The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-20

THE sslGOvIEB" AND THE KXDs,
Tho Injurious effect ON the eyes a
the swiftly moving images OF the
cinemat0graph has been frequently
discussed. It has been shown, says
the Journal Of the American Medical
Association, that . number Of disor-
ders Of the eyes are caused by thia
form of entertainment. In NAssachu-
sets a five-minute intermission il re-
quired between reels SO as to lessen
the eye-strain. One Of the factors In
cinematograph exhibitions which IA
vors the development Of eye-fatigue II
poor definition OF the original mega
tives. This is greatly accentuated
when the positives which are used are
enormously magnified. The smaller the
image in the eye, the longer the i'm
preston lasts and the more the eyes
are tired. SO that seats nearer the
screen are less desirable than those
more remote. There IL less eye ia
tigue when sitting not closer than
forty feet from the screen.
That the movies are . prolific
recognised by many oculists. yet, with
public has not been directed to this
important fact while the victims them
selves seldom suspect the cause Of
their trouble. although many Of them
suffer from an increase of symptoms
even while witnessing the pictures.
These symptoms usually consist Of
headache. vertigo. nausea and fatigue
OF the eyes. followed later by vomit-
ing, sleeplessness and lack Of energy.
Physicians and public health officials
have only recently realized the i'm
portant part the picture theaters play
in the welfare Of the community from
q health standpoint. Many theater
buildings are remodeled storerooms
with no facilities for ventilation. The
air IL breathed over and over and
plenty Of opportunity II afforded for
contact between infected and nonin-
fected, thereby facilitating the distri-
button Of infectious diseases. In the
United States there are over twenty
five thousand moving picture theaters
at which there is an average attend
ance Of over fifteen million spectators.
This variety Of eye-fatigue may be
largely removed by wearing proper
8A0D0Cop W Ou4y @AAOo0
places which have good films. proper
manipulation and proper Intervals OF
rest between the reels: by sitting at
the right distance from the screen emo
closer than forty feet) ana by not
OVERRIDING attendance on these places
Of amusement.
It has been suggested that license be
issued only to those proprietors OF
moving picture theaters who are will
ling to abide by the following rules:
First, to operate the machine by q
motor instead Of by hand. to have an
adjustable take-up or speed regulator
and an automatic fire-shutter which
renders more accurate the sequence Of
the individual images: second. to use
the arc light with the direct current
which is brighter and steadier than
that with the indirect current; third,
to have q proper screen. FREQ from
disagreeable and harmful glare. The
socalled mirror 'screen," combating Of
q mirror glass with frosted surface.
seems to be one Of the most desirable.
Fourth. to use no reels which have
been in use for over . month. Reels
Of an inferior quality or which have
become stratched from much use give
poor definition. Fifth, to allow At
least three minutes intermission be-
tween the reels.