Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-08
OUR EYESIGHT.
EVIDENCES THAT DISEASES OF THE
EYE ARE FAST INCREASING.
Defective Vision In Germany and in Great
Britain - Color Blindness - Long
Siehtedness Of a ZuIu-Cure
for Existing Evils.
IChicago Times |

Chicago Times
At recent meeting of the Society Of Arts
In London, Professor Carter delivered
lecture on "The influences of Civilization
Upon Eyesight" The result Of his observa-
tion was that civilization developed many of
the faculties of man and caused Others to be-
come impaired. Without doubt, high civili-
zation was having an injurious effect on the
organ of sight There were more diseased
and defective eyes in highly civilized coun-
tries than in those where the people had not
made very wide departure from what has
been called natural life. In Germany,
very large proportion Of the people of both
sexes and Of all ages wore spectacles Many
Of the children in school wore them The
use Of glasses in Germany was much more
common among the higher classes who lived
In cities than among the peasants who in
habited the rural districts. In that country
there was great alarm concerning impaired
vision, and the government had ordered an
investigation with q view of ascertaining
the causes and recommending remedies.
There were abundant evidences in Great
Britain that diseases of the eve were increas-
ing very fast. Many volunteers we're re-
jected on account Of defective sight The
anime candidates for managers of trains, to
ascertain If they were color-blind or near
sighted. In the higher schools and colleges
the number Of students who were Obliged to
uss glasses was very large and apparently
fast increasing Even in the primary and
grammar schools a large proportion Of the
pupils put on spectacles before they COM
menced to study their lessons. Others were
obliged to hold their books close to their
eyes when they read, and to place their faces
within few inches of their desks when they
were learning to write Many children
could not engage in certain games and sports
on account of defective vision
The class in Great Britain that had the
best eyes were the foresters and gamekeepers
in Scotland. Plowmen, shepherds, and
herdsmen also had excellent sight Sailors
were generally very long sighted as we'll as
clear-sighted. Many savages, however, had
much more acute vision than any class to be
found in the British islands The Zulus In
South Africa could identify persons so far
off that Europeans could only discern specks-
One Zulu informed newly arrived mission
ary that he saw an old friend Of his and his
wife approaching. He also stated that one was
riding and the other walking by the side of
the horse. The Englishmen by the use of
powerful binocular glasses could not identify
the persons In London and other large
cities great proportion Of the people had
defective or impaired vision. Many were
color-blind, but a much larger proportion
were short-sighted. Some were in constant
danger of Icing run oyer in the streets.
They could see comparatively few objects
with the naked eye, passed their best friends
without recognizing them, could not read
street signs, and depended on their glasses
to enable them to read and write when they
were in rooms.
The lecturer was convinced that location
and occupation exerted powerful influence
on the condition Of the eye and the acute
ness OF vision The savage Of South Africa
depended on his keenness Of sight for protec-
ton against his enemies and for food
for his next meal The inhabitant
Of London looked to the police to pro-
tect him. and read his paper and
conducted his correspondence by the aid of
magnify ing glasses. Sometimes he would
not leave the city for years, during which
time he would never look upon an object
further of than across the street His eyes
became impaired for want Of proper use.
In making suggestions for the cure Of e1-
isting evils, the lecturer thought that much
good could be accomplished by calling at
tention to the importance of unimpaired
sight Children should be taught that
pleasure as well as prosperity depended very
largely on good eyes They should be en-
couraged to use their eyes in ways that
would benefit them. Games and sports that
called for accurate vision should be rendered
popular. Many athletic sports that were
largely practiced in England had pro-
duced a wonderful effect in a few years
in making people strong and vigorous.
Life in the open air. especially in the coun-
try, was favorable to the development Of
acuteness of vision. Lesson books for chill
dren should be printed in large, clear type.
The letters given them to copy while learn
ing to write should be large and plain.
Young persons should be encouraged to look
at distant objects and prohibited from read
ing in poorly-lghted apartments. They
should be taught how to use and not abuse
their eyes In cases where the vision is be-
coming impaired, an oculist should be con-
suited before permanent injury has been
effected.
In the course of the lecture, attention was
called to a very important matter. 1t was
that involution as we'll as evolution was GO
ing on all around us and with us. Improve
ments in the eye doubtlessly went on under
favorable conditions during many centuries.
The perfect eye, Of which we have some
specimens, has been evolved. 1t was certain
that the process Of involution was now GO
ing on in many places and among some Of
the best races Of the globe. Unless meas
ures were taken to prevent it, The time may
come when certain nations might be char
acterlZed hy their poOrly-deyeloIed ewes
Impaired vision would, following the laws
of heredity, be stamped on whole families
and perhaps on entire communities.