New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-24

In
ljSSpA than the mere act of turning on
E8AE these modern "pseudo-suns,' as
E6sS3a. Robert Louis Stevenson called
thcm in mis- time. in order that when daylight
fails we may proceed about our tasks and
pleasures unhampercd by darkness.
In fact. the great advance that the lighting
science has made from the days Of the tallow
candle and oil lamp does not concern the ac-
vantage and convenience Of the modern hIu~
,ninants nearly so much as 1t does the kho"l-
edge of the principles that underlie their cor
rect and incorrect use as related to the hu-
man eye.
Il is a common experience to hear people
speak of the oil lamp or of candle light as beng
better for the eyes" than gas or electricity.
This is not true, but the impression arises from
natural instinct. unanalyzed by those who do
not know. to turn to less light as a relief to
overstrained eyes and nerves from too brilliant
incorrectly used modern light sources
NOT LESS LIGHT, BUT BETTER.
Right or wrong lighting is not question Of
the illumirant one uses.
The nickering candle, unshaded oil lamp the
Pickering. unsteady open-fame gas burner ana
the ovcr-brii.ant gas mantle or electric lamp
are al upon the same plane OF danger to the
eyes.
Artificial LIGHTING is right or it is wrong IN
proportion as the light source IS properly or IN
correctly shaded, rightly or wrongly used well
or poorly placed in relation TO the work 1t IS
called upon to DO
Correct artificial lighting is that which is diff
fused or shed evenly and efficiently from
source that is wholly concealed from the eyes;
shaded and placed so that it is possible to see
with as much eye comfort as in daylight.
II is Incorrect whenever or under whatever
circumstances the eye is confronted with the
light source unshaded, poorly shaded or placed
so that the eye cannot escape its glare.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EYES.
Eve strain. which leads to defective vision,
sometimes TO blindness, is one of the most
serious results of subjecting the eyes to the
wrong kind of lighting.
The eve is a delicate and sensitive part OF
the human equipment and in the process OF
seeing the optic nerve. the eye muscles and
the IRIS. which gives the eye its color, all work
hard. Ike the faithful servants that they are,
10 produce clear vision.
II they are subjected to a Pickering light
an overnight light or a light that is too dim
each does its part in trying to make proper ad-
justment.
For instance the iris opens WIDE IN very am
light and closes down in overnight light, and
if the unthinking human keeps the iris see
saving" the muscle that governs 1t tires.
The lens Of the eye, unlike that OF the
camera. automatically changes in thickness 70
make q clear image on the retina for seeing at
different distances When the light is dim or
bad the focusing muscle tires in its effort 70
7. axe objects look clearer. Likewise the mus
Giles that move the eye about weary from over
work. The result is easily understood II one
stops 20 think about It,
The location OF an artificial light source IN
relation to the eyes is, then, of first Importance
in the correct illumination Of the home, espe-
ciallv where there are children in the family
whose eyesight later in life may be seriously
and permanently injured through lighting mis-
takes as common as they are pernicious IN their
effects.
To LET a baby lie in its carriage with sunlight
shining full into It's helpless eyes is little short
Of a crime. Likewise TO let an infant or older
child sleep in a room artifcially lighted by
group Of pendant ceiling lights, hanging glar-
ing down into the room; staring bracket lights
on the walls or by unshaded lights OF any kind,
whether table lamps or fixtures is TO start 1t
on the road 20 nerves, eyeglasses and the handi-
cap Of defective vision that sometimes leads
% blindness.
Sleeplessness and irritability, often unac-
eountable in a seemingly normal, healthy child,
can frequently be traced 20 a wrongly lighted
sleeping room. For, while little light is used IN
such a room and then only for brief interval.
the sudden turning on Of glazing, unshaded
light out Of utter darkness is an eye and nerve
shock that will if made practice, take its
toll later on.
This holds just as good in the case Of older
people, with whom a large proportion Of "inex-
pIicable fatigue" headache, indigestion and
other bodily ills associated with nerve disor-
ders is directly traceable 70 the practice OF
reading in bed by an unprotected light.
TAKE CARE OF NIGHT LIGHTS.
Night lighting Of any sleeping room, espe-
cially that of child should be 50 arranged
that. whenever it is necessary 70 turn on the
Iight. there is no shock. II should. indeed, be
possible 10 light such room at any time OF
night without awakening the child.
This can be accomplished with lights Of low
intensity installed IN al opaque bowl I'm the