The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-10-04
COLOR BLINDNESS.
DR.. Spalding's Report on the Employees
Of the Maine Central.

Dr.. James A. Spalding has handed to Pres-
dent jackson his report on the condition OF the
sight of the employees of the Maine Central
Railroad as far as it is affected by color blind
ness, and we publish the report below as fol-
lows:
PORTLAND, Me-, Oct ], 1879
Geo E. b. Jackson, Esq, President u. G. Il. II.
DEAR SR:-In obedience to your request
made to me in August last, L have the honor
to report that in the intervening time have
examined in Portland and at various places
along the road, engineers, firemen switchmen
and bralzemen to the number of siXty-eight,
for color blindness, as well as to discover the
general state of the eyes and vision OF all the
persons concerned.
The men were first examined separately to
see what vision each had in each eye. For this
purpose, Snellen's standard type were set up at
twenty feet and the amount of vision then de-
noted by a fraction the denominator repre-
senting the distance at which the standard
tyne should be seen, the numerator the dis
lance at which it was seen. Afterwards each
man v as tested with Snellens colored type,
and made to name each color Finally, Prof.
Holmgren's worsted test was employed with
very satisfactory results.
Eight men were found who were deficient,
from the European standpoint OF perfect
sight in both eyes. OF these eight, three after
wards presented themselves, and are to be fur
nished with proper glasses. Thus the vision of
both eyes will be as nearly equal as possible,
so that in case of njury to the better eye, from
cinders or blow the other eye may be enabled
to do good service until relief can be gained.
This question of having bothseyes in good order
seems to me very important in the case OF rail-
road employees, when we consider how Ire,
uuently one eye lat least is liable to be interfered
with by cnders or gravel. The other five men
should be examined further. Besides testing
vision, the eyelids and their lining membranes
were also examined in each case, as well as the
field of vision.
Of color blindness but two cases were found,
one in healthy eyes, the other in eyes threat
treatment, when colors may be again well per-
ceived This was o case of red-green blind
ness The other case was one of green blind
ness, in which green is liable to be COMPOUNDED
with yellows, white, shades of gray and light
browns.
The testimony of firemen who have been on
engines with this man, at various times for
long periods, is to the effect that there has
never been any hesitation on his part in distin-
gushing between the danger and safety sig
mails, which he does by variations in their
intensity of light. -.
If this examination has done nothing else, it
has demonstrated the impossiblity Of any en-
gine on the M. G. r. r. falling into the hands
of both engineer and fireman who have even
the least deficiency in color-perception.
Herewith, L enclose the certificates III eacn
case, showing remarkably good state OF affairs
on the road, in SO far as the vision of the EN-
ployes is concerned.
FORM OF CERTIFICATE.
Portland, Me-, Oct 1879.
Maine Central Railroad:
This is to certify that have this day examined
the ewes of John Smith, and found the vision in the
right eye, perfect 1920; left eye good 1920; per-
ception of colors is good.