WHY DRUNKEN MEN SEE DOUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 175, 28 August 1909, Page 4

WHY DRUNKEN MEN SEE DOUBLE.

A scientific writer has given bis onieion why drunken men sec double. In the lirst place, it is essential that the "elevated" party must have two good eyes. No amount of liquor would make a one-eyed man see two half-crowns where only one exists. When we wish to »ce distinctly we adjust the eyes by eiijiwrgiilg tii-'in more or 'ess ho that ihe Image fails upon the sensitive point of the re!iu:i. If the object is too far olf to enable us to get a distinct image in cither eye, the eves are so constructed that they can bring the object nearer, or we cv.i, by contracting the eye-muscles, bring ti'.e retina nearer the lens, tines getting a clear sight of the object. Both eyes may be moved either up-, 'ward or downward, or to Ihe right or to the left, but it is impossible to direct one of them upward and the other dmvinvtrd. If <n e converge the eyes so that the two images fall on the tive point of the corresponding retin is. we get in the brain a sharp image. If, however, from any cause, we are not rtlife t<> piove the eyeballs so as to have 'this image fall S(j|;irejy on to the retina, we see double.

This seeing double can be caused by temporary or permanent paralysis if the muscles of the. eyeballs. For permanent paralysis there may be any one of several causes. Excessive u-e of alcoJio), or of tobacco, will produce temporary paralysis. Under the influence of 'strong drink the controlling muscles of the eye, like ot-(ie,rs of the body, arc not under romiiia.ud; hence,' some drunken men stainnu'j' in their spet'cii otjjers stn'.'ifer In their walk, and others sc« double.