Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-10
SAVING, THE SIGHT.
The Effect of Tobacco, Alcohol and
Reading Upon the Eyes
A BOAT THAT CANNOT BE SUNK.
The Amount Of Coal That Can Be Sent in
-. Powder Through ripea
SETTING Up TYPE WITH BOTH HANDS
WRITTEN FOR THE prsPArcH.t

WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArcH.f
DR.. L. Webster Fox has, in recent lect.
ure, given some hints and advice of the ut.
most value concerning the care and preser-
vation of the oversight in middle life and old
age. While pointing out that the excessive
use OF tobacco not only weakens the muscles
of the eye, but also produces lowering Of
the aculty division and form of color
blindness, DR.. Fox mentions incidentally
a. Q we'll authenticated fact that boys who
have INDUCED in the use of tobacco are not
mentally and physically as strong as those
who abstain. Not only have medical men
recognized the tendency to depression Of
the vital force in boys and young men who
sre constant users OF tobacco, bnt a.hletis
trainers will never select their boats crew
from such ranks They know that tobacco
weakens the heart, and, although the to-
bacco smoker may be giant in strength,
when the final test comes collapse and de-
feat follow.
"When such facts are known to medical
men," says Dr. Fox. mo wonder that 20
States have passed laws forbidding the sale
of tobacco to boys"
There is, nevertheless, q large gulf be.
tween the use and abuse of the fragrant
weed. Men who. have gone through GER
tain amount of mental strain are the better
for smoking one, two or three cigars daily,
they have soothing effect on the over.
wrought nervous system, and smoking
brushes away the cobwebs and makes man o
more socisble creature.
Among the sources of the greatest trouble
to the eyesight are the chewing of tobacco
(this above almost all others), the excess.
i've use of wine, spirits or beer; the indis-
criminate administration of quinine; the
use of cosmetics for heightenng the luster
of the eye, and mixtures for dying the hair
and eyebrows, and there Is case on record
where a diminution of vision has been
traced to the wearing of an artificial wreath
Of flowers Another source of failing
vision may be traced to impeded circula-
tion. The wearing of tight neckwesr, such
ss collars which are too small or shirtbands
or neckties tightly drawn, should be avoid
ed, as they prevent the downward column
Of blood returning to the heart, and dilata-
ton and development of disease is likely to
follow. The same rule holds good of con-
stYiction of other parts Of the body
: Another most serious source of eye strain
is constant reading in railway carriages,
which is the practice of nearly all business
men in going to and from their Offices or
stores. and the injury TO the eye from this
cause alone is fDcalculabie. Nothing gives
tired eyes greater relief than a green
disc or square Of sufficient size. suspended
on a direct line of vision at or against o
wall on which the eyes can rest: but best Of
all to look upon is green grass plot or
green trees. 1t Is suggested that 1t would
be public boon If our monthly magazines
were printed on paper of a neutral tint and
the drop curtains in theaters should have
scenes palnte on them showing great per-
speetive. 1t 10 rest to the eyes after tho
concestrated effort made In trying to watch
the facial expression or eyes of an actor to
look upon such picture
After the last epidemic of Ia grippe DR..
Fox was particularly impressed with the
large number of patients complaining Of
the loss of power of the converging muscles
OF the eye. Upan Investigation he found
that while these patients were confined
either to bed or home they would read in
oessantly. The result OF this overtaxation
was weakened eye MUSCLES, and SO long a.
they remained unsupported by prisms tho
patient suffered with paSr-0veF-sAe
region, headaches and other evidences Of
eye strain. individuals suffering from any
depressing disease should be rs guarded as
eyes ON straining work as they are with re-
gard to physical exertion OF any kind.
Fresh air and n moderate quantity of light
are great essentials to good eyesight. High
helps TO ruin peoples eyes
moro than Is generally known, while too
much light, especially If it be reflected, u
I'M urtous