Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1907-02-07
CARE OF THE EYES
IMPORTANT THAT THEY SHOULD,
BE WASHED DAILY.
Much Discomfort and Even Danger of
Loss or Impairment Of Sight May
Be Avoided by Pre-
cautions.

Don't be careless of the eyes dur
ing cold weather. Battle them fire.
quently. Protect them from both
wind and dust, particularly the lat
ter, which 1 believe causes most of
the infiamed eyeballs and swollen
lids that are now so prevalent" says
DR.. George Houston Bell, prominent
oculist.
"If the simple preventions that
may be employed to guard the eyes
against soreness were understood 1
feel certain that every one would
adopt them, especially women who
will stop at nothing to cure infiamma-
ton and redness of the eyeballs that
Is so disfiguring while it lasts.
ITO women who are not COM
PEELED to go out of doors daily
would suggest that the easiest way
for them to avoid any injury from
dust would be to stay in the house
until whirlwinds of fine dirt do not
fill the air A shopping trip, call
or even theater engagement had bet
ter be postponed unless a carriage
can be called to ones door or cab
stopped in front of ones home.
Don't keep the eyes open when
passing through cloud of dust. If it
is not possible to shut the lids, then
turn the back or side of the head so
that the particles will not fly direct
ly into the eyes, or if in a crowd,
where there would be danger if clos
ing the eyes, place the hand, paper,
or some guard few inches from the
optics to shield them and to keep
out the dirt
Don't rub the eyes after going
through cloud of dust, for this &C.
ton has tendency to irritate the eye
ball by working fine pieces of metal,
dirt, etc, into the corner. If par
ticles in the eye cause discomfort or
pain, close the lid and let the water
that constantly bathes the eyeballs
have chance to wash out the for
eign matter.
IF after several minutes the sub
stance is not dislodged, have drug
gist take out the dirt with a fine
camePs hair brush, or wash out the
eye with saturate solution of boric
acid, which is soothing antiseptic
that will help to clear away any red
ness of the eyeball that usually fol-
lows the irritation caused when dirt
sticks to the cornea. If boric acid
is not to be had. use salt water.
Either the acid OF water may be
dropped into the eye from a spoon,
but the best plan to give the eyeball a
thorough wash-out is to use regula-
ton eyeglass that fits tightly over the
lids and makes possible complete
bath
For those who have had no expert
ence with the use of an eyeglass 1
want to say that it should be about
three-quarters full before it is placed
directly over the eye with the lids
closed The head must be thrown
back when the glass is turned down
and then the lids opened and the eye
ball rolled around. This operation
should last but few seconds and will
ordinarily bring immediate relief.
Whether or not there are particles
of dirt, ETC., on the eyeballs that cause
pain, | think it advisable to wash out
the eyes, especially on windy days,
after coming into a house or office, for
then the gritty specks will be cleaned
away, the eyes left fresh and bright
looking, and there can be no danger
of infection from germs contained in
the dust. Use solution of boric acid
for these washings, and if convenient
an eyeglass.
Il wish l could make women, and
men, too, understand that it is quite
as essential to wash out the eyes
when they are full of dirt as it is to
cleanse the hands when they are
soiled, for if | could | know much of
the trouble that often becomes chronic
and results in the use of glasses would
be avoided and an eyeglass and a
bottle of boric acid would be consid
cred as essential to physical clean
illness as is soap.
Every one, for hygienic reasons
should wash out the eyes with five
! per cent solution of boric acid each
morning, and every night before retir
ing for this bath not only cleanses
,, them, but soothes and allays slight
, inflammation caused from cold, OF
from strong winds and incidentally
strengthens the eyeballs."
Fitting Skirt.
Il yy..