The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-15
CROSS EYES.

M Dr. Seymours letter in last Sundays
Post has created considerable interest
among our readers who have cross-cyed
children or friends, and as he Is receiving
a number of communications requesting
more particulars on this srajcct, he has
decided to cay something more in this
line,
There no longer remains doubt that
this deformity which has been looked up
OH SO long as durable only by an operation
simple means OF proper treatment and
correctly ltted glasses which do not
cause tho slightest pain, - invariably
Give great ralief to the patient.
Few children arc born cross eyed, and
their being allowed 10 grow up this way
Ia not only negligence on the part OF pa
rcnta. but positive cruelty since the
simple means of rcmcdying this dcformity
does not imply tho slightest danger as In
the use of tho knife. which has formerly
been so dreaded. Cross eyes should be-
come thing of the PAST and the march
of science credited with having bestowed q
blessing upon those who are afflicted in
this WY.
will endeavor 10 give YOU another sim
pic illustration az to the cause of cross
eyes. Now YOU viii notice as ! hold this
pencil in my hand and gradually draw ~
close tn my eyes, in order to sec II dis
iipctiy. mnet make an intense effort,
toward my nose in order that both of them
may he directed to tho pencil Ever ono
knows tina, II Is much easier to focus the
eye on an object at Fome distance than L.
is when drawn very close say two or three
inches from the face The muscles thai
turn the eyes in work In harmony with
the muecles that focus the eye, and ons
set Of muscles can not be strained without
the other being strained from sympathy.
SO you see that " chiids sight is do.
fective and It is obliged - strain its eyes
as much to see at distance as do to see
this pencil, why of course the guiding
muscles acting In symNthy draw the
eyes toward the nose aud this means cross
eyes. The eye that looks in (for Of course
one eye always looks straighD will IN
time lose Its usefulness, as the sight in
the cross eye must be ignored, or a person
would see double.
Now In reference to the steps that should
be taken when this trouble Is hrst Hppar-
emit wish to say that. like many other
new branches of science, the suggestion
of wearing glasses is apt to be acted upon
by parents or even by oculists who do not
fully understand the principles involved,
and in my experience have had hundreds
of children brought to me wearing glasses
that were a positive detriment to them
ana only adding To their trouble. Don't
mare this mistake in regard to your chill
drep, AS simple as 1t may sound. there
is y WOTiu OI SClenCs. III utllnB aACuIlu VIII
glasses which may make or mar its fu-
ture happiness. Glasses can not be applied
TO children's ayes In the same manner that
they arc to grown people. as they are not
expected TO answer questions Is correctly
as an older person, and it not only needs
thorough understanding OF children but
IT requires many special appliances and In
struments TO gain a thorough and accu
rate knowledge OF the condition of the
childs eyes,
Parents often object to children wear
ing glasses, fearing Tint they might fall
and break the lenses and In this way in
iure their eyes. While This looks reason-
able ON first Thought, still II has no foun-
dalion, for gIasses used in these cases are
in the nature of their construction very
fubsauial, and I have In all my expe
rience yet to learn of 4 child ever losing
the sight of an eye from an accident of
this kind, and do know OF many who
have had an eye saved from. injury. tho
glass breaking the force ot blow. There
Is really no danger to be feared from this
cause In fitting a small child with glasses.