iq6 disordered eyes. 



tributes to my complaint ; for the quantity of my blood ; 

 is fo diminifhed by water-drinking and copious exer- 

 cife, that it does not exceed the ufual proportion , and 

 I have never any need of blood-letting. Flefh-meats- 

 I muft life but fparingly, as I find that I do not fee fo 

 acutely afterwards^ a&d that my eyes- give me pain. The- 

 molt immediate and pernicious effect is produced by 

 fleeping after dinner^ though I fhouid indulge in it for 

 no more than a quarter of an hour. Should I happen 

 to be overtaken in this manner, my eyes are afterwards- 

 fit for nothing ; and I cannot ufe them at all without 

 the moil painful efforts. Too much lleep is no lefs pre- 

 judicial to them than too little. I dare not. lleep above 6, 

 or at moll above 7 hours, but neither can I lit up the 

 whole night, if I would not feel a great part of my 

 former furTerings. I mull even forego the focial con- 

 ference rcund the friendly hearth ; it hurts my eyes fo 

 much, Neither can I venture to approach a fire-place 

 without feeling Ihootings and fmart in the eyes. By this 

 cautious regimen, and the ufe of cold water, I am fa 

 far benefited, that I can both read and write in the day- 

 time without pain : nay, even, by candle-light Tcan do 

 both, though but for a few hours, if h would avoid;: 

 rednefs and pains in tile eyes the day following. Large- 

 print, with black and fhaip letters, T can read by 

 candle-light for four or five hours without feeling any 

 detriment. But I muft feduloully abftain from plying- 

 my ftudies in the twilight, as that is far more pernicious-, 

 to the eyes than even candle-light, though I fhouid 

 only look at the objects of my apartment. I read and 

 write behind a little fcreen, which is of a peculiar 

 contrivance- it, was ia^ated by an artift at Frankfort. 



cm 



