Mind Your Eye

1895

"Most persons," says an oculist, "regard the eye as something rather apart from the rest of their anatomy and not in much relation to it. They hardly realize that the condition of their sight affects their general health and are surprised to be told that when glasses are needed the wearing of them may add to their avoirdupois, make them sleep better or improve their appetites. Yet this is true, as any oculist or physician knows. An overworked eye nerve is as much of an agitator in the human system as any of the other nerves under abnormal pressure. Brain workers in particular should keep their eyes in the best possible condition and render them every possible aid.

"One valuable help is sufficient rest. And right here it should be said that to stop using the eye in reading or writing and begin an animated brain stimulating conversation keeps up the strain on the optic nerve. Strongsighted persons, too, abuse their eyes needlessly. No matter how well one can see, he should never work in a cross light. The light should always be from behind, if possible, or from the left side alone. A green shade helps materially in persistent, close work, and cold water syringed over the closed lids is a useful tonic. — New York Times.

The Ophthalmoscope

1895

An Instrument Which Reveals the Innermost Recesses of the Living Eye.

To the oculist Professor von Helmholtz gave the ophthalmoscope, and thus made it possible to investigate the conditions of the inmost recesses of the living eye. If the eye be illuminated, a portion of the light returns from the hinder surface, is brought to a focus by the lenses of the eye itself and forms an image of the retina in the external space. To see this was no easy matter. If the patient's eye were focused on a luminous object, the image would coincide with the source of light, and even if otherwise visible would be lost in the glare. If he looked elsewhere, the image would move, but inasmuch as the lenses cannot be adjusted to the clear vision of any object nearer than about ten inches that is the minimum distance from the eye at which it can form the image of its own retina. To see this clearly an observer without appliances must place himself at least ten inches from the image — that is, at 20 inches from the patient. At that distance the view would be so limited that no result could be obtained.

Von Helmholtz, however, convinced himself that if these difficulties could be overcome the image of a brightly illuminated retina could be seen. He made the observations through a small hole in the center of a mirror, which reflected light into the eye under examination. Then by means of a lens he shifted the position of the image backward until the relative positions of the observer and the patient were such that, according to calculation, the retina should be visible.

Again and again he tried and failed, but was convinced of the validity of the theory, and at last the experiment succeeded. From that time the oculist has been able to look into the darkness of the pupil and to see through the gloom the point of entry of the optic nerve and the delicate network of blood vessels by which it is surrounded. — Fortnightly Review.

Insect Vision

1895

The Probabilities as to What They Can See With Their Strange Eyes.

Two theories of insect vision are extant — the older one that each lens forms a separate eye, and the more recent one that insects see as in a mosaic, each lens forming part of the total picture. The old view is supported by the experiment of placing a thin slice of an eye under the microscope, when the image of any object reflected from the mirror is seen to be transmitted through each of the hexagonal lenses. A rough model of an insect's eye may be made by taking a glass shade of the form of a half sphere, say about 16 inches in diameter. Place the eye at the center of the globe and paint on its surface the picture of the outer world as seen through it. If this painting be divided into squares by lines scratched at intervals of one-eighth inch, there will be 25,600 of them, and the proportions are roughly those found in the eye of a dragon fly.

If now, instead of the details of the picture on each square, a dab of color be placed on it corresponding to the general tone, the effect of the whole will pretty nearly agree with that of the original painting. It is probably this indistinct vision that insects actually possess. Mathematically it may be shown that to obtain anything like such perfect vision as human beings enjoy an eye constructed on the compound type would have to be of most impracticable size. In our eyes the rays of light passing through a single lens form an image on the concave retina. The retina is built up of the sensitive terminations of the optic nerve, forming, a kind of tessellated pavement with 36,000,000 squares to the square inch. If our lens were of perfect shape and the pupil wide enough, the size of things which might be seen as distinct objects would be limited by the distance of the nerve endings of the retina from one another. In order that two points may appear separate to the eye, they must subtend an angle of about one minute of arc — that is, for instance, that fine lines ruled one-twentieth of an inch apart can be made out to be separate at a distance of four yards. Beyond this the whole surface has a uniform gray tint.

