ON THE INFLUENCE OF SCHOOL-BOOKS UPON EYESIGHT. 281 
the most important factor in the influence of 
books upon vision. Legibility depends mainly on 
the height and breadth of the short letters, for the 
larger the type the further from the eyes can it be 
read with ease, and it is of the first importance to 
induce the young reader to keep a sufficient 
distance between eyes and book. Children under 
seven years old should be able to lean back in 
their seats and read from the book propped up on 
the far side of the desk. (Asa rule books should 
not be too large or heavy to be held in the hand.) 
The appended typographical table shows the 
minimum requirements, in the opinion of the 
Committee, for the various ages given; the 
dimensions are given in a form which can be 
understood and utilised by readers unacquainted 
with the technical terms used by printers. 
The sizes and spacing of: the type suggested 
for age eight to nine years may be adopted for 
older readers. 
The column giving the minimum length of the 
alphabet of the small letters (7.e., not capitals) 
Standard Typographical Table. 
Maximum 
Minimum | Minimum aoe . Maximum 
Age of Height of | Length of ee | No. 2 ce Length 
Reader Face of Short Alphabet of | “"'Gh ica. | P&E sertical’ or Measure of 
Letters Small Letters P or 4 inches Line 
| Under 7 yrs.) 3:5 mm. | 96mm. | 65 mm. | 10 / — 
7to8yrs. .| 25mm. | 72mm. | 4:0mm. 15 / roomm., 
| or4in. 
Stogyrs. .| 20mm. | 55mm. | 2-9 mm. | 20 93 mm. 
| or 33 in. 
| 
gto 12 yrs..| 18mm. | 50mm. | 2°4mm. | 22 |; 93mm, 
or 33 in. 
Over 12 yrs.| 1°58 mm.| 47mm. | 2:2 mm. 24 93 mm. 
| | or +: inch. or 33 in. 
I inch = 25.4 mm. 
Specimens of printed matter conforming with the above 
table will be found in a Supplement. 
