The Portland daily press., 1896-11-28
HINTS ABOUT THE EYES.
Danish BeIladOnna, POultices, and
the EyestOne.

| CA
| and Alum Are Favored-H How to Cur.
Bloodshot Eyes and When to Wea,
| Glasses.
The eye specialist was busy, but h,
found time to admit two callers, one 6
middle-aged matroa. the other a Cir
who had experienced two seasons in New
York society. They wanted his advice,
nd he gave 1t as follows:
swell, you two women are suffering
intensely with your eyes because, first
Of all, you've sinned against nature. and
then one of you has applied hot poul-
tioe Of tea leaves to her eyes because
somebody has told her that it would re-
lieve the Inflammation, and the other
has Sathed her eyes in scalding water
with dash of witch hazel in it several
times day because she read that such
treatment, if persisted in, would strenR-
ID en- weak eyes. Boshi The mon are
about az bad as the women. Really the
care Of the eyes should begin before the
birth of ones great-grandmother but
since our ancestors took no thought Of
this precautiOn in our favor, we must do
the best we can foR ourselves BY usin 9
simple and safe remedies. This doesn It
msan that all of the so-oalled simple
remedies that you read about are safe by
any Means"
"But, Doctor" began the young
woman. 81 don't see how bathing my
eyes with hot water and witch ha Eel can
possibly have hurt them.''
"And don't see why simple poul-
tice Of tea leaves applied to my eyes
every night for week should have left
them in such a condition. put in the
matron.
II suppose OF" said the doctor, with
! q smile. "Then the idea advanced by
an eminent ophthalmologist some time
ago that a series of popular lectures OH
safe and simple remedies tor the eyes
| sh ould be always in progress in city
like this wasn't such bad one after
all. even If bis fellow specialists did
make joke of it,"
| "Well," said the matron, ri just
thought I'd try the tea-leaf poultice be
cause my husband Grumbled for week
because once paid a doctor So to be
told to battle his eyes in salt and water
when they were weak. 1t did seem such
a waste of money"
| "Did IL strengthen his eyes2''
| "Oh, yes, it cured them completely in
time,P she replied enthusiastically.
| 'sThen should think he got off cheap
ly II the result was what he was after. -
| "What are some safe remedies for weak
eyesl" asked the young woman. "I've
heard that it is good plan to close them
for five minutes when they ache, and
that after weeping it is well to lay a
towel wet in rose water over them for
the same length of time. Then every
one knows about bread and milk,
oamQmile and tea leaf poultioes, and II
seems to me that have heard of more
sleep being advised for bloodshot eyes.
Then, once last winter when the whites
of my eyes became yellow and the pupils
oian about my diet. But, dear me, I
was too busy with my social engage
ments for that. so I inst put little
belladonna in my eyes every day and
went on. l can't understand my eyes
being in suoh a condition as they are
now. for I've had strong eyes."
"No person should put belladonna in
|
began the specialist. "Many eyes have
been ruined by its use. Society women
OF middle age are very prone kto do this.
| Many Of them are too vain to put on
glasses; then their eyes glow dull from
constant straining, and they resort to
atropine. This has a tendency to in
crease the hardness of the eye in ad-
warm, applications be used, unless direct
ed by specialist. as suoh have ten
denoy to infame the eye. As for poul-
ticIng the eye with camomile or tea
leaves, or bread and milk. that is worse
shan folly. More ulcers of the eye are
caused by this popular fallacy than by
any other.
"In removing small foreign bodies
from the eye the eyessone or linseed ia
frequently resorted to. 1t should not be
used, for it is liable to pass from view
behind the lid, often causing additional
Inflammation. and besides, sit is an excel
lent vehicle for germs.
| "My eyes feel go very tired nova
days" interrupted the mat,on.
eyes, and that tired feeling should
not he neglected. continued the doctor.
"It comes after a certain amount Of
work or dissipation. and glasses may be
necessary to obtain reliof. The eyes
| weren't made to do near work all day
and most of the night There are mus
oits III anu ABOUT Gneu Gnhu are III d
condition of constant tension all the
time that one is reading. writing, sew
| ing, or doing any near work. Conse-
quently the eyes rebel against this abuse
| by pain or Inflammation of the lids. The
habit of sstooping over in reading or
| writing has very bad effect on most
eyes, especially near-siRhted ones, and
| should be avoided. When men and
| women come to be 40 years of age, the
morning paper to most of them looks
blurred. This is a natural condition,
but they complain that the printing
isn't clearly done or the paper is of in
ferior quality. Such persons need
glasses. and should not neglect to obtain
them. In case of neglect they will surely
be punished by having to wear glasses
constantly sooner or later, generally
| sooner. On the other hand, If a person
puts on glas ses at the first call made by
| the eyes. ne may live to good old age
without ever needing to wear them ex-
cept when doing near work. y
doctor, ou've told US a great many
things not to do, now tell us some things
that we can do for our twin stars, as
the poets call them," pleaded the young
or of the patients.
Gin cases Eof ordinary infian nation a