The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1899-07-15
DR.. CoIeman's Lecture.

uC CiOoiuS iCNtuiO III WV NOe'H'
given by the physicians of Frank
fort to the Economic Department of
the Womau's Club was delivered by
DIR. Coleman some weeks ago. His
subject was the eye. He dwelt, as all
the other doctors have done, on the
close connection ofgenera and special
hygien, pure blood and steady nerves
being as necessary to perfect eyes MS
to the development and functions of
any other organs. Gastric derange-
ments esq ecially, he declared, a
fruitful source of bad sight, which
should be treated by proper diet and
exercise, adding tout of door life not
only improved the general health,
but, by directing the eyes to distant
objects, relieves the muscular strain
and materially aids in their strength
and development"
DIR. Coleman's remarks on the an
atomy and physiology of the eye and
its most common defects or malfOr-
nations would scarcely be intelli-
gible to the general reader without
his clever blackboard illustrations.
His practical suggestions and warn
ings were valuable. Eye lashes, he
declared, under the term wild hairs,
were held responsible for many eye
troubles of which they were entirely
innocent, and constantly extracted
"by almost any one owning a pair
of tweezers," though necessary not
only to the appearance of the face
but protection of the eyes, they
should be preserved with the great
est care and only sacrificed in the
slightest degree under the direction
of a specialist. The cure, when be-
gun in time, of a disease which
causes the loss of the eye lashes he
declared not difficult.
"The small scales" which, with
little patches of liberation, form at
the roots of the lashes, "shOuld be
carefully removed every day with
warm water and soda applied with n
soft brush or rag. Afterthe lids have
been completely cleaned simple
ointment of yellow oxides will gen.
orally complete the cure"
Fully recognizing the hygenic and
remedial effects Of water when APP
piled to the eyes, he said that its too
frequent and unnecessary use is some
times injurious, as it may ''relax the
tissues" To quiet irritation or allay
pain, he added that the water
should be hot, not merely warm,
and applied continually with "A soft
rag or large soft sponge for fourteen
or twenty minutes at time. In
cases of mild congestion or catarrh
he recommended the addition of Il
little ordinary salt or loric acid to the
water. Cold congresses ut night
after assiduous use of the eyes in
close work he thought often pro-
ductive of good results.
DIR. Coleman especially fixed the
attention of the mothers present
when he said "the care of the eyes
should begin in early infancy for 1t
is then that 50 many diseases make
their appearance, only to end in total
blindness. The diseases that affect
the eyes at this age are usually OF an
inflammatory and contagious charac-
ter and best stunned by strict clean
illness and the avoidance OF all
sources Of danger.
"Not only mothers, but all with the
least sense of justice or humanity,
must see the brutal irony Of impair
ing or destroying II child's eyesight
while educating him-i. e., of pref ar
ing one for the struggle of life while