The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-12-20
MYOPY.


How the Eyes of the Young are Damaged.
from the Popular Science Monthly.l
Resuming now the consideration OF
near-sight, we proceed to suggest some
of its principal causes, as follows:
!. Too early use by school-children
of books, states and writing paper, or
copy-books, when black boards and
models would be better. Type and
script letters and figures, and their prl-
mary combinations, at least, should new
er 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 letter and figure at sight, and when
some knowledge has been gained OF the
power of letters and figures in combina-
ton, then the same forms in books Will
be at once familiar as old acquaintance,
and may be studied without straining
the sight To train the hand without
straining the sight presents a greater
practical difficulty. In the large schools,
of course. all the children cannot go to
the blackboard. But considerable
practice in drawing lines and simple OBJ
jects on good-sized states, in a sort OF
free-hand style. should precede the
formation of letters and figures and,
when these are begun, they should be
made of generous size. A correct posi-
ton. meanwhile. should be an 1mpera-
tive requirement; and, until 1t becomes
habitual and easy, good work should be
held to be of secondary importance
Hard slate-pencils and greasy slate-sur-
faces should not be permitted; both
should be subject to systematic inspec-
ton.
2. Ignorance or laxity on the part of
the parents and primary teachers, in
permitting 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
pupil by simple and appropriate physi-
illogical instruction.
3. A prolonged and steady looking at
an object or at objects near the eye,
though at proper distance, without rest
or fire quent change of the visual focus, as
in long and absorbed novel-reading, in.
tense study, or persistent diligence in
needlework.
| 4. The practice of reading or otherwise
using 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 a shadow on the
|
upon the eye, causing undue contraction
OF the pupil, while the page is in
shadow. It results also from improper
| ly-graded desks, from small and poor
| type and inferior printing-ink, and from
faulty color and quality of printing-pa-
per also 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 a 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 vary
| ing eighteen inches in height seated at
the 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 desks 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, &c In the hygiene of
myopy the very first point is to guard
against working in a stopping position. %
He favors high, sloping desks, and indi-
Gates ''rectilinear drawing on a fiat sur
face" as class of work which is especial
" Objectionable.
6. Since a Initiated 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 iniure, if
not to destroy, the sight.
Z. Allowing a sun-glare on the page
while reading; also transitions from
cloud-shadow to sunshine.
s. Reading and studying in railroad
cars is known to be a fruitful source of in
jury.
8. 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. Sad
ly frequent rs 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 school
and otherwise. Artificial illumination is
faulty at best, but, even in the most
favored homes, the elder group is apt to
monopolize the shaded drop-hght or
student-lamp, while the school boy with
his textbooks is found somewhere in the
outer circle.