The Red Cloud chief., 1883-07-06
Now I como To . poio, Of rre.. prac.

Vow I come IN 3 point of great prac-
ticsi importance. All acquired myopia
II the result Of over eye-work during the
| growing pcriod of childhood. When ]
| tO1d you that the sclerUfic. or outer coat.
was firm aud unyielding. ! referred onls
! 90 the normal sdul. eye. In Children
between the agesof five and fifteen this
outer covering has not become fully
mstured. AMI it, powers 81 resistance
have been by ma mea3s Developed to
the highest point. Yet II il generally
at this particular period In their lives
that the eyes Of children are subjected "a
their sevcrest strains. Parents and
teachers seem % vie with each other in
Efforts 10 ruin. n rapidly n. ms b.. the
eyesight Of the little ones under their
care. In many of our schools the one
object aimed nj j. mental development,
no matter nj wha; physical sacrifice.
Studies are multiplied and lessons
heightened until the child i. compelled
Ia spend in FRAMEWORK the hours which
could be 50 much more p~roftably de-
voted 10 healthful bodily exercise.
II 10 especially upon girls that
this forced system of educa-
ton bears the hardest. Up t0
about fourteen years Of age they are. as
n rule. brighter han bows. aud being
more domestic in their tastes and habits
ars easily induced Ia devote n larger
portion Of their time to studious pur-
suits. Their education is generally
supposed To BE- completed when they
have reached the age Of seventeen or
atr~bfGnn kAta Us. a.. IL.
not usually settle down To close mental
work until after their entrance at col
lege. by which time the stock 81 vitality.
previously acquired by them on the
playground. together with the rapidly
maturing condition Of their eye-struct-
ures. permits them 10 perform the tasks
assigned them without special detri-
ment to their eye-sight. Happily for
the comfort Of the unfortunate class 81
individuals who either inherit or have
acquired near-sightcdness. present
knowledge Of eye matters enables u
10 prevent and To a considerable extent
correct this defect. By the use Of the
proper concave glasses in early life the
child is able 10 hold his book further
from his face while reading or studying.
thereby relieving the eyes from consider
able strain and pressure; the habit of
STOPPING, so common among myopes. j.
not acquired, and the chances Of the
development Of serious eye Affections.
later in life are scnsibly diminished.
Happily, too. the general public is be.
ginning to realize that glasses. when
intelligently prescribed. are Of great
practical value; and the absurd notion
that 10 one requires spectacles until
middlc-age is reached is fortunately
rapidly passing out of date. Family
medical advisers, in the best interests
of their patients, should recommend
tina. all practically useless studies be
dropped SO Dor as it is found that the
eyes Of the children under their care
are suffering in any way from too close
mental application. Parents and teach
should bear in mind that the super
fetal knowledge Of many books will not
compensate for an imperfectly devel-
oped body; and the ambitious scholar
would do well to ask herself whether
the coveted medal be not too dearly
purchased if the price required be- the
loss or the serious Impairment of the
inestimable gift of sight.-A Physician
in Troy (N. ~ Times.