Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-04-25
Near.SightedDess.

One Of the questions now enlisting
atten ton is that of a medical super
visor for our schools. We have no
doubt that the supervision proposed is
apublic necessity that diphtheria, scar
let fever, measles and other conta-
gious diseases among children, might
thereby be materially limited in their
ravages; and the injury now done to
the permanent health by foul air, i'm
proper temperature, badly-arranged
light, and by undue stimulation of
young brains, might be greatly dimin-
ished and that many practical ideas,
of lifelong value, on physiology and
hygiene, might be rendered familiar
to pupils, either directly through such
supervisor, or indirectly through their
/ teachers. al
Few, however, would think that
near-sightedness was a grave subject
enough for a'medical Inspector Most
look on 1t as very harmless, and as
pretty likely to insure good sight when
that of Others would be failing. In
rare cases, where the near-sighledness
remains unchanged, this may result;
tendency is to increase, and this in
crease caused by a progressive elonga-
ton of the ball of the eye, may soon
give rise to distressing symptoms, and
at length terminate in vision greatly
impaired or utterly ruined.
The fact is, q hedf-Sighted eye is a
disedsed eye. The highest authorities
are now fully agreed III this. And the
disease almost always begins in the
school-room, and increases rapidly
through the period of education and
growth.
But what makes the matter a very
grave one, is that our school systems
in this country and in Europe are
rendering the disease well-nigh uni
Versal
DR.. Cohn, of Breslau, examined over
10000 school children and pupils, and
while there was scarcely a case of near
sight among those who had Just en-
tered school, cases began to appear and
multiplied rapidly from year to year.
until, by the tenth year Of school life,
they constituted about one-quarter of
all (24.D; at the twelfth, about one
half $50 and at the fourteenth, more
than three-titths $3.50. Other distin-
guished Investigators have reached
similar results in other parts of Eu-
rope.
In our own country it is essentially
the same. The majority of the pupils
in our city schools are found to be thus
affected. Examinations in our col
Z cl, u thnCA ra "A Dl
at entrance become more near-Slghted
as they advance in their course. One
fact that may seem singular is that
Large portion it was so with nearly
one-quarter of the near-Sighted in a
class examined in Harvard University
Are not aware that their sight is DEF
fectiye.
Whether a medical Inspector is APP
pointed tor our schools or not, We
trust that measures may be taken for
the arrest Of the alarming deterioration
OF sight now going on among the youth
OF our land. Meanwhile, the following
rules may serve as helps:
|. l. Keep the printed page nearly two
feet from the eye. .s..-.t
2. As far as possible secure good
air. not oyerheated-not above sew
enty. .N'H#p %
8. Never read with the direct rays
of the sun falling on the page.
4. Don't read with insufficient light.
5. Don't read Immediately after a
hearty meal ....r. ....
s. Avoid books with extra fine
print. i.." .
7. Don't continue any reading or
study more than two hours without
change and respite. - Yottth's CompaH-
ion. .#.'.. ~ .u.#. 5000 34 r.