The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-10-11
cHILnREN,s EYES.
Proper Way TO Care For Them, Esps
cialIy If They Are Weak.

Proper way TO care For Them, ESpo~
cinlly If They Are Weak.
An eminent specialist, In discussing
the seemingly increasing number Of
cases of bad eyesight, says among the
Weather classes it is more prevalent
with children than among the poor.
This seems strange, as, having suffi-
Gent money at command, the wealthy
parents are more able to attend to such
Affections, but, nevertheless, there is
too much eye weakness, and the num-
Der of children wearing glasses is in
creasing every day. A well known
oculist said the other day that in the
majority of cases more care of the
eyes in infancy would prevent the later
development of weakness.
ct is not a difficult matter" this ocu-
list said, ''to ruin eyes that are normal
ly healthy by mere inattention. When
the infant receives it's first bath, the
eyes should be washed with soft lin
en- handkerchief dipped in weak solu-
ton of boracic acid, and this should be
repeated two or three times week for
at least three months. If the slightest
redness appears or matter In the cor
ners, the physician should be informed
Immediately, and it may be ophthalmia
neonatorum, which is dangerous both
to the child and others, as it is highly
infectious The nurse should burn all
pieces of linen used to apply lotions or
to wash the eyes in such case.
"The eyes often are injured in infan-
cy by being exposed to too much light.
The child should not be held or allowed
to sleep with the light from window,
lamp or gas shining upon it's face. The
old fashioned cradle, with it's hood,
was far more sensible than the modern
cribs and bassinets that afford no pro-
lection from either glare or draft. On
the same principle is the English baby
carriage. which has been introduced
into this country within year or two.
1t has hood like buggy, with shades
at sides and back, any or all of which
may be rolled up or lowered as sun and
wind make necessary, while the top
protects from an overhead glare With
such an arrangement the e.. es may al
ways be protected. 1t makes ones
blood boil to see the way in which ba-
bies' eyes are exposed to the fierce
glare Of a summer sun by careless
who take no pains to adj
just the parasol top that has been in
general use to afford even such protec-
ton as it might give.
'It Is much, better for children to
sleep in the dark, and, if accustomed
to it from the beginning, there is no
trouble about it, Dark is as natural
as light. and unless children are taught
to fear 1t they will welcome it at bed
time as eagerly as their elders do. A
baby's nerves become strained by the
excitement of its waking hours, and it
needs the restful darkness for eyes and
system alike.
when a child is four or five years
old, its eyes should be tested to see if
they are alike in visual power.
can easy method is to hold a small
object with which he is unfamiliar be-
fore him and, covering each eye in
turn ask him to describe it. In this
way it may be ascertained whether one
eye has stronger vision than the other.
If it has, an oculist should be consulted
to prescribe suitable
glasses. If attended to in season, the
eye is likely TO strengthen, so that in a
few years the glasses become unneces-
sarv."