Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-01-28
THE EYE.
The Diseases to Which 1t 10 S,sb1eos -
Their Treatment


taxed organs of the body. Excepting
the heart, the eyes are the most con
stantly in use, they being constantly il
action during every waking hour of the
day and night. Not only is the eve
compelled to endure this continual use
but it must also withstand the assaults
made upon it in a thousand forms. arts
ing from various prejudices and super
stitions.
Dealing with the eye in general, bea,
in mind that the simplest treatment il
by far the best, therefore cleanliness is
the very first consideration.
Violent coughing (whooping-cough,
etc., may produce very unsightly CON
dition of she eyes, by causing the rup'
ture of small blood vessel in the con.
junctiva. Hemorrhage takes place,
spreading over more or less space, and
presenting red expansion of blood II
is not serious Hot lamentations will
assist the absorption of the blood, and
in a short time the eye is again clear.
Lime, acids, molten metals and ex.
ploding gunpowder cause painful and
fatal burns of the eye. Such burns
may at once entirely destroy the cor
nea, and with it the sight. IF only a
part of the conjunctiva is burned and
destroyed, the vision may be saved,
but healing is slow and painful The
treatment Of all such cases, till compe-
tent advice can be had, should consist
of frequent introductions of castor oil
or sweet oil into the eye, and cold ap-
plications on the outside.
Fragments of dirt, iron, emery, Gin
ders, ETC., find lodgment in the eye,
under the lids, or on the cornea- When
the eye is not quickly relieved of the
foreign substance, skilled hand should
be sought for it's removal Ready re-
lief from the pain can be secured by de-
sisting from rubbing and gouging at it,
and by placing light band over the eye
with just enough soft cotton wool under
it to keep the lids from moving. If
the eyeball has been penetrated by the
foreign substance, do not delay in secur-
ing the best medical assistance, for by
neglect, not only the injured eye may
be lost, but the other may quickly be-
come blind from sympathetic infanhma-
ton. Because of the close sympathy
between the two eyes, it often becomes
necessary to remove an injured eye, to
protect the sound one, and many man
now totally blind, reproaches himself
for refusing to permit the removal of
an injured eye at the proper. time.
"Tear drop" or constant weeping of
the eye, is caused by blocking up of the
duct which conveys the tears from the
corner of the eye down into the nose.
Assesses form in the duct, which open
upon the face and leave dis6guring
scars. Permanent relief can only be
had through careful opening of the
duct and treatment for catarrh of the
nose which often causes the trouble.
Granular lids occur as an acute dis
ease, or from the neglect of such infam-
nation of the lids as comes from colds,
exposure to draughts, ETC., or from the
improper treatment of such infama-
tons Residents of, sandy plains,
prairies, alkaline countries, ETC., are
liable to it from the constant pres
ence in the air and eyes of fine parti-
cles of sharp sand and alkali Of all
the diseases of the eye this is probably
the most annoying, both to the sufferer
and to the physician. Hundreds of rem
edies are sold as "sure cures" for this
ailment, but after trial of many of them
the sufferer settles down to long and
patient treatment by physician.
Impairment of vision, accompanied
by pain or external manifestation, FREE
quently depends upon diseases of the
optic nerve or retina Some of the af-
fections of the nerve arise from poison
ing by lead, alcohol, and tobacco.
Blindness from abuse of alcohol and
tobacco is by no means rare. Troubles
of the retina proceed oftimes from dis
ease of the heart and kidneys, espe-
cially Bright's disease and diabetes
Good rules tosobserve are: Use the
eyes freely; do not abuse them; always
have plenty of light, but, when posi-
BILE, avoid a glare. If possible, have
the light falling over the shoulder or
from behind; read but little or not at
all in the lying position: avoid reading
by twilight. Inability to use the eyes
means something. find out what it is.
Allow. no Inflammation or pain in the
eyes to be neglected, and bear in mind
that many an obscure pain or ache may
be due to overtaxed eyes or defective