Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-26
IMPORTANT SUBJECT WHICH IL
MADE A THoUGHTFUL STUDY.
OF MUCH INTEREST TO READERS.
Proper Pose Defined, the Angle Mt
which the hook should he Placed,
and How the Light should FAN ON

to q vast number Of persons. Inc .
: general impression which physi-
clans and oculists have fostered.
that reading whilst IN a recumbent
position WAS dangerous TO the eye
sight, has been proved TO be
:fallacious by very clever Cali
fornian doctor who is the first TO
make an exhaustive study OF the
subject.
Or. Baker has incorporated his
views on the matter IN the follow
ing article. which he has gone 10
tho pains Of writing expressly for
these columns, and TO Illustrate by
the means of photographs also eX-
:cusivelv furnished Us. The article :
is especially timely now that we
nave tho long winter evenings
ahead OF US, when the luxury OF
reading In comfortable and
scientifically correct position will
DO fully appreciated.
SAN DIEGO, CAL, November 90
Comfort and hygiene are both min
istered to by adopting a proper posture
when reading in a recumbent position.
Since for many reasons a great
number OF persons do a great deal OF
rules which VIII not only obviate G.s-
comfort but also the much more serious
result of injury TO the eyes, should
prove Of advantage to a large number
Of people.
There is nothing IN modern medicine
that ranks higher than preventive treat
n.ent in medicine, and in opthalmology
anything which will lessen the evil re.
suits of the almost universal abuse Of the
eyes. which the conditions of modern life
practically compel, should be certainly
welcomed.
Therefore, the building up of a system
OF rules for the use of such as will take
the trouble to preserve their eyesight
should prove a benefit not to be lightly
considered.
The first thing TO be understood is the
proposition that eye work is muscle work.
While the act of looking at, and forming
the picture of. an object on the retina *
a heaithful eye. invOl ng its tranrmis-
sion to, and perception by, the brain,
causes no more effort than the action Of
the Olfactory nerve caused by am OdOr and
its consequent recognition by the brain
prolonged exercise of either faculty Will
cause nerve exhaustion, and result IN the
discovery that we have oyerworked the
motor muscles Of the eyes or nose.
Whatever tends TO mitigate the strain
on the eye is therefore, IN the line Of pre-
ventive 0pthalmOl0gy.
The common rules laid down for a "ead-
ing position are To sit erect, or, prefer
ably, with the head thrown little back,
while the book should be held up well, and
the strong light fall over the left shout
der. or from above. To these few rules l
would add seyera. others of equal impOr-
lance. the first of which is that the book
should be held az a distance OF at least Is
inches from the eyes, or as far away as
a clear view can be obtained. This Is
correct. although contrary 90 precOnceived
notions as long-rauge vision causes the
least strain of the ciliary muscles, the
strain being gradually lessened as the
object recedes from view. Exceptions 60
this rule would be- the persons troubled
with nearsightedness.
inc next point TO be observed is that
for reading the plane Of the book should
| be at right angles to "a line extending
| from the eyes to the book With the
| eyes set al a definite focus and the
rotating muscles only called upon TO
move them across tho page II Is very
easy work for the ciuary muscles.
when tho two sides of the page are
! at different distances from the eyes a
! function Is performed by the muscles
| which il probably the most complex OF
| any that the body Is capable Of and ii
/ soon proves exceedingly fatisuing.
I Tho universal Condemnation by ocull5i5
| Of tho habit of reading in recump'lt
| posture Is. I am convinced. faliacious
| i'm tho extreme. my opinion being amply
! sustained by the experience OF persons
| who for years have practiced the pro-
| scribed habit.
A tar better idea would have been 10
| law down "a system of rules by which any
! possible evil results could have De
! mitigated. and thus where IL was lm-
| possible TO prevent the habit 10 nave
| aueviatcd the conditions under which IL
/ wa5 practced
There is no doubt that great damage
| Is often done by reading in a recumOenl
| rosition when 1t is pracuced with "a
wrongly placed light with book az
an improper distance from the eyes, ana
out of the proper plane 40 right angles
| 10 the vision.
Severe consequences often result from
| reading with the light IN 'front.' o. WIN
| q moor light. necessitatng the scln5
! o. the object too close 10 tho eyes
| This VIII produce spasms OF lhe ciIldty
| muscles. congestion OF the internal
| structures. and myopia.
THE photographs accompanying This
article show the correct postures 20 be
| adopted. and If they are followed care
| fulfv the most distinctly beneficial re-
| eultg will accrue. The little care anC
| attention required 10 arrange the lounge
or bed so that the Eight falls over th'
head and does not strike the eyes and
tho fixing OF the cushions so that the
book can be comfortably held az the
REQUIRED distance with the lire Of letter.
at right angles To the line of vision
will soon cease to be a matter Of bother
and the pleasure and comfort derlV-
will soon confirm tho habit
II is certain that by adhering to thes'
rules there can be no more harm COM
to the eyes by reading In this posltoi
than there is when sitting up.
Most positive Is it also that this pos
ture admits Of greater rest for all th
| bodily structures than does the sitiini
one. while there is a far greater posslDlut,
Of recuperaton in this position.
The number Of busy men IN all Walk
Of life who, exhausted by the stras
OF the day activities, need a complet
relaxation OF the muscular system. Wnll
at the same time they are compelled I
do more or less reading, is so large ina
their needs In this direction ceinan
consideration.
is il not better therefore. 70 enunciat
q few simple Instructions which WI
enable them TO benehcially prosecute thei
reading under the most comfortaoi
circumstance than TO enter into whole
sale denunciation OF a practically III
eradicable habt2
viii go beyond my denial OF IN
adverse effects Of reading in recumoe.
position when the proper rules are 10