Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-10-22
THE EYESIGHT.
an Oculist Tells Some Facts
A bout His Trade.
dow Glass Eyes are Worn by Some Peop'e
and Eye Glasses by Others

+ A tray fitted with little velvet-lincd
compartments, out of which stares a
glass eye, is one Of the objects in the
window Of store on Pennsylvania ave-
que. II is surrounded by spectaclcs and
Eye glasses Of various kinds and other
articles sold by opticians. In ide the
store hanging around the walls are many
httle screens or hangers having on them
letters of different size, from the huge
type used on circus bills down to the
most minute type known to the printer.
"Oh, yes" sad the optician, whct
The Star reporter entered the store and
l'ked about the glass eyes, II sell great
many. In fact, control the trade here.
Never saw a person with an artificial
.ye2 We'll, there are a thousand people
N this city wearing them. l could take
Fou along Pennsylvania avenue now and
show you fifty persons with them, and
Fou would never suspect it. We keep
arge stock. Still one might keep
thousand on hand, and that would rep
resent great deal Of money at $15
apiece, and some one might come in and
not be able to find in the whole thousand
an eye that would match his sound eye.n
"What are they made of" asked the
reporter.
"Thatis a secret which have not dis
covered myself" said the optician. 81
have tried to melt the eyes made now
with blowpipe and could not do it.
The glass eyes that used to be sold could
be melted. They arc covered ever with
an enamel that is very durable"
Here the optician took a glass eye
from the case and clapped it over one of
his own eyes, to show how it worked.
The eye was delicately veined, just like
the natural optic.
ut causes momentary pain when it is
Inserted for the first timc," said the
Optician. 'It does not move at first.
1t is like new shoe, which has to be-
come fitted to the foot. In few days,
however, it becomes we'll fitted in the
socket and will turn and move Just as
the sound eye docs, following all its
motions, unless the wearer tarns his real
eye far out of the natural lines of vision.
gpyY,a
three months, others for ten years. A
works in dust is apt to wear out an eye
sooner than other people The fine dust
cuts the enamel. Yes person looks
much better with au artificial eye than
with disfgured eyc-sockct. 1t is per-
sonal vanity that makes some get them,
but others wear them for comfort. We
sell more in winter than at other seasons.
1t protects the sensible parts of the eye.
Most people who wear them take them
out at night and place them in water
and at the same time wash out the eye
socket. You cannot tell an artificial
eye from real one if it is properly
6tted
GLOW do you test cye-sight7" in
luired the reporter looking around at
the assortment of printed letters that
adorned the walls.
"That is something have been learn
ing for 80 years." said the optician with
q smile. "To tell you all in few words
would be impossible. 1t is something
that comes by practical experience. One
may have theoretical knowledge, but he
must have practical experience also
When man comes in to get a pair of
| glasses you will watch him very closely,
see how he looks about him, and get
some idea of the defects of his vision
from that. Then it IS necessary to know
what his habits of reading are, whether
he reads in the morning orat night, and
other circumstances that might affect the
case. Yes, many people delay getting
glasses and suffer by it. They think
! they can save themselves from glasses
Just as a man at the beginning of winter
will 90 without an overcoat, just to ac-
custom himself to the cold. He catches a
bad cold, and then he wants to wear
two or three overcoats. If person gets
proper glasses they will never do him
any injury"
"Some people have two pairs-one
for reading, one for the street." sug-
gested the reporter.
''They have pair for short distances
and another for seeing at longer dis
tances," said the optician. "Such cases
are generally those of persons who have
delayed too long IN getting glasses. We
make glasses for such people, that are
divided, the upper part being for long
distances and the lower part for read ng
1t is pride that keeps some people from
wearing glasses. They dislike to ac-
knowledge any infrmity. Sometimes
you will see such person holding book
or paper in very strange positions, SO as
to enable them to read with some ease.
Many people who use glasses seem to
try and keep it a secret, They put tueln
in their pocket and only use them When
they are alone There is great deal Oh
mechanical skill required in providing
aid to the eyesight When there Is any
thing wrong behind the eye any as
ease or disorder of the optic nerve tna'
is professional matter for the ocun'''
but the appliances for aiding vision ai9
mechanical and require mechanical
knowledge, and oculists as a rule H'''
none of that Washington star.
A scientist says-your scientist IS al,
ways saying something-that eacn "u~'' -
nerson carries enough phosphorus IN i's