The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-06-07
BY DR.. l. D. DUNLAP.


Opportunity to study the pathologic
effects of exposure of the human ret
ina to intense sunlight follows each
important eclipse Of the sun. After
the eclipse that was visible from
Northern Europe in April, 1912, there
were more than twenty papers pub
lished in ophthalmic journals, that
dealt with reports of cases Of this
form of injury, and they continued to
appear for nearly three years after
the eclipse Isolated cases of such
LESSONS produced in other ways occur,
but the most important part Of our
knowledge OF the subject has come
from the eclipse cases.
Tho Central Blind Spot.
The symptom always present, and
which generally brings the patient un-
der observation, is the central blind
spot, appearing suddenly after the ex-
posture and generally relative but
sometimes absolute! Such blind spot
is hard to map, being small, usually
not over l degree in diameter, in.
volving the f1xation point and otter b.
lateral. In the majority of cases. i;
disappears within month, but may
last for several months, or prove
quite permanent. Sometimes blind
spots occur in other parts of the field,
relative ring blind spots having been
notices. Another subjective symptom
is dazzling" or rquivering" Of OBJ
jects, which may be very annoying
and may continue even after central
vision appears TO be almost or quite
up to standard. Color scot0ma (blind
lspot) early and color changes (meta-
morphosia) at a late stage are fire.
Quent subjective symptoms.
Prevention Of Injuries.
Prevention of such injuries is the
important practical matter, connected
with eclipse binding. The danger.
GUS exposure Occure through ign0r-
ance and the remedy is education.
This education can be most effective
ly given through newspapers and pop
ular magazines in the period when the
public interest in the subject is awak-
ened just before the occurrence of
sue han eclipse On June 8, a total
eclipse of the sun will be visible from
the western and southern parts of the
United States. The path Of totality,
lasting from one second to two min
utes. will enter the United States
north of the mouth of the Columbia
river, and, passing southeasterly
across dozen states, will reach the
Atlantic ocean, north of the center
of the east coast Of Florida. This
eclipse will ybe most striking phen
omenon throughout region inhapit-
ed by one hundred million people. In
every part of the United States more
than half of the suns disk will be
hidden.
The opportunity and responsibility
70 rthe education of the public will
be grea tone for the oculists living
throughout this region. It Is by rem.
dering such public service that the
profession can get and hold the lead
ership of public thought with regard
to the matters on which it's leader
ship should be admitted and reoog'
$500 Cases of Binding.
After the eclipse of April II, 1912,
it was estimated by Werdenberg that
$500 cases of eclipse binding occur
red in Germany. Corde learned of 387
cases, of which 166 were severe. Birch.
Hirschfeld reported As cases involving
SO eyes; and SO cases involving 81
eyes, all but seven of which showed
ophthadmascopis changes were re.
ported from the Tubingen clinic. II
some such trail of disability does not
follow the June eclipse, it will be be-
cause the intelligence of the Ameri-
can people is appealed to by cam
paign of ducation. The time for It 10
short; what is to be done must be