The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-05-09
OUR FYESIGHT.
EVIDENCES THAT DISEASES or THE
EYE ARE FAST INCREASING.
Defective Vision in Germany and In Great
Britain - Color blindness - long
sig htpdness Of q Iulu-Cura
for Existing Evils.

IChicago Timesl
A. q recent meeting OF tho Society of Arts
IN London, Professor Carter delivered a
lecture on "The Iufluenoa of Civilization
Upon Eyesight7 The result OF his observa-
ton that civilization developed many Of
the faculties Of man and caused others to be-
come impaired. Without doubt. high civili-
zatiou was having an injurious effect on the
organ Of sight There were more diseased
and defective eyes in highly civilized coun~
tries than III those whore tho people had not
made q very wide departure from what has
been called natural life. In Germany, q
very large proportion Of the people Of both
sexes and Of all ages wore spectaCles. Many
OF the children in school wore them. The
use Of glasses in Germany was much more
common among the higher classes who lived
in cities than among the peasants who in
habited the rural districts In that country
there was great alarm concerning impaired
vision, md the government had ordered
investigation with view OF asCsrtaining
the causes and recommending remedies
There were abundant evidences in Great
Britain that diseases Of the eye were iucrsas-
ing very fast Many volunteers were re-
jeCted on account Of defective sight The
railway companies had been obliged &c eN-
anime candidates for managers of trains. to
ascertain if they we're color-blnd OF near
Fighted. Ia tho higher schools and colleges
sac number OF students who were obliged to
50 glasses was very large and apparently
fast increasing. Even in the primary and
grammar schools large proportion Of the
pupils put on speCtacles before they com
menced to study their lessons Others were
obliged 20 hold their books close to their
eyes when they read, and to place their faces
within few inches Of their desks when they
we're learning 81 write. Many children
could not engage in certain games and sports
ON account Of defective vision
The class in Great Britain that had the
host eyes were the fOresters and gamekeepers
m Scotland. Plowmen, shepherds. and
her6smen also had excellent sight Sailors
were generally very long sighted rs we'll as
clear-sighted. Many ssvages, however, had
much moro acute vision than any class to be
ound in the British islands The Zulus In
South Africa could identify persons so far
of that Europeans could only discern specks.
One Zulu informed n newlY-arrive5 mission
airy that he sa old friend Of his and his
wife approaching. He also stated that one was
riding and the other walking by the side Of
the horse. The EngIsbmen by the use Of
powerful biuocuIar glasses could not identify
the persons. In London and other large
cities q great proportion of the people had
defective OF impaired vision. Many were
color blind. hat much larger proportion
we're shOTt~sighted. Some were tn constant
danger Of Icing run over In the streets
hey could sea comparatively few objects
nth the naked eye passed their best friends
without recognizing them, could not read
street signs, and depended on their glasses
TO enable them TO read and write when they
we're in rooms.
The lecturer was convinced that location
and occupation exerted powerful influence
ON the condition Of the eye and the acute
nesS Of vision. The savage of South A fFica
depended on his keeRuess Of sight for pTotso-
zion against his enemies and for food
for his next meal The inhabitant
Of London looked 10 the police to pro,
tect him. and read his paper and
conducted his correspondence by the aid ~
magnifyiuR glasses. Sometimes he would
not leave the city for years, during which
time he would never look upon an object
further off than across the street. Hs eyes
became impaired for want Of proper use
In making suggestions for tho cure Of ak
isting evils. the lecturer thought that much
good could be accomplished by calling At
tention 10 the importance Of unimpaired
sight Children should bs taught that
pleasure as well rs prosperity depended very
largely on good eyes. They should bs en-
couraged "a use their eyes ia ways that
would benefit them. Games and sports that
called for accurate vision should 10 rendered
popular Many athletic sports that we're
largely practiced ia England had pro
Gucad q wonderful effect ia a few years
in making people strong and vigorous
Life IL, the open air. especially ia tbs coun-
try, was favorable IN the development Of
scuteuess At vision. Lesson C,,5ks for chill
dren should 10 printed in large, clsar type
The letters given them 70 copy while learn
ing % write should bs Ia~zs and plain
Young persons should hs encouraged to look
at distant objects and prohibited from read
ing in poorly-iighted apartments. They
should be taught how to use and not abusa
their eyes. In cases where the vision is bs-
coming impaired, an ocUljst should ba con
suited before permanent injury mas been
effected
In the course Of the lecture attention was
called to q very important matter. II was
that inVolutlon as we'll as evolution was go
ing ON al around las and vi Ga Us Improve
ments in the eye douatiasSly vent on under
favorable conditions during many centuries
The % 'ect eye. IF which we bnvs Soma
specimens has been evolved. 70 was certain
that the process Of iGvsiutian was now go
ing on iD many places and among some y
tho host races ~ the globe. Unless mons
Gr3s were taken ra prevent IT,. The time may
come when certain nations might be char
acter red by their pycT:y-dsv-ioped syas
Impaired vision would. following the laws
Of hersaity. De stamped on whole families
and rsrbage l..4 entire rsuUGu tics