The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-06-20
VeiLS Harmful for Babies

Wells are bad for babies. They make
them nervous and obscure objects so
that IL strains the nerve OF sight to see
them clearly. at least this is the opinion
Of an eminent specialist on childrens
diseases.
Babies should never be allowed TO
wear wells" he says, and the mother
vino puts them on her Infants is openly
inviting nervousness. and perhaps a
straining of the optic nerves that will
be felt during the entire lifetime OF the
child, for no one can tell Just whaI th-
result OF this condition viii De- EyhS
only irritate some little ones, making
them cross and causing them 10 cry
while with others, eNcitable childreh-
having even a thin screen, that makes
seeing plainly difficult will almost throw
them into commissions This IL especial
" true of babies suffering with ricketts,,
who are always extremely nervous; IheN
rezJiza that there Is something before
their ewes that shuts out clear vision.
and this thin shutter IS so near t'eT
faces that Il frightens and irrltates them
70 the verge of Mysteries. nave seen
babies who have ricketts, so into con-
N-ulsions when wells are tied around thsir
heads til
have never been able to discover, nor
what they are supposed TO Go, WheIAeI
to protect the eyes from uusl, NEep
out the wind and prevent lnlahlS ioIll
glare of the suns rays that might weak
on the nerves of sight For WhateVSr
reason they are placed Oh young cllI-
siren there is no good cause 10 war Laut
A. aud I would advise every mother
or nurse who contemplates tying one
around the head TO cover he eyes VI
her little charge that me Wlsesl dIu
hest thing she can do Tor the nerve o.
sight as we'll as for the comfort OF the
baby is to never put any KIND OF screen
before the eyes, :;
;,,rio,,s they are likely 20 be, and these
heavy sort of wooden kinds are impoS-
sible / should like every one VINO y
any WAY connected with the clolhlhs
and care Of young oaDies 10 kIo 1,,f tii ~,
the more the eyeballs are exposed 10
light and air the stronger and better
they will grow under ordinary conul-
tions. For this reason the more an IN
FAINT is kept out of doors Win no S I,,,,t
over the ewes the healthier the signt
nerves will become. Then, too, II Will
not be straining to focus them accu-
ratelv and will unCOnsciouSly get &c
customed TO gauging the size OF ooJects
and distances Striving to see through
the wells will not infrequently result IN
temporarily making one optic nerve
near-sighted and the other tar-slSnteu,
a rather serious condition IN the Sight
OF a real young baby
eve I do not mean that they are TO DC
indisCriminately exposed to intense rsys
from the sun or from artlticidt hSnl'
for If such treatment is continued daily
the optic nerves will be permanently
weakened, and the little ones VIII carry
through life watery eyeballs that viii
need to be strengthened by the use or
glasses almost as soon as the baby can
walk and talk. In my opinion an UNI
brella on the carriage in which the 1T
tie one is placed. when properly adjust
ed will keep out the direct glare of the
sun. so that no injury can result TO the
nerves of sight, and In the home every
mother should see to 1t that al the
bright lights are well shielded with
shades so that when the Infants look at
them they will not be staring into an
intense brightness that invariably at
tracts and holds their attention.
IF there were no serious causes for
objections to babies wearing wells. I
should say that the mere fact that il
IS impossible 70 keep the youngsters
from getting the wells in t0elr mouths
and sucking them would be sufficient
reason why they should not be used.
The instinct of young children Is to
get everything IN their mouths that
comes within reach. This is bad. for
q. particles of dust and even the material
Itself Is dissolved IN the mouth and il
the baby Is teething II may even bite
small pieces out of the face covering
are black. brown or red. In fact anv
color but white or cream, the dyes used
In them might have harmful results
THE only good can see that wells
might do for babies eyes is to keen ont
the very fine dust. and ! have never
yet seen one with meshes woven so
closely together that they would pre-
vent any but the larger particles OF dirt
rom sitting through"