Calculations clearly show that insects cannot see nearly as well as this, and their behavior to distant objects favors this opinion. But their eyes have this advantage — namely, that there is practically no limit to the nearness of objects they can examine. The details of their own antennae probably appear plainer to themselves than to us, but objects at the distance of a foot appear to them with about the same minuteness of detail as would be attained if they were made of rather coarse wool work. Beyond this the shades of light and dark are evident to them, but outlines must be blurred and lost. — North British Advertiser.

The Travels of an Eyelid

1901

The many thousands of miles which a man unconsciously travels in his lifetime, taking into consideration the paces his footsteps measure as he walks about each day, are enough to make him sit down to rest for the remainder of his life.

But now a German scientist has come forward with some still more startling facts concerning the journeys which our eyelid undertakes every time it winks, and it is not possible for us to see, he says, unless we wink. Unconsciously we wink once a second, so that for the time we are awake during the day we voluntarily wink from 48,000 to 50,000 times and in a year have moved our eyelids down and up again no less than 18,250,000 times. The distance that the eyelid travels in its great speed is measured from a single involuntary wink.

This, the scientist says, is a quarter of an inch both ways, the eyelid moving equally up and down, so that, taking the movement of both eyelids into consideration, they cover some 50,000 inches in a day. The eyelids of a man who has lived for 50 years will have unconsciously traveled a third of the way around the earth, or about 7,200 miles, a calculation sufficient in itself to cause the victim of insomnia to fall into a dreamless sleep as he reads it. — London Mail.

Green Not Restful to the Eyes

1901

It seems as though cherished notions were no sooner on an apparently firm foundation than some inconsiderate iconoclast comes along and throws them down. People have for many years supposed that the color green was restful to human eyes and have been referred to the green grass and green foliage that nature has been so prodigal with for the benefit of weaned vision.

Now, according to a German professor of Berlin, nature wasn't thinking of human eyes when she made her profuse verdant display and that her color scheme was carried out absolutely regardless of the visual needs of humanity. He says that green does not protect the eye, and he denies that it has any beneficial effects whatever.

He declares that green paper, green shades, green glasses, green decorations and green umbrellas are all a mistake and that by increasing the green light we are simply provoking a nervous disturbance.

He says that each of the colors tires a different set of nerves of vision, and therefore looking at one particular color saves one set of nerves at the expense of another. The best method he says, is to dim all of the rays of light by smoked or gray glasses, which rest all of the optic nerves. — New York Herald.

Memory Lost After Fall on Ice

1903

As the-result of falling on the icy sidewalk, Samuel A. Chapman, of Boston, a student at Annandale College, is suffering from a peculiar malady.

On the evening of January 20 Chapman, in company with two other students, called on friends near the college. On their return Chapman slipped on the icy path and, falling backward, struck the base of his spine. He suffered no immediate effects, and being helped up by his companions, walked on to the college. Next day he was unconscious, remaining so for two days. Upon regaining consciousness his memory was a blank. In about two weeks he made some progress, looking to the improvement of his memory. He is nineteen years old.


Cats' Eyes

Cats and other beasts of prey reflect fifty times us much light from their eyes as human beings.

Odd Indian Foot Race

1917

A foot race among the Tarahumare Indians is a most picturesque scene, especially after nightfall, when the course is lit up by flaming torches carried by the eager friends of the runners, who steadily pursue their way, the only silent people in the excited crowd.

How in this weird fitful light the men contrive to keep the ball in view is a mystery. One would think that so small an object would be lost to the flickering torchlight; but Indians have wonderful eyes as well as wonderful muscles, and somehow the ball survives all perils and is there at the finish.

In these races the runners receive no prizes, but only honor and glory and the admiration of the women, which no doubt fully repays them. It is, however, customary for those who win wagers on the race to give some part of their winnings to the men who have won; but this is optional.


