New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-30
GUM AND EYESIGHT.

A prominent physician-name not g1ven-has
been interviewed on the subject OF chewing gum ;
and it seems that the perncions habit Is hurrylng
great many of US to untimcly and unwished-for
graves. The penny cud of gum, it-eppcars, par
takes largely of the character of the well-known
upas tree. To chew gum and climb upas tree
looking for vampires nests are about equally
hazardous
The pursuit of happiness via the gum route
produces chroLic dyspepsia and wrinkles. The
doctor merely mentions this in passing. These
things are nothing 1t also has tendency to
encourage the idle habits of naturally too
easy-going liver; but this is far from being the
worst 1t ruins the eyesight-thats what gum
chewing does. Says the doctor
80 The muscles of the jaw connect with the spine
and from the spine there little fbrOus tissues run
ming in all directions number of these extend TO
You viii watch person eating you Will notice a
papltaton of the temples when the lower ia" moves
IN and down in the process of mastcaon This is
caused by the working of the optic nerves. which
keep the inner part of the eye In motion and eXer
else the as much IS Heedcd to keep them in
healthy condition These nerves are moro tender and
they are ovcrworked tn Y become shr nken and en-
fcebled and then the process of deterioration in the
eyesight begins OF course the shrinking OF the nerve
draws the eye back into the socket and as it is con.
nected by slender threads of tissue to the pupil OF
the eye this also becomes affected. The conse-
qnence is that the eye becomes weak and loses It's
vision IS much impaired by It that eyeglasses must
be resored to-"
This is really considerably worse than a great
many persons had supposed. Some of US had
thought TO toy with the gum habit and retain
our eyesight We had fondy supposed that we
could chew spruce gum and though our stom-
achs fell by the waysdc and our lvers contracted
habits OF idleness that we could hope to keep
our eyes. 1t seems however, that the doctor
had arranged it otherwise.
To persons unacquainted with man as con-
structed by this doctor the connection between
a slight and gentle movement of the lower jaw
and the permanent injury of the organs Of sight
is not apparent But it is little that these per-
sons know about how the muscles of the jaw
run around to the back of the neck where they
are attached 10 the spinal column how little
fbrous tissues called optic nerves run from the
spine to the eyes how, when the jaw ses, from
unaccountable reason these optic nerves
lead the tyes around for exercise AS we may
put il. Gum-chewers may have long had an
idea that their optic nerves were sensitive TO
degree and some may have had q sufficient lInowl-
edge Of anatomy TO suspect That there was a
more or less close connection between the eye
and the pupil OF the eye, us the doctor intmates;
but to learn that as the jaw is moved the eye
declines will astonish great many
There is another trouble which We desire to
speak of. 1t does not affect gum chewcrs, but
confines Its attacks to some prominent physicians.
The muscles Of the arms connect with the spine.
As has already been shown, the muscles Of the
lower Jaw are attached to the same member
There are fibrous tissues running from the spine
to the brain Now, if you will watch physician
like our friend you will notice that he is con-
stantly holding a musty old medical work up
bofo nd md
comes in he Immediately begins to exercise his
lower jaw; thereby overworking both the muscles
of his arms and Jaw This causes the nerves
extending fIom the spine to the region of common
sense to become excited, and the consequence Is
that that part of the brain becomes weak and
its usefulness is so much impaired that the
victim of the terrible habit finally becomes a
crank on the subject of health. 1t is q sad state
Of affairs and growing more prevalent every day.