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Wellington Independent, Volume V, Issue 427, 14 November 1849, Page 3

The Eye.—ln a lecture delivered last week at the Exeter Literary and Scientific Institute, hy John Eyde, Esq., surgeon to the Devon and Exeter Hospital, and surgeon oculist to the Devon and Exeter Eye Infirmary; the lecturer observed, the eye, notwithstanding its delicacy of structure, is so constituted as to be capable of great endurance : disease is produced by an unwise and extravagant expenditure of its powers instead of a careful husbanding of its resources. Few considerations are more important than a knowledge by the student of the proper degree and adjustment of light, and one of the most frequent and least suspected causes of weakness of sight is the exposure of the eye to frequent and sudden alterations. This has caused loss of sight in numerous instances, and very few are endowed with sufficient strength to endure such changes when often repeated, with impunity. When the eyes are closed, and the light wholly excluded, the sensibility of the retina becomes exceedingly elevated, so that it hears immediate exposure to a strong light with great difficulty. Every person's experience testifies to the truth of this, as all have felt the unpleasantness and pain caused by bringing a candle suddenly into a dark room. In cases of illnes when the eye has been long accustomed to, the gloom of a darkened chamber, a sudden influx of strong light, such as the sun's rays, may so injure the nerve as to produce incurable blindness. Instances are also on record of prisoners, who, when restored to liberty after long confinement in dark dungeons, have been driven by the suffering occasioned by being suddenly brought into the full light of day, to beg to be restored again to captivity. The gradual break of day from the faintest dawn of twilight to the full splendour of the risen sun is in beautiful harmony with this principle. No man, who is desirous of securing the advantage of healthy sound eyes, should suffer them, to be exposed to a strong light immediately on awakening from sleep and the best way, the lecturer thought to avoid danger from this source, was to be always up before the sun. It is - also very important for those whose professions demand great and continual use of the eyes, to select a well lighted room for their employment; very few can neglect this, without sooner or later iter, a ring vision; too little light debilitates, by. compelling the eyes, to inordinate action, whilst too much dazzles, confuses, and injures by producing a morbid sensibility. Beer, a distinguished German oculist, recommends the light of four wax candles, as the best artifical light in an ordinary room. Reading by twilight or moonlight, although very common,was very* injurious, and could not be reprobated too strongly ; and still more injurious was that of looking at the lightning during a thunder storm, which the strongest eyes cannot indulge in without danger, and which, to weak eyes, has. often caused permanent blindness. Another bad habit, is that .of holding a candle between the eye pnd the book, an error to which old people whose- eyes are. decayed and -require spectacles are prone, hut who wo'iiTd find it true ecqnomy to' purchase *pp.ectacleß. Like every other orguh the eye - is* .also dependent on moderate exercise,'"for.lhe full devolpment of its powers. - jTn. conclusion the lecturer deprecated ..the T uso of .al I wash es and quack except the oelebfatecl 'Pari-' '■Ooiiqrmwt.pure ■ Wttter -> -'5r ••■,..-,., .'._:•.-., ;,,,.