Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-31
DEFECTIVE VISION AND CRIME
Conclusions Drawn from Observation
of Inmates of n State Re-
f5Fni6tGFy.

Four hundred inmates of the Elmira IN,
" state reforatory have been found by
the ophthalmologist of that institution to
possess some defect of vision. Only the
most glaring defects were brought out,
under the conditions imposed by the state,
and such errors as a difference in the
vision OF both eyes were ignored. In
recent issue of the Buffalo Medical Journal
DIR. George NJ Gould Of Philadelphia points
out the handicap under which these young
criminals are laborng when they attempt
almost any work of civilization, and con-
tends that, instead of furnishing them, they
should be given accurate and scientific
glasses, to enable them to make their liv-
ing. He says:
THE state, in its infinite stupidity, doubly
Furnishes them-both by imprisonment and
by improper glasses Such is governmental
wisdom Put upon los out of any
400 moral and well raised boys OF IL years
Of age spectacles which would correct tho
ametropia abnormal refraction of the eye)
OF any one of these los boys of the REFORM
atory, and they will get into either the re-
formatory, a hospital, or their graves
within few years"
DR.. Gould also states emphatically that II
legislators officers of the government
were treated in a similar manner there
legislative sessions, and the administrators
would see that they were executed" He
charges the state with amazing blunder-
ing and says that the state will not only
not pay the oculist, but It will not let him
do his work scientifically; II will not buy
the glasses, and II will not take care 70
have the glasses fitted by an expert opti-
clan.
The author asserts that II would be
money making business II private oculist
and optician would take the Job OF reducing
the state appropriations for criminal insti-
tutions so or rs per cent. and insists that
this could be easily done by preventing
the ocular diseases and rehexes which di-
rectly cause crime in the young What
the state does, or rather neglects to do,
was brought out by an inquiry which DIR.
Case, ophthalmologlst Of the Elmira re-
formatory. directed to 13 penal institu-
tons DR.. Case asked II visual acuteness
was tested when the boy or prisoner was
received. what the results were; whether
glasses were prescribed; the effect on con-
duct, etc; whether ocuists were employed;
whether appropriations were made for such
work and so on Sxty-three institutions
failed to answer; Of those who did reply, SO
per cent had no oculist and only per cent
even had an optiCian Moreover II came
out that only IS per cent had any appro-
priaton for such work whatsoever In
some Of these institutions. DIR. Case AYERS
baskets Of all kinds Of lenses are placed
before the boys and they are ordered 10
choose any pair they please. "The entire
AFFAIR" said Dr. Gould, rs a farce and
absurd bit OF opera bouffe at best. that
should be laughed at and buried out Of tho
sight Of self-respecting or OF business-like
people"
wherever there was any attempt 20 go
at the subject In even an inadequate way
the results on demeanor, conduct. school
or hand work promptly showed great i'm
provement, the percentage Of such improve
ment ranging from Is 10 "a and averaging
about 90 In conclusion the author says:
Even under these ruinous conditions ma
ture responds a little, and there is a de-
gree Of betterment gained. What would
be the gain II accurate and thorough-going
work were permitted. II II we're demandsd3
At the same time the government pridss
itself on being a democracy, the medical
profession prides itself upon being scientific.
and the people pride themselves on know
! ing how TO conduct an enterprise In a BUSH
| ness-like manner"