too early use by school children Of
books, states and writing paper, or copy
books, when blackboards and models
would be better. Type and script letters
and figures, and their primary combina-
| tions att least, should never be taught from
books, but from large and perfectly
formed models, printed ON cards and
hung on the wall. When the eye and
the memory are sufficiently trained to
easily recognize and name each figure
and letter at sight, andwhen some knowl-
edge has been gained of the power of
letters and figures in combination, then
the same forms in books will be at once
familiar as old aequaintances, and may
be studied without straihing the sight
To train the hand without straining the
sight presents greater practical diff
Guilty. In the large schools, of course,
all the children can not go to the black
board. But considerable practice in
drawing large lines and simple objects ON
good-sized states, in sort of free
hand style, should precede the for
nation of letters and figures, and, when
these are begun, they should be made of
generous size. A correct position, mean
while, should be an imperative require
fnent; and until it becomes habitual and
easy, good work should be held to be of
secondary Importance. Hard slate-pen-
ellis and greasy slate-surfaces should not
be permitted; both should be subject
to systematic inspection
g. Ignorance or laxity on the part of
parents and primary teachers, in per-
mitting faulty positions of the head,
body, and book, during reading, study,
and writing, and in not seeking early to
secure the intelligent cooperation of
the ptlpil by simple and appropriate
physiological instruction.
8. A prolonged and steady looking at
an object or at objects near the eye,
though at proper distance, without-estor
frequent change of the visual focus, as
in long and absorbed noyel-reading, in
tense study, or persistent diligence in
needlework.
4. The practice of reading or other
wise tisihg the sight at too short range.
| This results in part from insufficient
light; or from its faulty direction, SO
| that the hand or body throws shadow
ION the page; or so that the direct rays
fall upon the eye, causing undue con-
traction of the pupil, while the page is
in shadow. Itresults, also, from improp-
erly graded desks, from small and poor
type and inferior printing ink, and from
pale writing ink-pale when used-and
| from the substitution of the lead-pencil
for the pen, especially in the evening.
5. A prone or forward position of the
head too long maintained, or frequently
repeated, and becoming habit. This
results from reading or studying with
the book in the lap, and from the use of
desks not graded to the height of the
pupil. DIR. Howe reports pupils varying
same grade of desks. The distance
of the eye from the page should
not be less than twelve nor more than
eighteen inches. Having the desk set
too far from the seats also induces this
faulty position. The front of the desk
should overlap the seat one or two
inches.
Donders says: In the hygiene of
myopia the very first point is to guard
against working in stopped position" I"
He favors high, sloping desks, and indi-
Gates "rectilinear drawing on fiat sur
| face as a class of work which is espe-
cially Objectionable.
6. Since vitiated atmosphere is a
frequent feature of the school-room, it
may not be amiss to add here that the
effect of bad air is indirectly to injure,
if not to destroy the sight.
| Z. Allowing asun-glare on the page
while reading; also, transitions from
cloud-shadow to sunshine.
| s. Reading and studying in railroad
cars is known to be fruitful source Of
injury.
4 .. But insufficient light, perhaps more
than any other cause, produces disease Of
the eye and arrangement of the vision
This is not confined to the schools
Sadly frequent as it is found to be there
it is believed to be yet oftener illustrated
at home, both by daylight and in the
evening, in preparation for the schoo
and otherwise. Artificial illumination
is faulty at best, but even in the mos
favored homes, the elder group is apt to
monopolize the shaded drop-light o.
student-lamp, while the school-boy witt
! his textbooks is found somewhere in thu
| outer circle.