The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-11-07
GAYS HE THOUGHT TOO MUCH
OF HIS BOY.
TOTAL LOSS OF ONE EYE
Same One Is to Blame for Every
cross-eyed chiId-Dr. Dodd's
Last Week.

1T seems very strange to note the
prejudice of many people against
glasses remarked DR.. VIM Dodd,
eye specialist, at the Grand hotel. 81
have in mind particularly child who
came to me some six years ago when
first located in Butte. This child's
eyes were pretty badly crossed, and
advised the father to have him fitted
with glasses at once. explained that
the child was gradually losing the
sight of one eye, which, if attend
ed to at once, could be restored to
normal condition by proper glasses
and by glasses only. He asked me
il it would be necessary for the child
to wear glasses always, and replied
that owing to the nature of the de-
feet it would be necessary for him to
wear them until he was grown, when
he could remove them without fear
of his eyes crossing again if he used
them when reading or for any close
work which taxed the eyes. l ex-
lidlu0u IAdI Wul1e OH OpGidIIOu
might straighten them, he would still
need glasses to correct the defect
which had caused them to cross, 9TH
erwise they would cross again. His
father replied that he thought they
might grow straight, that his family
physician also thought so. After
waiting nearly three years the faith
er returned with the child, having
decided to have him fitted with
glasses. l found that the sight Of
one eye was entirely gone and refer
ring to my records discovered that
the other was very much damaged.
Glasses will never straighten his eyes
now, but the one eye can be preserv-
ed. This child was rosy and robust
three years ago, while now he is very
delicate and extremely nervous. When
we remember the physiological fact
that any excess of nervous expendi-
ture to one organ over the normal
amount which should be furnished
is done at the expense of the others,
sooner or later, we have an explana-
ton for his present nervous condi-
tion. What is true of one is true of
all, and this also explains why neu-
ralgia, chronic headache, nervous
dyspepsia, consultation, chorea, cpl
lepsy, insanity, etc., are cured by
proper glasses after other treatments
have failed Poor eyes do not al
ways mean poor sight, therefore one
should not wait until their eyes have
failed them before consulting spec
ialist, as this might not be noticeable
until you have exhausted the power
to overcome the defect and the eyes
are permanently damaged. When we
realize that this the most delicate or
gan is the most overtaxed, being
obliged to perform it's duty from Is to
is hours daily, and every impression
formed requiring a certain amount Of
nerve force, and if there be a defect
we must draw upon other parts of
the nervous system in order to over
sWer for the very common question,
How is it that the eyes can cause so
many nervous troubles?' Do not be
misled or get the impression that any
glasses will do, and that it makes no
difference who furnishes them. The
fitting of glasses is an experiment
with many and science with few.
Having devoted Is years to this
special organ and the fitting of
glasses, it is no longer an experiment
with me, as more than six thousand
who are wearing my glasses in Mon
ana will testify"