The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-10
SAVE THE chill ,REN,S EYES.
Startling Figures Showing How
schools Impair Eyesight.
ilObe-DemoCrat,

[GlobeDemocratl
According to Ribot's work on hereditry,
myopia, or near-sightedness propagates
itself, and the number of short-sighted
persons must increase in nation devoted
to intellectual pursuits. 1t seems that the
majority of those who have made this
matter study, hold to the same opinion.
Notwithstanding this, it is not best to
attribute so much Importance to the in
fuence Of hereditry as some are inclined
to do. The fact is that recent statistics
throw some doubt upon the correctness
of that opinion, whereas they leave no
doubt whatever that the principal causes
for the growing number of near-sighted
persons lie within the lifetime of these
same individuals. They may be compare
lively innocent of having wrought this
injury to themselves, but their parents
and teachers are not innocent. Teachers, at
least, are presumed to make the laws of
health study. School superintendent
should certainly be familiar with such an
important matter as the health of the eve,
and be able to instruct directors and iun-
ior teachers how to arrange school sit
tings and regulate habits of study so as
to guard against injuring this tender and
priceless organ of instruction and happi-
ness, interesting statistics that most
cases Of near-sightedness are produced by
the abuses of the eye rather than by pre-
natal influences, is evident from observa-
tions made by NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. DIR.
Loring, and DIR. R. H. Derby state, as a
result of careful examination of 2.265
eyes of children in the public schools of
New York, that the proportions OF natur-
ally shaped eyes among the scholars from
6 to 7 years of age was 81 per cent. where
as, among those of 20 to q years it was
but 61-that is 3.5 per cent. of near sight
edness among the younger classes, and 26
per cent. among the older. In the st.
Petersburg schools the percentage for the
same classes as above given were 1876
and 1873, and in Konigsburg Ill and
62.1.
Whatever other causes cOnduce to this
rapid growth of near-sightedness between
the years designated, It is generally con-
fessed that the principal ones are imper-
feet or improperly directed light, iniur-
ious modes of holding objects of study, i'm
pure air, lack of wholesome exercise keep
ing the tissues Of the body in proper tone,
and over-tension of the eyes while the
body is yet immature. These are the
causes which school officers and parents
can and should guard against.
One fact should be borne particularly
in mind. According to DR.. Loring land
the authorities generally agree to this)
"near-sightedness is a disease of child
hood, and rarely begins after the fif-
teenth or twentieth year. After the eight
eenth year over-study may produce other
and graver diseases, but it can not pro-
duce near-sightedness." He thinks that
the reason there is less of this disease
among those engaged in nice mechanical
work than among students, is that the SD
plication comes at different time in life,
and under different surroundings. Gap
prentices usually begin to learn skilled
labor at 16 or II years of age, and then
the danger is passed. Different exami-
ners have found about 10 per cent. of
near-sighted people among watchmakers,
and about 70 per cent among the studi-
ous." He suggests, therefore, "the only
method of preventing near-sight, if the
present high standard of instruction is en-
forced. is to lessen the amount of work
done by school children" before 16 years,
and increase, if necessary, after that age.
Whatever may be the thought of this
suggestion, it is manifest that the period
of school life which requires most care in
the regard now under consideration falls
into the primary and intermediate
grades. Then let teachers of these grades
be particularly instructed as to their duty
in this matter. Above all, if there is one
room darker than another in the school
house, damper, fouler--a basement, for
example-spare the little ones with the
tender eyes and tender lungs; do not
thrust them, as is the custom, into these