The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-28
ARrTrrC1AL mLU11INA1ToN.

during recent years in the science OF
illumination. This has not only been
of great value in safety and conven-
fence in trains. boats, factories. streets.
stores, theaters and churches. but It Is
q distinct benefit in conserving the
eyesight Of the human race, says the
Journal Of the American Medical
Association. The development of the
tungsten lamp Is probably the most
marked Improvement in artificial illu-
mination that has recently been made.
for 1t not only increases the light ca
pacity. but 1t decreases the cost of
consumption. AS an illustration of the
superiority Of the tungsten lamp over
all other lamps, it may be said that
the United States government has is
sued an order that all carbon f1lament
lamps shall be abandoned in its build
ings and that 25-watt tungsten lamps
shall be substituted in their places.
One of the best lights for. illuminat-
ing such places as railroad sheds, foun-
dries and blacksmith shops is what is
known as the "faming-arc lamp" 1t
has been improved so that the fumes
of the arc are condensed and do not
escape into the air nor become de-
posted on the globe. 1t is a cheap
lamp to maintain as one pet of car
bons will burn from 100 to 12O hours
without attention.
The proper natural and artificial
lighting Of school rooms has a most
school children. One interesting fact
disclosed by these Investigations is
that girls eyes are usually worse than
boys eyes. This is accounted for by
the fact that girls are taught to sew
early in life and oftentimes with in
sufficient illumination. Sewing les
sons should not be given to little girls
before years of age; good light
should always be assured. and dis
elimination should be shown between
girls having good eyes and those hav-
ing poor ones.
On account Of the effect on chill
dren's eyes. the size and style of types,
the quality and color of paper, the
illustrations, tho angle and the posi-
ton in reading and writing, the color
Of blackboards and chalk should al
ways be taken into consideration in
selecting school books and school sup
plies. Black type on a yellow back
ground is the most legible of all COM
binations, especially for distance,
while black type on a white back
ground comes sixth in order. out Of
thirteen specimens.
The work of the railway mail clerk
is one Of the most trying occupations
on the eye. The United States post
Office department has recently taken
up the matter and is preparing to
equip all our postofflce cars with the
best and least injurious methods Of IL
Elimination. Several of our state gov
ernments are taking active steps to
regulate the lighting of cars and the
headlights Of locomotives and automo-
biless The binding. result of. excess
sive1y powerful lights on locomotives
and automobiles is well known.
While such machines should be abund-
antly lighted, to insure safety to oil
concerned. excessive illumination
should be condemned and forbidden.
The indirect lighting of theaters,
churches. restaurants and cars has
produced a revolution. in interior IL
Elimination. This method is most rest
full to the eyes, and when sufficiently
abundant, is an ideal method for the
lighting of interiors.
Street lights should be protected by
glazed or opaque globes. When prop
erly installed and placed, such light
ing is sufficient and is much easier on
the eyes than the old unprotected
style of lights. The glazed or opaque
globe seems to be coming into general
use and its use should be encouraged,
not only in public places. but in
houses as we'll. Clear globes or lamps
should never be used; they are very
trying on the eyes. The nearer arti-
fetal lighting can approach daylight.
the more nearly perfection is reached.
In Germany they are experimenting
with marble globes instead of glass
globes. The marble is planed down
till it Is thin and translucent and the
light produced Is almost the exact
counterpart of daylight. One inves-
tigator has shown that a screen coated
with an aluminium powder, placed In
front of a light. win produce an IL
Elimination exactly like daylight by
means of which even colors can be
judged with perfect accuracy. The
day may not be far distant when arti-
fetal illumination will become a per-
feet substitute for daylight. In Hol-
land women and children are forbid
den to work in factories or workshops
where artificial lighting is necessary
before o'clock In the morning
and after O'clock in the afternoon.
These questions are being discussed
in England, France, Holland, Austria
and Germany. In this country, New
York and Wisconsin have taken up
this question, and it is to be hoped II
will soon receive serious official con-