Splinterless Goggles

Splinterless goggles are a new development that is expected to be of great value in military gas masks and for aviators, as well as for machinists, welders and other workers requiring protection for the eyes.

The lenses consist of two layers of optical glass separated by a layer of celluloid, the whole being perfectly welded together. The product is claimed to have the advantages of ordinary glass without its dangerous splintering on being broken, and the strength of celluloid without its inflammability and lack of rigidity. The heat insulating effect of the celluloid is said also to prevent clouding by moisture.

Sweetheart's Eye in Fob

1905

Latest Fad of Fashionables in London and Paris

Women are not alone in taking up fads. The young men of Paris and London are rushing to death the watch fobs and scarf pins ornamented with their sweethearts' eyes. The eye is removed from a photograph, set in gold, under glass, and set into the bit of jewelry.

People Retain Belief in Amulets

1910

Superstitions That Once Were General Throughout the World Not Yet Entirety Gone

Faith in the virtue of amulets was well-nigh universal in ancient days; Lord Bacon says the historians had firm belief in them. Indeed, much of the art of medicine consisted in the direction for their employment. Gems, gold, stones, bones, bits of parchment with sacred writing, cylinders of stones, unicorns' horns, all of these would protect against the invading spirits or the influence of the evil eye.

This is the origin of countless popular superstitions that remain to this day. The form has been handed down, while the theories which prompted it have long since been lost sight of. This is why some people carry in their pocket a horse chestnut or a new potato to ward off rheumatism; this is why others tie around the necks of their children a tarred rope as a preventive against all the diseases common to children; this is why others think a gold chain will prevent quinsy sore throat, or a string of root beads worn around the neck will help children to cut teeth.

The coral beads which ease the troubles of teething children and the amber beads which cure asthma are beliefs which are firmly adhered to to this day. Pliny relates that Domitius Nero used to wear the hair of his wife on his neck, thinking it beneficial because it was amber colored. Amulets for teething are of very old date, and as red was a favorite color for an amulet, it can easily be seen how the coral necklace came to be so popular for infants who were teething.

Red was considered very potent in warding off the evil eye. In time of trouble, when the evil eye was especially triumphant, all the red tape in a certain county in England was brought up to ward off its baleful influence. The remains of this superstition still prevail, for many people believe that a red string around the neck is an excellent remedy for asthma, measles and mumps. The preservation of faith in red still exists, as is shown in the great virtues of red flannel, and the belief that the milk of the red cow is better than that of a cow of another color.

The German peasant, if he cuts himself, thinks he stanches the blood better with a red ribbon. This may be accounted for not only by tradition, but by the fact that blood would not form so startling a contrast when wetting a red ribbon as when wetting a white one.


They Really Believe It

Some people cling to the old-fashioned idea that a man must be a genius if he goes about with hair.

Your Eyes and Others' Eyes

1900

Upturned eyes are typical of devotion.

Wide open eyes are indicative of rashness.

Small eyes are supposed to indicate cunning.

Side-glancing eyes are always to be distrusted.

Brown eyes are said by occulists to be the strongest.

The downcast eye has in all ages been typical of modesty.

People of melancholic temperament rarely have clear blue eyes.

The proper distance between the eyes is the width of one eye.

Eyes of which the whole iris is visible belong to erratic persons.

Eyes with long, sharp corners indicate great discernment and penetration.

The white of the eye showing beneath the iris is indicative of nobility of character.

Gray eyes turning green in anger or excitement are indicative of a choleric temperament.

An eye the upper lid of which passes horizontally across the pupil indicates mental ability.

When the upper lid cover half or more of the pupil the indication is of cool deliberation.

Unsteady eyes, rapidly jerking from side to side, are frequently indicative of an unsettled mind.

Eyes of any color with weak brows and long, concave lashes, are indicative of a weak constitution.

Eyes that are wide apart are said by physiognomists to indicate great intelligence and a tenacious memory.

Wide-open, staring eyes in weak countenances indicate jealousy, intemperance, and pertinacity, without firmness. — St. Louis Star.

