262 Life and Health 



409. How the Eyes may be abused in Reading. The bat- 

 tered type and poor presswork, now so commonly used in 

 the cheap editions of books and periodicals, are often inju- 

 rious to the eyesight. The habit of reading, in the cars or 

 elsewhere, the daily paper and poorly printed books, with 

 their blurred and indistinct type, is a severe strain on the 

 eyes. It is a dangerous practice to read in bed at night, 

 or while lying down in a darkened or shaded room. This is 

 especially true during recovery from illness. 



410. Hints on giving the Eyes Rest. After reading 

 steadily for some time, the eyes should be rested by clos- 

 ing them for a short period or by looking at some distant 

 object, even if only for a few moments. The book, the 

 sewing, and work generally, should be held as far from the 

 eyes as is compatible with good vision. The natural tend- 

 ency is to reverse this rule. 



We should never read, write, sew, stitch, or otherwise 

 use the eyes when they smart or tingle, or when the sight 

 is dim or blurred. The eyes are then tired and need a rest. 

 Much injury may be done by reading in twilight, or by 

 artificial light in the early morning, and by reading and 

 working in badly lighted and ill-ventilated rooms. 



411. Additional Hints on the Care of the Eyes. Good 

 artificial light is much to be preferred to insufficient sun- 

 light. The artificial light should be sufficiently bright and 

 steady ; a flickering light is always bad. Riding against a 

 strong wind, especially on a bicycle, may prove hurtful, at 

 least for eyes that are inclined to any kind of inflammation. 

 The light reflected from snow is a common source of injury 

 to the eyes. 



The eyes should never be rubbed when they are irritated 

 by any foreign substance. The sooner the offending sub- 

 stance is removed the better. The Germans have a quaint 



