EYE, DISEASES OF. -89 



eyes, and it should be, if possible, a direct rather than a reflected light." After 

 pointing out that deficient illumination is injurious, because it requires the book to 

 be brought near the eye, he continues: " School furniture is also ill adapted for 

 the scholar, even if properly placed as regards light. The bench is too high for the 

 desk, so that the pupil must bend over his work, thus favouring congestion to the 

 head, and contributing to the congested condition at the back of the eyes ; or the 

 seat is too far away from the desk, and the head is therefore brought too near the 

 book, so that the growth of near sight is directly encouraged. All these school- 

 room imperfections might, of course, be of comparatively inferior moment, if it were 

 not for the fact that children are obliged to spend six hours a day in school for 

 nearly the whole year round. If the high-pressure system of education shall be 

 succeeded, in course of time, by a system more rational, moderate, and healthful, 

 the interior arrangements of the school-houses will not be so serious a matter. Any 

 middle-aged person can look back to the days when near sight and weak sight 

 among boys and girls were quite rare. It was not then the fashion to teach children 

 everything including drawing, music, and all the languages except English; nor 

 was it then supposed that a sufficient amount of bodily exercise would neutralise 

 the effect of an excessive amount of brain-work. Two and two then made four, and 

 the brilliant notion that an exhaustion in one direction could be made good by an 

 exhaustion in another direction was not then in vogue." When children show signs 

 of becoming short-sighted, they should not be allowed to read or study more than is 

 absolutely necessary. Get them away in the country, and encourage them to ride, 

 and walk, and climb hills, and look miles and miles away. Short-sightedness usually 

 becomes less marked as we grow older, but it does not follow that myopia is a thing 

 to be desired. 



Long Sight, or Old Sight, is one of the first of the legion of troubles which 

 advancing years bring upon all of us. The patient finds that he has to hold his 

 book at a much greater distance from the eye than formerly, and that the print 

 seems less distinct. After a time there is more or less fatigue and confusion of 

 sight in reading or sewing in the evening, especially if tired, and it is found com- 

 fortable to favour the eyes by frequent rest and change of occupation. A bright 

 light is sought, because then the object is better illuminated. When the defect is 

 fully developed, reading the newspaper is attended with difficulty, in spite of the 

 best light and straining efforts to see. Letters which are like each other are not 

 easily distinguished, single strokes appear double, and one dot seems to be two. 

 Figures, as a rule, are more indistinct than letters. 



Old sight generally makes its appearance between forty and fifty. It may come 

 on slowly or comparatively quickly. General debility will hasten its onset, and 

 often it is not complained of till after some accident, illness, or serious worry. The 

 treatment of this condition is simple enough. The patient will have to go to an 

 ophthalmic surgeon, and get measured for a pair of convex glasses glasses that are 

 thicker in the centre than at the edge, thus : (). As soon as the impairment of 

 sight is noticed, glasses should be resorted to. There is no advantage in delay 

 ing their use. To endeavour to do without when they are wanted is always foolish, 

 and puts the patient to much unnecessary inconvenience. For night work a higher 

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