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Home Medical and Vet Remedies, as Recommended by 19th and 20th century Doctors and Vets! |
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Home Medical and Vet Remedies, as Recommended by 19th and 20th century Doctors and Vets! |
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Care of the Eyes in Childhood.One of the first points to be observed is the cleansing of the eyes immediately afterbirth. The eyes should, indeed, be washed before the rest of the body is cleansed. Warm water, perfectly clean, should be used; a piece of clean, soft cloth, such as an old cambric handkerchief, may be dipped in this water and used to remove from the eyes the secretions which naturally adhere to them. After this, the eyes should be gently dried; no soap, nor anything indeed but water, should be allowed to come into contact with them. When the child's body and head are washed, care should be taken to prevent any of the water from entering the eyes. It is necessary that the infant's eyes be protected from intense and dazzling light. Since the child is unable to protect itself during the first few weeks of life, by moving its head or shading its eyes, there is an especial demand for watchful care on the part of the attendants. Furthermore the infant's eyes are not so well protected as the adult's, since the eyelids are thin and almost transparent and the eyelashes and eyebrows are but little developed Hence care should be taken that the infant is not exposed so that the direct rays of the sun can shine into its eyes. Yet it is not necessary to fall into the opposite error of covering the face so as to keep out all light and air, or of keeping the room dark, since these practices render the child's eyes unnaturally susceptible. During infancy the eyes are also affected by the influence of impure air. The child which is kept in hot, ill-ventilated rooms, whether these be in the houses of rich or ooor, is apt to suffer from affections of the eyes. Yet the greatest danger to the eyes in infancy is the disease called purulent ophthalmia. This is an inflammation of the mucous membrane covering the front of the eye, accompanied by a discharge of matter. The inflammation is the result of impurities which have entered the child's eyes during the passage of the head through the vagina of the mother. It is, therefore, especially apt to occur in infants born of women who are suffering at the time of confinement from some discharge from the genitals. A woman subject to obstinate leucorrhcea - "the whites"-is apt to communicate disease to her child. The inflammation begins usually between the second and the seventh days after birth. It begins by redness and swelling of the lids ; a discharge at first somewhat thin and yellow, but afterward thick and ropy, escapes from between the swollen lids. The first effect of the discharge is merely to glue the eyelids together ; when this occurs, matter collects behind the lids, so that when pressed upon a gush of yellowish pus escapes. When this condition occurs no time should be lost in summoning the best medical assistance. Thousands of eyes have been destroyed by the attempt to treat this disease with so-called "home remedies." It should be understood that the eyes may be lost beyond repair within twenty-four hours after the disease begins, and that every moment is precious in arresting the affection before irreparable injury is done. There is no disease of the eyes which causes so much blindness as this, and the reason for this seems to be the ignorance of the attendants in not recognizing the gravity of the affection. In most cases, for two or three days after the eyes become inflamed, the little patient is in the hands of the nurse or the grandmother, who have unfailing remedies for all the ills that baby flesh is heir to. At the end of these days it is found that the eyes are becoming worse, and then the physician is called in. This is, however, in many cases, too late to save the eyes. Until a physician can be summoned the following treatment should be adopted. The child should be kept in a warm and somewhat darkened room. The important point is to keep the eyes clean. To accomplish this the first requisite-the only one which the attendant should use-is warm water. The lids should be carefully separated, care being taken to avoid any pressure upon the eyeball. This will be best accomplished by having one person place the hand upon the infant's head, so that the tip of the forefinger rests upon the upper eyelid, which should then be gently drawn toward the eyebrow ; the forefinger of the other hand is then placed in a similar position with regard to the lower lid, which is in like manner drawn downward. A second attendant then removes the matter with a fine clean sponge, and afterward allows a stream of water to fall gently upon the lids so as to wash out the eye most thoroughly. This water should be caught as it escapes from the eye by a sponge or in a cup held against the child's face. It will be necessary to repeat this washing of the eye as often as the matter collects under the lids ; this may be every hour, or even every half hour. In the meantime it is well to wash the lids gently, without opening them, with warm water, in the intervals between the more thorough cleansing of the eyes. If the escape of matter is not so profuse as to require frequent bathing, it will be well to place upon the eyes a piece of soft cloth folded several times so as to make a compress, and