The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-08-18
WEAKNESS OF VISION,
Reading on the Cars One Cause-Chil-
dren At School -Bright's Disease.

Reading on the Cars One Cause-Chil-
dren At School -Brights Disease.
brooklyn Eagie.l
A prominent optician in conversation
with a reporter recently made the state
ment that seven out of every ten per-
sons were in some respect troubled with
nearsightedness or weakness of vision.
Thinking this rather rash remark the
reporter questioned the gentleman and
the following conversation ensued:
when state that one out of every
three persons one meets if affected with
disease of the eye, | mean that they in
some manner are unable to see objects
clearly. A man may be nearsighted for
years without becoming aware of the
fact until the defect has grown upon
him to such an extent that he is obliged
to consult his physician or an optician."
'What are the principal causes of
nearsightednessl" the reporter asked.
so many causes combine to make the
American people partially blind that you
would not have the patience to listen to
them all. But will try and give you
a few examples: One of the principal
causes, in my opinion, is reading in
horse cars. Business men have but lit
tie time to read their papers, and it is
natural that they should peruse the
news of the day while going and coming
from their homes. When | say that
Brooklyn, next to Boston, contains
more persons who are suffering from
troubles with their eyes than any city
in the United States, do not make an
extravaganza statement. Brooklyn is
spread over such an area of ground that
the majority of its residents are obliged
to take the horse-cars to reach their
places of business. AS said before the
majority of them read in the cars. The
constant Earring and jumping of tho
Brooklyn horse-car is, as you know,
anything but pleasant. This jarring
causes the type to appear blurred and
the reader is constantly losing his place.
AS some of the residents of the upper
wards pass over an hour each day in the
cars this reading of fine print has in
time visible effect upon their sight.
This is first noticed when they are I'M
able to read the street signs as readily
as usual, and the matter is finally set
tied by visit to the occulist or opti-
cian."
DO you notice any increase in near
sightedness in school childrenl"
1.-The prevailing habit of studying at
high desks with the book far beneath
has tendency to in ure the sight of
the child. Parents make great mis-
take when they allow their children to
learn their lessons after nightfall. The
eye of the very young child is not fully
developed, and artificial light is liable
to weaken the tensions of the most deli
cate sense. Were school principal |
should recommend that the scholars in
the public schools be seated in a man.
ncr so the light from the windows
should fall over their shoulders. AS
the school-rooms are now arranged the
light is permitted to fall sideways upon
the book.
Can you mention no cause which
you know has tendency to decrease
the strength of ones visionl"
"Oh, yes. For instance, if a man has
any serious kidney trouble it will have
great influence upon his sight. In
rights disease in particular the Opt.
cal organ is always affected"
'Are there not many other forms Of
eye trouble which are mistaken for
nearsightedness9' was the scribe's next
query.
"A disease of the eye known as astig-
matism is frequently taken for some
form Of weakness of vision. Astigma
tism means an unequal eye. To allevi-
ate this we have glass which causes
the eye to be thrown in direction op-
posite to the unequal portion of the eye
After an examination by an oculist the
patient comes to me with prescription
which prepare. And Just here allow
me to impress upon the minds of your
readers the Importance of having their
eyes examined by an experienced ply
stefan if they think there is anything
wrong with them. OF course, we are
able to help customers in a great many
ways in the selection of glasses, but it is
always best to consult physician"
evaN.