The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-03-20
tWritton for THE NATIONAL TErpuNE.l
BEALTH HINTS
For Old and Young.
ny FELIX T.. OSWALD, NJ ~,
Author of physical Education; Household
Remedies; the Bible Of Nature" etc.
CHAPTER LIX.
DISEASES OF OLD AGE-(continued).

DISEASES OF OLD AGE--(continued).
Many of tho so-caled lads to Nature" are
apt to become despotC masters of those who
rely too much on their assistance "Avoid bot
spices and other stimulants," Lord Chesterfield
writes 60 his son " for tho sooner you become
dependent upon such artificial tonics the sooner
you Will reach point whore the unaidcd re-
sources Of Nature will fail you altogether"
Tho same rule might be applied to many |
other substitutes for the natural resources of
the human organism, but holds especially good |
in the treatment OF weak or overworked eyes
Numerous supposed disorders of our organs of
sig result merely from their habitual abuse |
night work, writing for hours in il-lighted
counting rooms, and the reading OF small print.
Many of our large American dailies vic in try
ing to crowd n maximum of reading matter
into minimum of space, and thus havo to re-
sort to smaller and smaller sizes of type, till
even their general news" columns can hardly
be dcciphcred without tho aid OF microscope.
The result to the eyes of thousands of readers
is runous: and yet, on the whole. small print
causes perhaps less mischief than reading by
lampligh especially at period Of age when
more than usually severe tax on any part
Of the organism cannot be compensated by tho
general vigor OF tho system, and thus avenges
itself in tho rapid impairment of tho over
worked organ. School-books use generally
fairly large kind of type, and yet shortsightcd
ness is alarmingiy prevalent among the school
children of many European and North Amcri-
can cities. The causc-ofton connected with
the cxaCiing program of our educational system
has probably more TO do with tho habit Of read
ing and coming lessons at home in long Win
ter evenings aud in the dim light of a smoking
coal oil lamp: much also, no doubt with the
deficient vitality of city children deprived of
fresh air aud opportunities for outdoor exor-
else
A similar result is apt 10 be experienced in
81 4. a 4
ing 10 the habits Of their years of vigOr do
most Of their reading in the evening at home,
after returning from work. and sooner or later
uotiCe the consequences in the symptoms Of
falling eyesight
BLURRED SIGHT.
The most frequent result of overwork is tho
affection known rs amaUOsis. or blurred eye
sight. After reading FOR a minute or two the
letters become indistinct the patient has to
close his book his eyes for u few seconds to
rest the overstraiued nerves. aud frequently
small specks or lines resembling a network OF
cobwebs appear to float ia the air The latter
phenomena may become chronic; l. O., small
dots not apt TO increase either in size or mum
Der, may permanently dim the eyesight but the
mere weakness of the optic nerve has tend
ency 10 nucluatc with the ebb and tide OF vital
strength, and Is especially apt to be noticed after
oycrwork Of any kind, or any sort Of excess
affecting the general vigor of the patient. Too
often, however, n transient ailmcnt Is turned
into n permanent disorder by "a hasty resort 10
the aid of sPcCtacles. For time the remedy
answers It's purpose The blurred print of the
snal-type journal becomes moro distinct, the
patient finds himself able to read for con-
siderable time without much difficulty; but
any attempt 10 dtspense-eyen for short
| period with the aid OF his substitute optics
will convince him that his cycsght has been
| very considerably, and often ineurabiy, inn
| paired Without spoctacies no can now see
much less than before aud the aid of his glasses
may prove deceptive; affections of weak eyed
ness viii roCur, aud, after all. tho only way TO
prevent more serious complications will be the
| expedient Of giving his eyes moro rest.
! By timely resort TO that plnn the main
| trouble might have been avoided altogether.
The very day when symptoms Of blurred sight
! first interfere with the reading OF ordinary
| print, the optic nerve ought 20 be treated to a
/ liberal amount of plainly needed rest. Tho
| patient ought 10 take more out door exercise
\ change his daily paper for o weekly, aud care
/ fully avoid reading after sunset The best arti-
! fetal light Is an indifferent and moro or less
/ unnatural substitute for sunlight aud few cx-
! pcriments will couynco the patient that an
/ hours reading nt noon Is less trying to his eyes
4 than "A 10 minutes attempt 10 accommodate his
I vision 20 the glare OF good lamp, or the ycxing
/ flicker OF a Eas.fafne. The intermittent flashes
Of an electric light are. in that respect. still
/ worEc. and the best plan - TO do all reading and
writing in daylighttime. aud devote the even
| ings TO conversation or other pastimcs giving
/ the eyes chance TO delegate their task OF
| entertainment 10 the ears.
| some 20 years ago the proprietor OF private
/ sauitarium in the Hartz Mountains achieved
| remarkable results IN the cure of weak eyes
| by maxi ing his patients take long rambles in
| the upland forests and bathing their faces with
II so-egllcd extract Of herbs. The main secret
! a he g. pt fFpa IN put ~
the beneficial influence OF the evergreen pines
aud the mellow light of the forest areades.
| The everlasting samtnoss of white and black
| is in the long run inevitably detrimental to the
eyes OF persons employing large portion of
their time Ia reading aud writing, and IL has
| been seriously proposed 10 print books III
| yariegated eolors-blue ono page, dark yell
| low on The next. red or green on the third. In
the public library Of Cincinnati. o., ! was
shown copy of ii textbook actually printed on
that plan, but the arguments OF the protector