The Effect of School Life on Sight.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4242, 5 August 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Effect of School Life on Sight.

Dr Schwarzbaoli, M.D., read aa instructive p^per on this subjeot at the Auckland institute. The changes in the functions of the visual organs, which were more immediately developed under the influence of school life were :—(1) decrease of the range of vision; (3) decrease of the endurance of vision. As a rule shortsightedness was only feebly developed in children, and with proper attention could be stayed and often removed. The most dangerous time for such eyes was between the age of 8 and 15. The visual organ was then in a state of change and growth, and was very susceptible to outer influence, the effects of which easily became settled and permanent. . When children looked persistently at near and small objects an undue pressure on the eye was produced by the accommodation muscle, as welt as by the accumulation of blood caused by the stooping position so often assumed by children. The result of this was that the young scholar not only remained shortsighted, but the defects increased in proportion to the continuance of injurious influences. Short-sighted eyes should not only be guarded against overstraining, especially against evening work, but proper counter influences against the prime causes should be instituted—such as practising the sight upon distant objects, by much out-door exercise, by school gymnastics, and by carefully guarding against that which is obnoxious to a normal develop* meet of the organ. In order to stem the tide of Bhort-sightedness, Professor Cohn made'the following demands to the schools throughout the world—demands to which he (DrSchwarzbach) fully assented. Fori the protection of the eyes, and sight of school children, it was necessary—l. To have a pause of fifteen minutes after every lesson of three quarters of an hour; (2) to pause half an»hour at 11 o'clock if the morning instructions are carried on during five hours; (3) to shorten the lessons and 'the tasks at home ; (4) to have a reading board'for testing the sight fixed in the room (if certain letters could not be distinguished at a certain distance, the pupil must .rest the organ; (5) to introduce lessons on hygiene in all schools, colleges, and universities; (6) .every council of education should have a medical man as a member j (7) to close by law all school-

rooms which are badly lighted and insufficiently ventilated, It was true that shortsightedness was often hereditary, but this must not be thought to be that the children of shortsighted parents were born shortsighted. They had only the predisposition to become so. Dr Schwarzbach condemned the use of small print in school books, which he said were too often made without sufficient regard to the proper supply of light.- In the di-cus sion which followed, Dr Murray Moore, Dr Purchas, Mr Aickin, and others took part, and the hope was expressed by several of the speakers that the suggest tions contained in the paper would b>» taken up by the school committees.