The sun., 1883-08-05
Legislation on Color Blindness,

On both sides OF the Atlantic public atten-
tion has been awakened to the dangers re-
sulting from defective sight on the part Of
employees on railways or In the navy and
merchant marine. Notwithstanding the re-
sistance naturally offered by persons dis
qualified through color blindness for certain
duties, and by corporations which resent tho
obligation to pay for surgical examination,
the movement has gained so much impetus
that 1t Is proposed to create an Interstate
commission for testing visual power on all
the railroads of the United States, and an
international commission for providing uni
form standards OF color and crtera of visual
acuteness. All the facts bearing on this i'm
portant subject have been recently reprinted
In pamphlet made up of extracts from the
Railray Reriep.
Repeated experiments have shown that we
are forced to use red and green marine Sig
nal lights to designate vessels direction OF
motion, and red lights, at all events, on rail-
ways to indicate danger. No other color Is
available for such purposes, and the substi-
tuition of form for color Is impracticable.
These fundamental facts being indisputable,
it becomes matter Of great moment to the
security of the community to ascertain what
proportion of the mcu employed on railways
and vessels are liable to distinguish the COL
ors mentioned. 1t results from an cxamlna-
ton OF more than 10000 persons by Dr.
B. Joy JEFFRIEs, that this defect ex-
lists in about four pcr cont. Of males.
although among females 1t Is exceed
ingly rare. Conclusions almost identical
are reached by the ophthalmic surgeons,
who have prosecuted similar Investigations
on large scale In Sweden, Holland, and
Great Britain. So far rs railroad employees
In this country have been tested by medical
experts, about 8 per cent. have been found to
be affected by color blindness. 1t has also
been demonstrated by experience In the
United States, as well as In Europe, that the
existence Of this dangerous defect In vision
can only be detected with certainty by scien-
tiHc tests applied by experts; that is to say,
by surgeons who have made special study
Of color blindness, and are legally authorized
to conduct an examination.
Not only has the community right to do.
mand that persons incapable Of distinguish.
Ing danger and safety signals shall moi
be employed In posts for which perfect
vision Is indispensable, but 1t is also interest
ed In the enforcement OF q color standard
1t Is owing to the marked variations In hu,
OF the glasses used that railroad officials ant
masters Of vessels have been disposed to deny
the existence Of color blindness, or at leas
to dispute the necessity Of scientific tests
1t should be borne In mind that those wht
are blind to red or green may yet be able Il
J recognize yellow and blue. Now, many OF thu
supposed green lights manufactured for yes
sells and railways have strong blush tinge
others, again, have decided infusion Of vel
low. But why. 1t may be asked. should no
blue or yellow light be substituted for
, green light, when the purpose Is to show
safety signal? For the reason that the ligh
is obscured by the blue color. while the pal,
yellowish green is easily confounded with tn
ordinary white light. Seeing therefore, tina
we need In signals at once intensity OF lgh
and distinctness OF color, 1t is highly desir
ablo that our States should agree with on
another upon some definite standards @
color for railway signals, and that thi
country should enter into a corresponding
compact In regard to marine signals witt
, other commercial nations.
1t Is satisfactory to know that concerto
measures Of the kind just mentioned al
likely 10 bo taken. Three years ago roys