Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-24
ELECTRIC LIGHT AND THE EYES.
Bright and Beautiful. but q Good thing
for the Oculists.

From the Chicago Tribune.
Medical journals have recently had something
to say concerning the effect OF electric lights
pom the eyes, and have agreed that the effect is
very injurious-much more SO, in fact, than
people have any idea of. because many persons
afflicted with defective vision or an eye trouble
attribute it to cold or some other cause, when the
blame really rests with the new and popular mode
OF illumination. A Tribune reporter asked DR..
Samuel J. Jones' the well-known oculist, If he
thought the electric lights made his business
any better. and the reply was: on not saw
anything about my business. but will say that
would not work in or occupy room lighted
by electricity
''Nhy not"
Because think too much of my eyes and am
satisfied that the electric light would play the
mischief with them"
How does the new light act upon the eyes?"
IN the first place. IL is too brilliant and daz-
Zling. producing too much of a strain on the cp-
ties and causing at times an alfliction similar to
snow blindness. Then il is too unsteady the
Pickering movement keeping the iris constantly
agitated. In light room. for.instanCe. the iris
is contracted TO keep out superiority OF light,
but going to a dark room It Immediately begins
to expand to get all the light possible so that
in a short time the room appears to have grown
lighter and objects become more distinct Ii
follows. therefore. that Pickering light must
keep the iris agtated aud ultimately cause in
flammation OF the retina."
"Can you find any good points about electric
light"
There are several. 1t is better illumination
than gas, not having the orange ray; il does not
consume oxygen and give out noXious gases.
and it does not give out any heat-an important
consideration in the summer time or in a close
room"
How about the incandescent Light"
Nv ell. TO thai can lind no objection. because ii
has about all the advantages OF the ordinary
electric light. is not dazzling. and maintains
steady glow"
lis there no remedy against the i'll effects OF
the ordinary arc light"
''Ges-keep away from it,"
But if that means keeping away from job7'
"Well. colored glasses will neutralize the light
to certain extent. but that would be like wear
ing kid gloves to keep the hands warm when the
thermometer is below zero"
DR.. John Philips, the optican said: "0f course
the electric light is bad for tine eyes, it paralyzes
the retina and may produce blindness. | sold
pair OF glasses to a man whose eyesight had
been nearly ruined by All electric light, and
whose nerves had been shattered from the same
cause. He said he was going to throw up his
situation because he had to work under the
glare OF electricity"
Another oculiSt said: .'TheSe suffering cleo
trio lights are like repeated flashes of lightning
to the eyes. but in miider degree
a number OF hotel clerks who stand for hours
every evening with dozens of these electric suns
flashing i-bout them were ssked if they had
noticed any evil effects in consequence. and a
number OF them said it frequently aimed their
eyes and gave them headache, particularly
towards the close OF the evening"
Catching COnvicts with RiOOdhOunds.
Huntsville (Texas) Correspondence Of The St Louis
Globe Democrat.
Every gang of cOnvicts in the state inside
and outside of the walls is provided with three
hounds, but more ordinarily common deer
hounds, for they are harder and stand the work
for which they are trained much better than the
blooded stock. 1t is simply surprising to see
how perfect these brutes are trained. and how
well they understand their business. The
hounds of the Huntsville pententiary are kept
outside the prison walls at what is known as
the State Farm.
And these are the brutes we read so much
about Z" | remarked TO the superintendent
Yes. they are the famous boodhounds-that
is. as much bloodhounds as you will find in
Texas. They are simply deer or fox-hounds
trained TO hunt men"
"Do you keep them shut up all the time ~
"Ies. We do that to make them fierce and to
keep them away from the cenvicts. They would
make it lively for the boys if they had their
freedom"
us there much difficulty in properly training
bloodhounds!''
''We do not consider it difficult. but. on the
contrary, believe the guards consider it sport. 1t
will only require few moments to show you
how it is done"
A convict or "trusty" was sent down through
large field. with instructions to climb the
fence and make a detour through the timber of
couple OF miles, coming out in Just the oppo-
site direction from whence he started and re-
turning to the farm through small stream,
which ne was CT mpelled to wade. 1t required
some twenty minutes for him to make the trip
and when he was seen to emerge from the tim
Der on the other side and it was certain he
could get back in safety. the hounds were
turned loose. They were shown the trail. and
they started over fields through marshes. over
fences and other distractions with the speed of
deer In the meantime the s. L usty" had re-
turned, and was directed to climb tree some
800 yards distant from where we were standing
he did not require a second bidding for the
yelp of the hounds could already be heard in the
distance. Soon they appeared at the edge of
the timber, and sprang over the fence without
stopping. The trail was not lost for an instant.
When the small stream was reached they each
crossed it at bound. and in few moments
more they were under the tree yelpng at the
convict, who sat in its branches looking down
at the brutes, and smiling at the fact that this
was simply training run, and not a reality.
A Canadian Snow Shoe Parade.
Their first view of the palace on reaching the
square was enchanting. 1t was brilliantly illu-
minated with electric lights, which shone
through its sides and gave it the appearance of
large structure of ground glass. band of
music was playing inside. and thousands OF
people in their warm furs and gayly colOred
head-dresses were crowding about it. A slight
snow was falling, the air was cold, but dry, and