The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1901-04-12
EYE TALKS, NO., 6.

the.eye. Emmetropic eyes as described
in paper number ., are adapted to see
distant objects clearly without any
effort, but upon coming closer, say TO
the usual reading distance, which is
about ID inches or one-third Of n metre,
the rays being divergent when they
reach the eve, require more power TO
focus them at the retina.
We take as our standard of measure.
ment Of lenses one which will focus
parallel rays Mt one metre then one
which will focus at ID inches must nee.
essarily be three times as strong as our
unit. Therefore the amount of effort
required of the accommodation at the
l3.inch point would be equal to an in.
creas Of power Of the crystalline lens
inst three units in each eye. In reading
Mt this point the two eyes must converge
in order to not see double. This requires
another three units Of strain, n and
one-half being supplied by each eye.
All Of this force is supplied by the third
cranial nerve. Taking these facts as a
basis of calculation, we find the total
strain upon the nerve supply of a normal
individual to be one million units per
day. Then when we find defective
eyes Of the class requiring convex lenses,
the application Of this same system of
calculation shows an abnormal strain of
23 per cent for each unit Of error in the
two eyes. The natural effects of this
strain are as sure to develop weakness
in other parts as we are sure the nerves
are connected with each other. The
commonest complaints are headaches,
indigestion, mental irritation sometimes
exhibited in %dullness), female troubles,
habitual constipation, liver troubles,
kidney trouble, irregularity of the heart,
and general debility follows.
1t is a fact easily demonstrated, that
nearly all of the ~so-called diseases OF
the parts named have their origin in
malformation of the eyes, and yet vision
may remain perfect through it all. II
nature had only been kinder and ar
ranged 80 that in such cases vision
would be impaired first, there would no,
be enough business in the United States
to occupy one thousand general practi'
TONERS of medicine, but eye doctor:
would have a picnic in keeping the
people supplied with glasses and the
public would profit by it, because that
is all the doctors bill they would have
The difference between the genera
practitioner andy the ophthalmologica
specialist is that the latter can always
guarantee his work. if he understands
his business as he should, because hi
will explain the situation to his patients
and all ordinary people will follow his
instructions to the letter. Those who
do not, relieve him of responsibility.
Heterophoria is a big word and mean.
that the muscles which rotate the eve il
their sockets are ont of balance. Ant
here is one of the greatest gratis" o.
the practitioner. He either believes
that such cases require treatment Will
prism glasses or operation, or he is am
bilious to make money and is not par
ticular how he gets it. He is either
honest but ignorant, or he is wise and
rascal. Cross-eyes often require opera
ton, but many can be Strengthened
without.
The muscular unbalance is Away
caused by IN error in the form of tn,
eyes, usually that described in Tall
No. 3" in which the nerve strain irri
tates, first causing spasms or cramps il
the muscles pulling the eyes in, and thiI
is followed:later by exhaustion of thi
nerve supply and the eyes turn out. II
both instances only the test discloses TIT
, facts, because the eyes do not turf
enough to disfgure the face.
Glasses which correct the errors of re
fraction will also remedy the muscl,
trouble, and all the treatment necessary
! is to have the work done by some ON,
who knows what he ought to do, how
to do it, how to tell when il is done, an(
} how to explain it TO his patients, to
gether with instructions what to ca
and how to take care of themselves
I Then if they fail to follow instruction
he is certainly not to blame.
The formerly popular belief that a
old age approached the eyes flattened o
underwent some mysterious change re
curing glasses for reading or near work
with an occasional freak who wore bi
locals, has faded rapidly in the light o
scientific investigation, and the who'll
truth is now an open book to all VIII
desire to read.
The eye, like the rest of the child, i
undeveloped at birth, but it attain
p full size before the other parts hav
r matured. AS a rule the eye is las larg
o as it will be at the age Of ten years
+? Sometimes in case of disease vitreou
humors increase in quantity and tn
g pressure upon the posterior pole wher
the mascula Tor field of most acute visuH