Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-10

ach are depleted Of their nervous force
indigestion ensues and 30 with all bod
lily mechanisms. Even the blood may
be impoverished in this way, resulting
in lowered bodily resistance, inviting
tuberculosis. insanity or epilepsy. Low
cred mental or moral tone and degen-
eracy or idiocy not infrequently result
from depletion Of those centers where
moral and mental conceptions are
formed. Literature teens with facts il
Illustrative Of the power of the eye over
morals as well as health. According to
Gould, so per cent Of the young crimi-
nails Of the Elmira reformatory have
visual defects. The bulletin OF Iowa
institutions for 1908 by DR.. Apologize
indicates that nearly so per cent Of in
ebriates have defective eyes. Exami-
nation Of the inmates Of large hospi-
tai for nervous diseases showed that
100 per cent of the chronic epileptics
were victims of serious visual defects.
DR.. Cronin says that truancy is one
of the first stages toward criminal
career and that eye strain is one of the
chief factors IN ;essening schno! at
tendance. The above facts indicate eye
strain as a factor in the production OF
unfortunates mentally. physically and
morally.
Difficulty Of Detecting Ego Strain.
Symptoms Of eye strain are often
difficult Of apprehension. They not tn
frequently are insidious, subtle and in
tangible. A slight nervousness increas-
ing daily or yearly may be the only in
timation of the beginning of severe
eye strain which may result later in
the establishment Of a profound ner-
vous disorder. Such individuals often
hand their unstable nervous constitu-
tons and uniformed eyes down to
their children who pass them on to
succeeding generations to increase the
ever widening stream of detectives.
Again, indigestion or constipation may
constitute the sole evidence OF defect
i've eyes, or melancholia or insomnia
or stupidity or lack of power Of atten-
ton or sleepiness when desiring to
study or wakefulness when wishing to
sleep or restlessness. These and many
others alone or in conjunction may
point to the eye as the offending fac
tor So that for reasons enumerated
above the eye is the most likely of all
organs to be guilty in the production of
serious and profound nervous disorders
and particularly if good vision stimuli
taneously obtains. Were these facts
more generally recognized by physi-
clans, the eyes would be first consid-
Vitus dance, neurasthenia. nervousness.
backwardness in study. complainers
without definite symptoms, and in those
with bladder and kidney Irregularities
or lack of mental and moral force. In
ia
PATIENTS patience and finances in the
administration of innumerable rene
dies which produce no effect and occas-
glasses which relieve them but often
too late to overcome long established
affection. Teacher and parent should
bear in mind that if the child appears
peculiar or unnatural in any sides OF
its character the eye should be first
suspected and first Inspected. Constf-
patton. indigestion and insomnia are
observed together most frequently in
adults suffering from eye strain, while
nervousness, irritableness and bladder
w-n<nesses are more common In chill
dren. StNA
NO one should be misled by the tend
ency Of eye strain to produce bodily
diseases unaccompanied by eye affec-
tions for the former have a greater
bearing on the child's future than the
latter which are easily identified and
corrected. but are not nearly so cons
mon as the former.
The records of 1000 casessin my flies
examined for glasses show that 80 per
cent suffered from Indigestion. consti-
patton. or insomnia combined or alone
and were relieved by glasses. Ninety
per cent had intermittent headaches,
daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
frequently upon rising In the morning
The pain was located in the temples or
top Of the head or back of the neck or
simply in the eyes themselves. Five
per cent had st. Vitus dance. melan-
cholia, neurasthenia or kidney troubles.
Ten per cent had no aprreciable eye
complaint.
January 20. 1910. child in our pub
lie schools became restless and ner-
vous and grew SO rapidly worse that
lie was forced to leave school. He was
brought to the authors office during
the sixth week following the first APP
pearance of the symptoms with fully
developed case Of st. Vitus dance ana
was not then able to walk alone or talk
intelligently. Glasses were fitted which
relieved him completely and banfshed
every symptom in less than six weeks.
Oct 4, 1907, a little girl age IL. was
referred TO the author because OF red
eye lids She had been taking treat
trent for two years for bladder weak
ness at night without securing relief.
Glasses were fitted to her eyes and the
symptoms were banished in short
time. So volumes couid be filed illus
trating the profound influence of I'M
perfect eyes over the general nervous
system.
Supposed Simplicity Of Glass Fitting.
1t is a mistake and fruitful Of harm
to imagine glass fitting simple pro-
cess. No operation, diagnosis Or treat
ment of disease requires greater mem
tai acuity, patience consciousness,
accuracy or broader experience. Fa-
miliarity with the cause, appearance
and consequence of every disease and
the relation of the eye to the general
nervous system and to disease Is alb
solutely necessary In order to render
one who fits glasses safe to deal with
from tlse standpoint Of sight and
health. Because tuberculosis, Bright
disease, syphilis, hardened arteries.
brain disease, and many other ailments
appear and can be frequently first