The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-28
HOME HEALTH CLUB
HOME HEALTH CLUB.

The following excellent article was written by Dr. Paul Burmaster espe- cially for the Home Health Club:
 THE EYE IN ITS RELATION TO GENERAL DISEASES: The eye shares in many of the bodily diseases and ailments. In scarlet fever a com plete loss of sight sometimes occurs suddenly, lasts few days, and is due to the toxines in the blood. Not infre- quently certain eye muscles become paraIyzed to 6 weeks after an onset Of diphtheria, remaining so for about a month. Diphtherias also causes what Is called dfphtheretfc conjunctivitis, a rather severe affection of the eyelids Whooping cough is apt to be followed by cornea1 ulcers on the surface of the eyeba1l, also by bright red spots Chem- orrhages) in what is commonly called the white of the eyebaII. These hem orrhages are caused by the bursting of small blood vessels from strain dur ing coughing. Smallpox leads to u1 ceration and som etimes to destruction of the eyebal1. The de1eterious effects of vile diseases are strongly attested by 100000 blind children in Europe, made blind by infection from the pa rents, other children, or towels, etc., carrying the germs of the disease.
 We differentiate four stages Of syph- ilis, namely, primary, secondary, ter tfary and hereditary. The eye may be affected in any of these, even to utter and incurab1e blindness. Many cases of severe eye trouble have been reported after influenza. In malaria, hemorrhage into the eyeba1I is 3, se- in itself a grave affection, endangers the sight by causing Inflammation and atrophy (wasting), of the optic nerve, condition that is also brought about sometimes by the excessive use of ala coF1ol or the use in any quantity of alcohol oJanhoJ which is sold under various names, is so much cheaper that interruptions manufacturers have used 1t as a sub stftute for grain alcohol, although the government forbide it. The overuse of tobacco produces in some sensitive caused by lead and alcohol poisoning, the affection being called nicotine poisoning. In this class of cases the poison or irritant which causes the Inflammation of the optic nerve reach es the. eye through the circulation of the blood.
 In kidney diseases eye complications are rather common and indicate a se- rious state. In diabetes cataract sometimes forms which has the pecu- liarity that it disappears when the diabetes is cured. In heart disease eye symptoms are quite frequent and during pregnancy temporary loss of sight is met with now and then. The different forms of rheumatism affect the eye principally as irftis, which is an Inflammation of the iris, the col ored curtain in the eye, which, accord ing to it's coloring, gives gray, blue. brown and other eyes What is called the pupil is merely a hole in the iris In Iocomotor ataxia the visual field is contracted generally even to blindness doses of Quinine will bring on disturb ances of vision as well as hearing. from contraction of the arteries in the eye. Tumors of the brain cause pres sure on the center of vision and men ingitis, which is an inflammation of often is extended to the optic as well as the auditory nerve, with disastrous results
 Scrofula and a lowered vitality are productive of many eases of eye trou- b1e, which especially when neglected, develop serious 11indrance to good sight. The eye is such delicate and sensitive organ that even a. slight irri- tation, if continued, may produce se- rfous consequences. Take, for in stance, ingrow1ng eyelash. It will irritate the surface of the eyebaH (tf1e cornea) until it loses it's transparency, and becoming cloudy, sight may be lost or so impaired as to make the eye useless. This is a striking illus tration of what neglect of the eyes will lead to. In no other class of cases is prompt attention so imperative as in affection of the eye. Although g. wonderful organ, yet oculists differ entiate not less than 125 distinct eye affections, and examinations in schools and other public institutions have shown a remarkably high percentage of imperfect eyes. A great German scientist said that if a manufacturer turned out goods as imperfect as na- ture turned out eyes,, he would fail in business, yet with all their imper- factions, we prize them above all other faculties, and many Of us give them but little if any care, and abuse them to the limit of endurance.
 CLUB NOTES
 ! will gladly answer all inquiries for information on health subjects from readers of this publication if same are addressed to Home Health Club. 5oss Cottage Grove Ave, Chi cago. Send full name and address with cents postage.
 Dear Doctor: I believe my health would be as good as it could be if it was not for the constipation which it seems am unable to overcome. What do you think of fasting as g. cure for constipation? Of course I don't al- low myselft to get cIogged up, but in order to keep we'll, have to use medf- cine or injections constantly I would thank you for some advice on the subject
 N J. H.
 This is a subject which has so often been discussed in these notes that many, no doubt, are tired of it, but it is so common and responsible for the many other forms Of sickness that it's importance justif1es frequent dis cussion of it. The proper treatm ent of it is through djetetic and hvrieoio regulation. Eat only easily digested and laxative articles of food, such as the -coarser breads and vegetables CwhoIe wheat, graham or bran breads). turnips, chopped raw cabbage etc. Meat or eggs to be taken not oftener I1or dar