Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-12-10
weak Eyes.

Many girls, those kept too much in
the house, and fed improperly, have weak
eyes, especially when they read fashy
literature late at night, or at the twilight
hour. An important principle is to see
with the least effort never to strain or
overtax them, but simply to open them
and let them see. All efforts, in this
matter, using them under unfavorable
circumstances, by artificial light, if weak,
or when painful, in obscure light, at the
twilight hour or in dark rooms, must be
injurious. Pain is intended as warn
ing-one to be needed. An hours labor,
as sewing on dark cloth. when pain is
constant, is worse than days work at
other times, when the same effort in the
evening or at twilight, may injure the
sight more than that of the day.
Still another principle of the utmost
Importance q speak from an experience
of thirty years with weak eyes-inher-
ited-but now gaining steadily. though
used ten times as much as in the past),
refer to the influence of sunlight. To
occupy dark rooms, either from the abb
sence of windows or from the use of
stained glass (''blue" or noD, dark
curtains, etc., is to have weak
eyes. This light is the stimulus, the
food of the eyes, as bread is of
the stomach. Ny experience is in favor
of more than usual light Gt now shines
on my page) as much as can be had
without producing unpleasant sensations.
after the first. A gradual use Of it, as
much as convenient, is safe and judic-
ious. / believe the darkening of the
sick room, save in exceptional cases, as
in the measles, when decided pain re-
suits, is but less than cruelty. since this
same light is one of the best healers.
purifiers and cleansers knowni If at
first painful, wet cloth may be worn
over the eyes, modifying the. light,
which will do more good than harm in
any sick room. The girl with weak
eyes should be much in the air and light,
and not with CYLINDERS, 2 using as much
of both as may be made agreeable. Alb
solute rests not necessary, since we gain
strength by exercise, using our powers
judicially. It is safe to use weak eyes,
under favorable circumstances, until
little pain. or a sensation Of discomfort
appears.
Frequent winking, as means Of dis
tributing the tears. is of great advantage
as curative measure. When tears are
diminished in quantity, artificial ones
are supplied by making mucilage Of
rose water and the bark of the root OF the
sassafras tree, found at druggists, Just
thin enough to run freely, putting it in
the outer angle of the eyes at least three
times each day. A wet cloth, three or
four thicknesses, worn at night over
them, will keep them cool, reducing the
inflammation. /. Let them be comfortable.
I will add that sight is much impaired
by using glasses when not needed, dark
ones, or those the use Of which renders
sight difficult. The important object of
them is to correct the distance or near
sight, not to improve personal appear
ance. Since the air is transparent, it is
reasonable to infer that our glasses, ordi-
narily, should be so, that seeing may
not be laborious. 1t is judicious to use
glasses when necessary to change s'fine
print to coarse, " and to protect the eye
temporarily from the glare Of the light.
If the young wear magnifying glasses too
soon, the lenses of the eye will SO change
as to soon render them necessary.
Looking through wells and the like, or
through the hair resulting from an ab-
surd style Of wearing it, covering beau
tiful forehead, must impair the sight. -
city and Country.
He who wants to do q preat deal nf