The Washington times., 1914-04-17
THE BEST
Photopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
Opinion of Editor ot
Medical Journal
on Film Eye
Strain.
-HE American Medical Associs

~HE American Medical Associa-
ton is coming to the rescue
u of the photoplay patrons of
the United States by calling
attention to the eye strain caused
by the improper projection Of good
films and any kind of projection Of
poor films. The medical men have
been considering the photoplay for a
long time, and have about determined
that the average man or woman is
not seriously injured by the pictures,
when too many shows are not seen
in succession, and there is a long
enough interval between the reels.
Because of the number OF poor reels
that are shown at the improper pro-
lection, the physicians OF Boston Sc
cured the enactment Of city ordi-
nance requiring five-minute intervals
between reels at all theaters in that
city. This is too long a period for
the proper showing of good multiple
reel feature, where eyestrain is re-
duced to a minimum. But 1t is hard
ly more than long enough when the
average kind of projection and the
average kind Of films are taken into
consideration. -. -- -.....s-
In the issue of the Journal of the
American Medical Association for the
current week some very Interesting
statements are made by the editor
n this connection. What he calls
poor definition of the original mega
: tives is bad film. He says:
"One OF the factors in cinemato-
graph exhibitions which fayors the
development of eye-fatieue is poor
definition of the original negatives.
This is greatly accentuated hen the
positives which are used are enor-
mously maguified. 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 is less eye ia
tigue when sitting not closer than
forty feet from the screen
That the movies are a prolific
source of eye-strain must have been
recognized by many oculists, YET,
with few exceptions, the attention OF
the public has not been directed to
this important fact, while the victims
themselves seldom suspect the cause
of their trouble. although many of
symptoms even while witnessing the
pictures.
This variety of eye-fatigue may be
largely removed by wearing proper
glasses; by patronizing only those
places which have good films, proper
manipulation and proper intervals of
rest between the reels; by sitting at
the right distance from the screen
(no closer than forty feeD ana by
not OVERRIDING attendance on these
places of amusement.
1T has been suggested that IL
censes be issued only 10 those pro-
prietors of moving picture theaters
who are willing to abide by the fol-
lowing rules:
First, to operate the machine by
a motor instead of by hand, to have
and adjustable take-up or speed reg
ulator and an automatic fire shutter
which renders more accurate the Sc
ouence of the individual images;
second. to use the arc light with
The direct current which is bright
indirect current: third, to have a
proper screen, free from disagree
able and harmful glare. The So
called mirror screen" " consisting
of q mirror glass with 4 frosted
surface. seems TO be one of the
most desirable. Fourth, to use no
reels which have been in use for
over a month. Reels of an inferior
quality or which have become
"cratched from much use give Ioor
definition. Fifth. TO allow at least
three, minutes intctmission between