The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-01-03
TAKE CARE OF THE EYES.

Everybody recognizes the important
part the sight plays in the happiness Of
this life, and yet there is hardly any
thing which is used with such prodigal-
ity. To be blind, to be shut out from
a1l the beautiful things of the world, to
feel but not to see the blessed sunlight,
to hear the rushing wind and falling
rain, but with no sight of the fleecy
clouds, the waving trees, or the blue of
the heavens, to catch the fragrance of
the flowers, with no view of their love-
liness, to hear the voices of loved ones,
while darkness rests upon their faces,
all this is horrible; and yet most people
run the risk of bringing about this hor-
ror by the earelessness and persistent
over-taxing of the eyes year after year.
1t seems to be the impression that these
organs must take care of themselves.
No doubt the general health has much
to do with the condition of the eyesight.
Anybody will notice how the eyes give
out when sickness has impaired the
bodily strength. A severe headache will
often cause a dimness of vision, which,
however, is frequently disregarded, and
the person works right on, determined
as he says, not to give up. 1t is not a
question of yielding to bodily pain. but
of permanently injuring the eyes by
forcing them beyond their strength.
They must be favored at such seasons
or their power viii be impaired beyond
remedy. 1t may not be felt or noticed
at the time, but in years to come such
abuse-for that is what it is tells sadly.
| No one would think of using a weak
ened arm to lift heavy weights, but the
eyes must do duty under all crcum-
stances.
do not propose to enter into any
minute description of the anatomy OF
the eye. AS you know, it is an exceed
ingly delicate organ, that needs to be
treated with even more consideration
than the ear First we have the eye
lids for protection. They are two pli-
able folds of skin, the upper one oi
which can be moved at will and made
TO shut down and cover the eye COM
pletely. Upon their edges grow the
eyelashes which help still further to
keep ont foreign substances. The eve
itself is spherical in form and is placed
in bony socket. You know how il is
guarded upon all sides in this way,
There are six muscles attached both tC
/ the outer surface and to the bones of the
socket, by which it is moved in all di.
rections. 1t is composed of three LAYERS
or coats lying one over the other, an6
contain certain humors that act a:
lenses. The optic nerve enters at tht
back and spreads out over the innel
coat or retina.
The outer coat is called the sclerotic
or, as it is commonly named, the white
of the eye, and is tough and dense, GOV
ering about four-fifths of the outside
the other fifth being transparent mem
brane that bulges out in front ikl
watch crystal. 1t seems to be fitteC
into little groove, is called the cornea
is without blood-vessels, and through i
we see the pupil and iris. The pupil i
the round black spot in the center o
the eornea, and is really the opening
through which the rays of light pass Il
form the image of the object looked a
upon the retina or nerve service, and b
conveyed from there by the nerves tt
the brain. Around the pupil is the rim
of color called the iris, which contract
or expands as less or more light
needed in the eye.
Next to the sclerotic coat comes tn
choroid coat and inside of that tn
: retina, which, as said before. is tn
nerve surface, and upon it all image
are formed. Within these coats are tn
aqueous and vitreous humors, tn
former in the front part of the eye, tn
latter in the back part. and between tn
two the chrystalline lens.
I have run over these parts of the ey
hastily, and with no intention of enlare
ing upon the work of any of them e7
eept, perhaps, that of the iris and pup
under the influence of the nerves, whie
are of exquisite sensibility in the orga
of vision, as indeed they need to be.
It is of the greatest Importance ths
Just enough light be admitted, and it
the nerves which tell the iris when [
contract and when to expand in orde
to secure the right quantity. You hag
noticed how the pupil grows small i
q very light room and large in a dar
. one. Go from one into the other an
you can hardly see at first, until, as 70
say, your eye has become accustome
to the chenge. What really happens
the contraction or expansion of the iri
and as this can not be accomplished @
the instant, but must be done gradua
ly, dimness of vision is the resul
Right here comes in warning wort
Be careful not TO expose the eye tt
suddenly to a very brilliant light, nt
to go from one extreme to the 9th,
quickly and several times in immedia
succession, as the result may be a pc
manent weakening of the muscles of Il
: iris.
It hardly seems necessary to say
not read, sew or work in any way r
quiring close vision by waning ligh
and yet so many are careless in this +
spect, particularly young people. that
can not be too often reiterated. Yc
are straining your eyes, though you N;
not be conscious of it, taking away
power of recuperation, and years hen
will reap the consequences. Never {
: low yourselves to do it, no matter
il seems TO be. done without pain