120 CONSCIOUS NERVOUS OPERATIONS 



by carelessly acquiring a habit of holding books, etc., 

 nearer than is necessary. 



Reading while in a moving railway train or carriage 

 is bad for the eyes, as the motion necessitates constant 

 adjustment of the eyes to varying distance, and the power 

 of accommodation is overstrained. 



It is well when using the eyes closely to raise them 

 often and look off to a distance, or to close them for a 

 moment of rest. 



Warm or tepid water is better than cold water for bath- 

 ing the eyes. A compress wet in very hot water and laid 

 over the eyes a few minutes at a time, several times a day, 

 will cure slight inflammation, or relieve the weariness of 

 the eyes after close application. 



166. Effects of Drinks containing Alcohol upon the Eye. 

 Through its influence upon the nerves and the muscles, 

 the continued and too free use of alcohol renders the eye 

 unsteady and its adjustment uncertain ; the small blood 

 vessels become dilated, and the eyes are blood-shot and 

 often inflamed. The optic nerve is frequently affected, 

 causing dimness of vision, and specific diseases of parts 

 of the eye may result, such as cataract and disorders of 

 the retina. The confirmed inebriate is the victim of dis- 

 eased conditions in which the sight becomes untrust- 

 worthy. He sees horrible visions, frightful, venomous 

 creatures appear to threaten him, and he is haunted by 

 specters. Under his imaginary suffering he may become 

 a raving maniac, and repeated attacks of the disease are 

 likely to prove fatal. 



DEMONSTRATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS 



47. Dissection of the Eye. The eye of the sheep or of the ox 

 should be studied. It may be examined fresh or after preservation 



