The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-05-24
IMPORTANT
QUESTIONS
ETESlGHT IN RELATION
TO HEALTH.
EVOLUTION OF THE EYE
There Are Other Important
Things to Be ATTAINED
Besides Vision.

This article sets forth that through
the eyes there are other important
things to be attained besides vision
that there is an important physiological
side 80 the question that weighs quite
equal TO that of vision. It is a knOwl-
edge of this physiological aspect that.
the author hopes, will enable the reader,
by proper care of his vision, to make
life HAPPIER. or at least more endur-
able.
We are living in a swift civilization.
We are following callings and pusuits
widely different from those of our near
ancestors; and our various systems and
organs have not had time to evolute to
those changes which are necessary to
cope with our present requirements
without undergoing great diScomfOrts
and seriously curtailing our lives.
Max NOTdau, in mis- Degeneration, >"
graphically pictures a grewsOme state
of the nervous conditions of the coming
generations; but he gives no specific
cause and offers no remedy. 1t Is
sought in this to elucidate some of the
heretofore obscure yet prime causes
that are Wrecking the nervous systems
and lives of today's civilization, and a
remedy is mOdestly suggested TO the
reader.
OLLGu our lCdlAU anu A4A0CM o. Jul
lives are sacrificed to an improper use
of vision. 1t may seem extravagant to
attribute so much to the eyes: but it is
the province of this article to show that
it is a fact.
II you are tired or nervous, go 70 the
window and for few moments look
off into the far distance. At the same
time take note of the soothing, calming
feeling that comes over your entire be
ing. Then turn again to doing some
thing that requires a close range Of
vision. and at once the nervousness will
return. This is simple, easy thing
to do and may afford you much vaIu-
able information.
Business men. when tired, often close
their eyes for a moment, as they have
learned by intuition that it rests the
entire system. The reason why closing
the eyes has such a calming effect IS
because when they are closed one-third
of the brain is for a time being shut on
from work.
Physical labor induces health; but
all occupations requiring close use or
the eyes tend to break~it down. Many
students sacrifice, their health and lives
in attaining an education, because Of
the brain strain sustained by the close
use of the eyes.
With our present knowledge most of
these evils can lie avoided.
The wide difference as to health in
and out of doors is well illustrated by
calling to attention the farm women of
Flanders, the fishwiYes of Leith, the
slave woman who works on plantations.
They are az as hardy and muscular as
men, The athletic woman is stronger
for being out of dOorsys Now, for mo
ment let US look at the converse side.
Strong, muscular men1eave their cOuu-
try life and take up office callings IN
cities, where a close. range of vision Is
required. Usually their nervous 3ys-
TENS break down and their lives are
much shortened.
The eyes of man and the brain cen
tiers that do their work have been OullJ
I'D and originally adapted to out-of-
door use, and when they are required TO
do near work constantly, say thirteen
inches, then a strain takes place deep
in the middle of the brain to sustain
the near focus and conveyance of the
eyes.
For the past twenty-five years oc-
ulists have been advocating the fact
that eye-strain may be the cause Of
headaches. nervousness and many
functional diseases. Many now attrlo-
ute the effect of "Open-air life to
natural relief Of eye-strain and its at
tending disorders.
a natural query would be, What
class of diseases are due to it, and can
be cured by removing the cause?" And
a general answer. it seems, would meet
this question An diseases are empha-
sized or made worse by anything thal
irritates and depletes the nervous sys-
TEN, and naturally, any disease Will be
more or less relieved by correcting
nerve-strain.
There is a remedy for those whose oc-
equations are such that they cannot
take advantage Of Open-air life, but
are forced 10 continue at close range
OF vision. which is to aid the vision so
that when il is being used at near
point. the eyes have about the same ad-
justment as they would in looking over
the open country. and consequently the
brain would be as free from strain. Inc
above statements are undoubtedly
startling and a good reason ought TO
be given why such radical effect on the
general system is to be attained
through the medium of vision The
principal reason is this: More than
one third of the gray matter of the
brain is utilized to perform the func-
tons of the eyes, namely, the occipital
lobe. large parts of the parietal and
frontal Iobes of the brain, also the third
and fourth ventricIes and aqueduct of
Sylvius, deep in the middle base of the
brain.
This vast and sensitive area of the
brain is under the. command of the
modem eye specialist. So by the aid
Of glasses, through the eye, he can in
fuence the work in these various large
brain centers; and, as all nerve centers
are connected Dy association hDerS. Il
can be seen that nerve centers govern
ing other parts of the body would be
DIR. W. E DODD,
Eye Specialist, Kenyon Hotel.