The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-01-19

meNt. but IL seems 10 me q leSson
which all doctors should take TO
heart, that this highly intelligent
man was never satisfied with
so discouraging a verdict, even
thougs he appreciated the reason
ableness of II.
Not Me
There is something in every hu-
man nature which says-"Some-
where, somehow there is some
method that is going to cure me
of this horrible disability. 1t was
not destined that this should hap
pen TO me-
Those Of US on the outside can
be more calm and detached about
it, but we must recognize that
human urge 10 try anything that
even suggests relief.
Eye Exercises
Mr.. Huxley met a woman dis
ciple Of the late Mr.. Bates who
introduced him to a set of eye
exercises which includes wink
ing" nose reading" "palming,"
and Summing" Within a month
or more he had learned to read
without the use Of lenses and could
read without fatigue and strain
for he had learned TO avoid the con-
ditions making for strain. He ad-
mits his visual acuity has not in
creased. but says he has learned
TO use what ne mas to greater ad-
vantage.
The act Of seeing is not entirely
confined to the eyes. There is a
brain part of 1t, too, and if | I'M
derstand what is meant by Mr..
Huxley the exercises ta0~ht him to
sharpen and centre! :sc s-c,' cc-.-
tiers for vision.
He published his experiences in
book called The Art Of Seeing"
which caused considerable COM
ment at the time among oculists,
most Of it unfavorable. / will adj
nit as | read the book it seemed
very foolish and confused but then
I was never in the position Of be-
ing afflicted with poor vision.
Recently the discussion has come
up again in the medical magazines.
DR.. W. B. Lancaster, Of Boston,
points out that one Of the funda-
mental laws Of biology is that repe-
tition Of an act facilitates its per-
formance. The first time one
makes a billiard shot he does it
awkwardly, the hundredth time
dexterously and with ease. Thus
he thinks eye exercises are valu-
able for treatment Of color blind
ness, 10 increase acuity Of periphe-
raj vision, and for speed and IA
cility in doing tipping and book
keeping even if some ocular defect
is present. The methods Of eye
exercises developed up TO the pres
ent are clumsy, but with scientific
oculists giving attention TO this
field it may be made very useful.
Substitution Harmful
Itshould be stressed and stressed
hard, however, that it does real
harm TO substitute these methods
Of eye exercises for other treat
ment that has proved successful in
helping vision in chronic eye condi-
tions. This is where the faddist
and enthusiast like Mr.. Huxley is
likely to do harm. He is ridicu-
lous, as DR.. Stewart Duke Elder,
one Of the most eminent living
oculists, says when he says these
methods result in relief or cure Of
such serious diseases Of the eye as
glaucoma, cataract, irritis or de-
tachment of the retina because
they "reduce nervous muscular
tension"
1t is a good rule 10 be sure any
treatment one is giving, is not do
ing harm, and especially is not
replacing a tried and true method.
The eye is no part Of the anatomy
to monkey with. There is no field
Of medicine more scientific and
exact than that dealing with the
eye. Be sure you have exhausted
all really tested methods Of cure
before you start in on an untried
one.