Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-06-14
Cause of Snow-B,indness.

The recent snow-storm. says the Den
yer Tfabune-RepublicGp. has already
caused several : we're attacks of snow
blindness, ana reporter made in
quiries us to the cause and cure of these
attacks
''What is blindness" was asked
OF an old mountaineer
'Why don't you 90 to Il doctorP" re-
piled that worthy. Il don't know any
thing about the science of the business.
A physician would give you Il scientific
explanation of the phenomenon.
Were you ever snow-blind your
selfp'
Yes, indeed; but what of that? l
can't explain it to YOU
How did il feelp''
''Well, L was living in Central once,
and there came a great snow-storm.
The day preceding it, of course. had
been very cloudy, and when | went out
the next morning after the storm the
sun seemed to be shining more brightly
than L had ever seen it before
Everything was one great dazzling
sheet OF whiteness. [ remember blink
ing considerably, but l staid out most of
L
house the lamps were lighted. but l
could not see them, nor could | distin-
guish objects. | could not see anything
but what seemed to be great round
globe of light. Pretty soon my eyes
began to smart and burn, and | went
out and sat down in a dark room, where
l staid for a week, making cooling APP
plications to my eyes, and never seeing
the light once in all that time The
pain was severe itching and burning,
and did not abate for the space of sever
al days. You can depend upon it | was
careful to avoid exposing myself again. :"
''HoW did you arrange to avoid it?''
''By wearing smoke-colored glasses,
green goggles, or by backing the skin
under my eyes with charcoal"
do you think it is the color or the
quality of the snow that produces blind
ness?"
''Oh, the color, by all means | think
If the ground were covered with white
paper the effect on the eyes would be
the same. So far as | understand it,
snow-blindness is produced by the irri-
tating effect of the suns rays rejecting
from the snow"
''How do you account for the intensi-
ty of your suffering?"
''Well, the violence of the attack is
proportionate to the amount of expos
ure, which in my case had been pro-
longed and aggravated. Slight attacks
are likely to occur from a few hours ex-
posure, and these may be cured by Civ
ing the eyes day or so rest Severe
attacks may require many days rest in
a dark room, and cooling applications
to reduce the violent inflammation
which exists should always be used"
sit would be well then for persons
going into snowy countries to provide
themselves for these emergencies
Yes considering that the protection
yielded by the smoke-colored glasses,
goggles, or even backing round the
eyes is sufficient to prevent blind
ness, it would be well for all persons
likely to travel over snow to remember
these unpleasant effects, and provide
themselves with suitable appliances
thus avoiding the painful results of this
complaint"
us eyesight ever seriously affected by
-blindness?'
Eyes. Perfect recovery is not ALWAYS
attained IN these eases. Many sufferers
retain a weakness of the eyes for life.
You will find that the inhabitants OF
northern countries are very careful in
| this particular. Too much care can not
be exercised where the eyes are con-
| cerned"