Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-03-15
GUM AND EYE-SlGHT.
A Sad state OF Analrs That Is Growing
More Prevalent Every Day.


A Sad state OF AGalrs That Is Growing
More Prevalent Every Day.
A prominent physician-name not
given-has been interviewed on the
subject of chewing gum; and 1t seems
that the pernicious habit is hurrying
u great many of us to untimely ana
unwished-for graves. The penny cud
OF gum, it appears, partakes largely
of the character of the wall-known
upas tree To chew gum and climb
upas tree looking for vampires nests
are about equally hazardous.
Tho pursuit OF happiness via the
gum route produces chronic dyspepsia
and wrinkles. The doctor merely
mentions this in passing. These things
are nothing. 1t also has tendency to
encourage the idle habits OF a
naturally too easy-going liver; but this
is far from being the worst 1t ruins
the eye-sight-that's what gum-chew-
ing does. Says the doctor:
"The muscles OF the jaw connect with the
spine, and from the SPINE there are little
fibrous tissues running in all directions. A
number OF these extend to the eyes and arc
called the optic ne yes. Now, II you VIII
watch q person eating you will notice palpi-
tation OF tie temples when the lower Jaw
moves up and down In the process OF mastca-
ton. This is caused by the working OF the
optic nerves, which keep the inner part OF the
eye In motion and exerc s; the nerves as mucn
as is needed to keep them IN healthy con-
dition These nerves are more tender ana SEN
a 81 a fh.ln unt
Whom they are overworked they become
shrunken and enfecblcd, and then the process
OF deteriorat on in the eye-sight beg ns VI
course the shrinking Of the nerve draws the
eye back into the socket aud as tbs connected
BY slender threads of tissue to the pupil OF the
eve this also becomes affected. The conse-
quence is that the eye becomes weak and
loses Its color; it becomes an unnaturulook-
ing gray. and the sion IS so much impa red
by tthat eyeglasses must be resorted TO-"
This is really considerably worse
than II great many persons had sup
posed. Some of US had thought to toy
with the gum habit and retain our
eye-sight. We had fondly supposed
that we could chew spruce gum and
though our stomachs fell by the way
side and our livers contracted habits
of idleness, that we coul6 hope to keep
our eyes. 1t seems. however, that the
doctor had arranged it otherwise.
TO persons unacquainted with man
as constructed by this doctor the con-
nection between a slight and gentle
movement of the lower jaw and the
permanent injury OF the organs OF
zi,rht lie R,,f IL l., Reel,
that these persons know about how
the muscles of the jaw run around to
the back of the neck where they are
attached to the spinal column; how
little fbrous tissues called optic
nerves run from the spine to the eyes;
how, when til } jaw moves, from some
unaccountable reason these optic
nerves lead the eyes around for exer-
else, as we may put it. Gum-chewers
may have long had an idea that their
optic nerves were sensitive to a de-
gree, and some may have had a suffi-
cient knowledge OF anatomy to suspect
that there was more or less close
connection between the eye and the
pupil OF the eye, as the doctor init
mates; but to learn that as the jaw is
moved the eye declines will astonish a
great many.
There is another trouble which we
desire to speak of. 1t does not affect
gum chewers, 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 at
tached to the same member These
are fibrous tissues running from the
spine to the brain. Now, if you will
watch a physician like our friend YOU
will notice that he is constantly hold
ing musty old medical work up be-
fore his eyes and reading; and if re-
porter comes in he immediately be-
gins to exercise his lower Jaw; there
by overworking both the muscles of
his arms and jaws. This causes the
nerves extending from the spine to the
region of common-sense to become ex-
CITED, and the consequence is that that
part OF The brain becomes weak, and
It's usefulness is so much impaired that
the victim of the terrible habit finallv
becomes n crank ON the subject Of
hca tn. 1t is a sad state of affairs and
growing more prevalent every dav.-
n, Y. Tribune.