TO STOP HURTFUL INVISIBLE RAYS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10242, 3 September 1909, Page 1

TO STOP HURTFUL INVISIBLE RAYS.

The importance of considering the invisible radiations from light-sources is now acknowledged by lighting experts, and probably in the nea* future a shade or globe will need to be something more than a mere diffuser or distributor of light. Says the Illuminating Engineer: "A number of the newer electric lights are very rich in ultraviolet rays, and the effect of their protracted action upon the organs of vision is a matter of the greatest importance, and one which has been receiving careful attention at the hands of oculists and physiologists. Some German oculists have recently reported a number of cases of cataract which have been ascribed to the ultraviolet rays of artificial light. "The discovery of a glass which, though transparent to luminous rays, is practically impervious to ultraviolet rays is therefore extremely interesting and opportune. A glass having these properties has recently been made by Drs Schanz and Stockhausen, of Dresden, Germany. While the question as to the injurious effects 'of ultraviolet light is still, in a measure, unsettled, there is no doubt as to their being at least useless, so far as vision goes, and the eye is too precious to take any chances with. If the ultraviolet rays can be practically extinguished by the simple expedient of putting a transparent glass over the light-source, it is scarcely less than foolhardy to subject the eyes to_ rays that may work irreparable injury."