The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-09-09
THE SCHOOL oHILD's EYES.
A Timely and Highly Important Subject
That Teachers and Parents Would
do Well to Consider

an apparent lack Of mental quickness has been
due not to actual stupidity, but to defective
vision, Of which both teachers and parent have
been ignorant. Often apparently dull children
have shown themselves unusually bright ia
their studies after having had needed attention
given to their eyesight.
I'm young children IL is not uncommon for
violent spasms to result from acute eye strain.
and In girls even as old as seventeen or eighteen
years. periodical attacks Of severe headache,
accompanied by nausea and vomiting. have been
found to arise solely from abnormal conditions
Of the eye.
"These are facts which, although readily ad-
mitted by the medical profession, are not known
to Thousands OF teachers and parents, who are
unable to find reason for the III health of the
children in their care OF late years. some of
the larger cities have inaugurated compulsory
examination Of the pupils Of the public schools.
with startling results. In New York City, for
instance, It was discovered that 30 per cent. of
all the school children examined were suffering
from impaired vision or some actual disease OF
the eye. In the light Of these facts 1t becomes
the duty of every parent who has the Interests
and health of his children at heart to nav s-se-
full attention to the condition o< their eyesight,
thus warding on much future misery.
'.Dur.7s tne last thirty years there has been
tremendous increase In the number of cases of
muscular troubles which have come to the at
tention Of oculists in this country. A large per-
centage OF the eye Affections of the present day
are attributable to muscular weakness. just
what cause to assign for this is puzzling, but it
is to be presumed that the close application to
books on the part of the modern child. begin
ming at very early age, is responsible to very
1o~ awfo fort of ouo
ut often happens, of course, that nothing less
than visit to the oculist will restore the normal
vision of the school child suffering from eye
strain or natural weakness. tits frequently the
case, however, that the trouble is due primarily
to constitutional weakness of the child, the
general lack of vitality manifesting itself in the
eyes more prominently than anywhere else.
This is almost sure to be the case where there is
a pre-disposition to an eye weakness. Any form
of treatment or system of exercises which shall
aid in building up physically perfect body will
be the most effective means of removing the
trouble with the eyes. More often, perhaps,
than in any other case, the desired results may
be accomplished by close attention to diet. Diet
and hygiene. in fact, are coming to be the watch
words of all modern physicians.
1.-THE close connection which the physical con-
dition has with the eye may be illustrated par
ticularly well by consideration of the crystal
line lens. Human beings never have been able
to invent anything which can be compared with
the crystalline lens of the eyefor absolute trans
parency and clearness. It has been found that
If the crystalline lens of the eye of an animal be
boiled, 1t will turn white and assume an appear
ance like that of an onion. Inspection then
shows it to be composed of layers laid one over
the other much in the same fashion as in the
vegetable mentioned. If some of these layers
are examined under the microscope, they are
found to be futed in such a manner that when
the various layers are in position, this wonder
full little piece Of mechanism is filed with tiny
channels, through which course the life giving
materials brought to it by the blood.
Nov if the circulatory system becomes i'm
paired as result of improper feeding, lack of
exercise, or an over taxing of the nerves, much
of the waste matter which should he carried
away at every heartbeat is allowed to accumu-
late in these minute channels. while the neces-
sary nourishment is not supplied by the blood;
as a result. diseased condition of the eye is
produced, and in many cases the much-dreaded
cataract follows. Many oculists of the present
day believe that cataracts are due almost en-
tirely to improper circulation, and circulation
depends largely upon good food, plenty of fresh
air and moderate amount of exercise. The air
and the exercise most children, except in the
city slums. procure. The diet depends upon
the parents, who, in many cases, are almost
criminally negligent in this respect.
ssThere are many cases of slight but annoying
eye troubles which may be well treated at home.
The eye-cup ought to be in every house where
there are school children making excessive use
of their eyes. This little appliance costs but 10
or 20 cents. 1t is made of thick glass and so
shaped that it fits closely over the eye and even
when the head is tilted back the water will not
run out.
1.-THE child should be instructed to use this
eye-cup morning and night when engaged in
hard study or after having been out in the wind
and dust. The application should consist of salt
and water of about the temperature of the body.
Care should be taken that the water is not too
hot. To pint of water add level teaspoonful
of salt. The result is very nearly Identical with
the natural saline fluids of the eye, and may be
used without causing the slightest sensation of
smarting. If clear water be used, considerable
pain will be experienced.
"Eyelids which have become slightly granu-
lated or which are infiamed as a result of dust
or cinders, may be quieted by dropping into the
eyes single drop of absolutely pure olive oil.
In the West great use is made of this oil in many
ways and it is claimed that severe cases of granu
lated eyelids have been cured by this simple
remedy. Olive oil, by the way, may be given to
the school child internally with much benefit.
1t is said to aid largely in producing the white
corpuscles which are the scavengers of the blood
and play prominent part in warding off dis
ease.
ut should be remembered above all else that
neglect of the eyes when there is any cause to
suspect trouble in these organs is most danger
Gus. 1t devolves not only upon parents, but
upon teachers as we'll, to watch for any signs or
symptoms which may lead them to suspect that
a school child is suffering from strain or disease
of the eye, and to set on foot an investigation
which may perhaps result in preventing the en-
tire loss of sight in years to Gomez
BECAUSE FOUNDER BRADLEY has been con-