CARE OF THE EYES. 315 



Still, there is a strong temptation to read, perhaps to while 

 away the time, perhaps to make up for lost time in school 

 work. This is a time when a friend may show his friendship 

 by reading aloud to the convalescent. 



10. If one finds himself rubbing his eyes, it is a clear 

 sign that they are irritated. It may be time to stop reading. 

 At any rate, one should find the cause, and not proceed with 

 the work unless the irritation ceases. If any foreign object 

 gets into the eye, as a cinder, it is better not to rub the 

 eye, but to draw the lid away from the eyeball and wink 

 repeatedly ; the increased flow of tears may dissolve and 

 wash the matter out. If you must rub, rub the other eye. 

 If it be a sharp-cornered cinder, rubbing may merely serve 

 to fix it more firmly in the cornea or the mucous membrane 

 of the inner surface of the eyelid. If it does not soon come 

 out, the lid may be rolled up over a pencil, taking hold of 

 the lashes or the edge of the lid. The point of a blunt lead 

 pencil is a convenient and safe instrument with which to 

 remove the particle. Sometimes being out in the wind (espe- 

 cially if unused to it), together with bright sunlight, may 

 irritate the eyes. If after such exposure one finds lamplight 

 irritating, he will do well to go to bed early, or remain in 

 a dark room. 



11. Be careful to keep the eyes clean. Do not rub the 

 eyes with the fingers. Aside from consideration of rules of 

 etiquette, there is danger of introducing foreign matter that 

 may be very harmful. It is very desirable that each person 

 have his individual face towel. By not observing this rule, 

 certain contagious diseases of the eyes often spread rapidly. 



12. If there is any continuous trouble with the eyes, con- 

 sult a reliable oculist. Many persons injure the eyes by not 

 wearing suitable glasses. On the other hand, do not buy 

 glasses of peddlers nor of any but reliable specialists. One 



