Year: 1874




Illuminating gas and kerosene, remarks
that the '' first sign of the need of spec
tacles is tendency to bless the man who
invented snufferS." In this age we eShOuld
say that the first sign is to find one ScOld-
ing about the publisher of Lis daily news
paper, who is charged with filling his
columns with type growing every day
more diminutive and indistinct. When
man or woman reaches the age of forty
flVe or fifty, it is generally found that some
aid to natural vision is required. The dis
covery of this want is very liable not to be
made soon enough, and the eyes suffer
greatly in consequence. There is also
foolish pride which prevents some people
from adopting spectacles after the discov-
cry Is made. There is no truth relating
to vision more important, and which
therefore should be more clearly under
Stood, than this: That in every case of
defective eyesight, whether it proceeds
from advancing age or from congenltal
causes or from accident, artificial aids
shoufd be resorted to without delay. The
tendency is in all, or nearly all, cases to-
wards irreparable injury, when this aid is
withheld. 1t is true, bad or ill-adapted
spectacles MAY and do cause injury, and
so do improper medicines, or injudiciOus
food or regimen. If proper care is used
in selecting glasses, and the right ones are
obtained, they strengthen vision, and the
vigor of all the functions of the organs
concerned in the phenomena of sight is
increased. A child discovered to be
near-sighted should be promptly fur
nished with appropriate glasses, and they
should be selected if possible under the
advice of competent medical man or Op-
tician. In the case of persons who have
passed middle life, as soon as it is rOticed
that the best artificial light is sought, or
that letters grow apparently smaller or less
distinct, or that the near point at which one
can see distinctlyis more than eight inches
from the eye, the time for spectacles has
arrived. In adopting them under these
circumstances, we place an artificial lens
outside of the eye TO supplement the nat
ural change of that within the eye, and by
so doing we add to the power and normal
action of the whole optical apparatus. The
use of spectacles enables the eyes to work
comfortably without fatigue; and they
should always be strong enough to effect
this object. 1t is difficult to give any rules
for selecting glasses, as there are many eX-
ceptiOns to be considered. The natural
changes in vision come on gradually, and
glasses need to be changed to meet the
modification as age advances. AT first the
change is slight, and may not, for several
years after it commences, be so marked as
to become positively annoying. In the
early periods of decay of sight, glasses
having a focal length of sixty inches will
usually suffice later in life they must be
changed for those of forty or even of ten
inches.


Glasses of focal length of sixty inches
will require one to hold the object looked
at distance of fourteen inches. If at four
teen inches the letters of book are seen
most distinctly, the focal length of the
glass is usually we'll adapted to those whose
vision is slightly impaired. The distance
should be quite accurately measured, as
glasses of ten inch focal length require
modification of the reading distance, of
only about three inches less. The first
Spectacles should at first only be used for
reading in the evening; and when no
longer sufficient they may be superseded
for evening work by others, and the first
,,air reserved for reading by daylight, or for
writing, which requires less critical vision,
especially if ink be used that flows black
from the pen.


Short-sightedness is a malfOrmatiOn ola
somewhat serious nature, as shOIt-sighted
eyes are diseased eyes, and they re-
quire special treatment. Never allow a
child or a friend thus afflicted to fall
into the hands of ." travelling quacks," or
those who make loud claims to optical
knowledge.


In this, as in all large cities, there are
reputable medical gentlemen who make a
speciality of the treatment of eye atfec-
lions, and they are the proper persons to
consult. 1t cannot be too universally
known that short sight tends to increase :;
and that ifit increase at all rapidly it tends
also to destructive changes, and therefore
it is an affection which requires prompt
attention.


Perfection of eyesight is essential to our
welfare and happiness, and any one who
neglects those precautions upon the OBJ
servance of which its preservation depends
will find cause for deep repentance III later
| life. Young men and young women who
suffer themselves to fall into the habit OF
reading by freight, or at window by
| the waning light of evening, or at con-
| siderable distance from lamps and gas
/ burners, are guilty of acts for which they
must suffer. Parents should promptly in
/ tertere to prevent the formation OF such
/ dangerous habits.


! In the use of glasses, the tendency is to-
wards those which are held in place by a
| spring pressing upon the nose. This form
/ is convenient, and will do very well for
purposes other than for reading or writing,
when prolonged use is required. The nip
upon the nose is often painful and creates
uneasiness and besides the focus is liable
to become disarranged. For these reasons
and others. the glasses held in place by
bows passing behind the ears are the best
and most safe for reading or study. The
! lenses should be of the best construction,
and pure crown-glass affords a material
better than Brazilian or other ''pebbles." "
Avoid purchasing of any Optician who
claims that his lenses are constructed OF
pebbles, or crystal stones. If his claims
were not false, he should be distrusted


The frames of spectacles should be OF blue
steel, light, strong, and perfectly fitted to
the wearer. They should be kept perfect


ly clean, and this should be accomplished


bv the use of soft wash-leather, and not by
linen handkerchiefs, which are apt Il


scratch the lenses by the small particles o.


silicious or other hard substances which