Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-01-12
COFFEE AND BLINDNESS.
How the Fragrant Narcotic Is said
to Aflect the Human Vision

ions and blindness viii pretty soon be
prominent characteristic among the
American people, tho same as rotten
teeth have been during the last two
hundred years, says writer in the
North american Revieo. mako this
assertion without having seen any sta
tistics whatever on the subject OF
blindness. found out long ago that
a cup of coffee leaves a night-shade on
the brain longer than an eclipse OF the
sun. had long noticed that the eyes
of old cofre drinkers mad dry and
shriyeled appearance.
Having discovered some years ago
that my own eyesight was surely weak
ening, then ceased to drink coffee as
freely as had used ii. and became a
moderate and more observant patron
CT the fragrant narcotic. But have
learned that moderate coffee drinking
is hard thing tomanage, being pretty
sure to develop into the regular habit
again with insiduous ease, especially
at those times when the physical sys.
tenn feels to be in need Of some elixir.
Besides, il is quite distressing for a
person to be fighting OIL a powerful
habit at each meal. now feel free of
the coffee drinking vice. and will have
no more trouble with il unless | shall
again fall victim to some church sup
per or to the magnetic Establishments
OF some buoyan hostess.
Having long work ed at a trade which
requires almost as exact use of the
eye rs the occupation Of jeweler,
made the discovery that single cup
of cottoe would have preceptlb.e Of
feet upon the eve. This fac. was more
apparent because my eyes ght was
originally very good--in fact. about
the best. After having used coffee
with Indifferent frequency and copi.
BUSINESS for many years my sight DO.
came abnormally weak. and | began
to feel horror Of darkness. wishing
that the Sun would never set, and do
string instinctiyely TO go to some place
where the nights would be short during
the entire year. But now / ksYs quite
little OF this feeling left. My eyes have
regained, to a curious extent, tic If
former range and spontancity. / \
again enjoy lie long panoramic views
Of nature which are afforded from tho
baby mountains that skirt Council
Bluffs on tue east ike an oucampmgnt.
can take these long telescopes sweeps
OF visions again without blinking or
feeling the weakening relaxation which
alarmed me a week ago. | have no
doubt but what this weakness Of the /
eye which results from cotfla.driuklny /.
is due to the sympathy which the op. /
tic nerve has for the nasal caY Nv /.
Che latter being continuous with tho +
membrane Of the MOUTH The nasal .
cavity VITA It's first pair Of brain ?
nerves, is naturally n principal place
10 5e affected By any drinking haJ.t. .
For Instance. to partake Of dish Of .
soup viii sometimes cause a persons
breathing to become thick and 10.
sidedly labored. All. Of tie sensory
nerves are much affected by coffee.
irinking-these gentle aud highly re.
incd threads OF sympathetic force
which enter largely into the sense of
smell. taste, sight and hearing. Tho
'ntire sympathetic System il like.
wise involved Immediately in the cot.
ee-drinSing habit The brain. again,
intensely affected thereby, because
he principal nerves Of tho brain
'ranch of from the nasal cavity.
Coffee-drinking is especially inipr.
Gus when it is resorted to as a backing
or strong food. There are plenty Of
obust persons among us who have
rank coffee pretty freely for life.
Ime' but who are seemingly uniniured
y It 10 this fact reply that appear
noes are sometimes deceiving to un.
ractlced eyes. and that a vice does
OF in all cases show its effects plainly {
tho first generation. The free use
coffee dates back only one genera.
on in this country. But this | will |
~, that no person is as stout for three
ours after he has drank coffee az he
as before.
AS long as person remains endow-
with latent constitutional strength !
can participate in different vices
TN seeming impunity- but he IA
radually using up his capital and Will I
zach his limit ere his life is fully pro-
nged. His children and grandcbild- \
N Will show degeneration Of the
mily stock, though they doubtless OK.
bit at present premature brightness 7
mind. Children that are allowod
partake freely Of coffee will tacoma 8
stiess fussy and noisy, half wild with
ischlef They probably advance in 2
cir school studies with abnormal
pidity. But they hate work. Az
mes they are indifferent about educa-
IN. Their strength goes to the brain
iey grow rapidly but not arigbt =
icy develop into f-en and women ri
~ |