Character In the Eyebrows

1907

An arched eyebrow does not indicate the highest order of intelligence, but is expressive of great sensibility. Scant growth of the eyebrows denotes lack of vitality. On the contrary, heavy, thick eyebrows indicate a strong constitution and great physical endurance. They are not beautiful on a woman's face, however much they may signify either mental or bodily vigor, and when they are not only heavy, but droop and meet at the nose they are disagreeable and are said to accompany an insincere and prying nature. Long, drooping eyebrows, lying wide apart, indicate an amiable disposition. Where the eyebrows are lighter in color than the hair the indications are lack of vitality and great sensitiveness.

Faintly defined eyebrows placed high above the nose are signs of indolence and weakness. Very black eyebrows give the face an intense and searching expression. When natural, they accompany a passionate temperament.

Very light eyebrows rarely are seen on strongly intellectual faces, although the color of the eyebrows is not accepted simply as denoting lack of intelligence. The form gives the key to the faculties and their direction. Red eyebrows denote great fervor and ambition; brown, a medium between the red and black. — Exchange.

Young Child Gets Pig Eye, Corneal Transplant

1914

Operation in Baltimore Hospital the First of Its Kind in United f States.

Baltimore, Md. — What is believed to be the first operation of its kind in this country was performed at a local hospital when the cornea of a pig's eye was grafted on the sightless eye of a three-months-old boy.

It was said that previous operations, in which rabbits' eyes had been used, were unsuccessful, but that experiments with pigs' eyes had led scientists to believe that they were more adaptable. Two cases are said to be on record where the grafting of human cornea gave sight to totally blind eyes.

In the operation the pig was chloroformed, the eyeball taken out and the cornea cut from it. An extraordinarily fine needle and fine silk were used in sewing the cornea in place. The eye will remain bandaged for about a week.


How to Wed Happily

1914

Princeton, New Jersey — "To assure happy marriages all applicants for marriage licenses should file declarations of intentions a month before the license is granted," said Prof. R. M. Ross, in a lecture on social economics.

Eye Ball Removed, Doesn't Affect Sight

1940

BONHAM, Feb. 23.—(AP)—A piece of steel Friday stuck in Roy Taylor's eye and doctors were forced to remove his eye ball. The operation, however, did not cause loss of sight in the eye. He was already blind in that eye.

—Austin Statesman, Austin, TX, Feb. 23, 1940, page 3.

The Human Nose is An Apologetic Pimple

1902--

The Human Nose

The human nose is an apologetic pimple compared with the magnificent organ of the horse or dog. Our sense of smell is, when contrasted with our sight and hearing, singularly undiscriminating.

We can arrange sounds into series; we know E is between D and F; we appreciate octaves and harmonies. Similarly we can put the colors into order, decide upon the amount of blue in a purple and get almost to emotion at the sight of a white star in the blue of a summer twilight or of the amber sunlight glinting between the blades of glass.

But this serial arrangement, this sorting and selective choice, is entirely beyond our rudimentary senses of smell. To us the idea of the scent of the violet being a rich harmony or the suggestion that the frying of onions is a discord or that patchouli and the new mown bay are pleasant things in different times and keys sounds utter nonsense. Our noses are entirely too dull to effect the analysis necessary before scents can be distinguished as complex and sorted and recombined so as to be made aesthetic pleasure. — London Globe.



Strong Monosyllables

Instructors in the art of literary composition usually condemn a string of monosyllables, but in the well known hymn "Lead, Kindly Light," written by a master of the English language, you may could thirty consecutive words of one syllable only. They offend neither the eye nor the ear.

Milton often uses a series of monosyllables. In the second book of "Paradise Lost" we have

The fiend
O'er bog or steep, through strait, rough, dense or rare,
With head, hands, wings or feet, pursues his way
And swims or sinks or wades or creeps or flies.

Such lines are not uncommon in the book:

Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens and shades of death.

And again:

Of neither sea nor shore nor air nor fire. — Notes and Queries.

--The Marion Daily Star, Marion, Ohio, February 27, 1902, page 7.