wet with cold water. This may be frequently changed-say every fifteen minutes-in order to prevent the cloth from becoming warm. It is extremely important for all who come into contact, direct or indirect, with the child, to remember that the matter which escapes from its lids is extremely contagious. A single drop of this matter introduced into the eye of a second individual, whether child or adult, will cause a similar inflammation in the infected eye. Hence it is necessary to observe the greatest precautions to prevent the introduction of such matter into a healthy eye. The attendants should be careful not to touch their own faces, nor rub their own eyes, while they are handling the infant or any of the cloths used for its eyes ; they should wash the hands immediately after touching the infant. The greatest care should be taken to prevent the careless use by other persons of the towels, linen, sponges, etc., which may have come into contact with the discharge ; indeed it will be well to burn these articles so soon as they are no longer required. When children have passed the age of infancy, and have begun to use their eyes intelligently in the examination of surrounding objects, the condition of the vision should be the object of attention and scrutiny on the part of the parents. It is a familiar fact that the acuteness of vision varies extremely among adults, and that certain defects of the eye - such as shortsightedness-can be so completely remedied as to restore to the individual almost perfect sight. Now, there exists among children just the same difference in the acuteness of vision as is observed among adults, and many defects of the eyes, which are so troublesome in after life, originate in the failure of parents to appreciate these differences. Short-sightedness is an affection which does not force itself upon the attention until the subject of it acquires considerable intelligence- enough to observe the difference between his own eyes and those of his companions. During childhood, therefore, it cannot be expected that the short-sighted individual will discover his defect. Parents should, therefore, always bear in mind the possibility of these defects in the eyes, which do not show themselves by any outward deformity, and can be discovered only by careful observation of the child. Many a child has been considered stupid and dull, when his failure to equal his companions and schoolmates in intellectual acuteness was merely due to some undiscovered defect of the eyes which placed him at a disadvantage. Not long since a boy of eight years was brought to a London physician noted for his knowledge and skill in the treatment of diseases of the brain. The mother complained that the child had never been so bright nor quick to' learn as other children ; he seemed unable to appreciate the true relation of things, and was supposed to be suffering from some disease or defect of the brain. The physician detected at once that the child was suffering from an extreme degree of short-sightedness, and was inclined to think that the apparent stupidity of the child resulted merely from this defect of vision, in consequence of which the boy was unable to see objects at a distance of more than five or six feet. Appropriate spectacles were provided, and the immediate and marked change in the child's intellectual habits proved the correctness of the doctor's opinion. Children, as well as adults, may also be far-sighted, and therefore unable to peruse their books with any comfort, if at all. Many a far-sighted child, when complaining that his eyes hurt him upon studying, has been accused of laziness and indifference, when the fact was that the condition of his eyes rendered it impossible for him to read for any considerable time, even half an hour, without suffering pain. These defects of the eyes escape notice for years, unless the parents are aware of the possibility of such defects in children, and take pains to ascertain the condition of the child's eyes. Sometimes these defects are indicated by actual deformity in the shape of a squint. In the great majority of cases a child acquires a squint as the result of defect in the eyes - either short-sightedness or long-sightedness. Hence, if the least inclination to squint is manifested, the parent's suspicions should be at once aroused as to the probability of a defect in the eyes. The popular idea that squint results merely from a vicious habit, such as the imitation of another child, is incorrect; and hence the efforts to remedy the deformity by harsh reproof or punishment are as unavailing as they are cruel. It is extremely important that the cause of squinting .should be understood and appreciated ; for the condition can be remedied and loss of sight prevented if the proper measures be employed at an early stage, before the squint has lasted more than a few months. If the condition be allowed to exist for years on the other hand, it becomes extremely difficult to restore the eye to its natural position, and to prevent some impairment of sight ; for in the course of time the vision in the squinting eye becomes less acute, or may even be lost entirely. This results from the fact that the individual acquires the habit of looking with the sound eye only, to the neglect of the squinting eye, which loses the power of sight just from lack of use. While these defects of vision are sometimes born with the child, they are far more frequently acquired during the early years of life. A slight defect in the shape of the eye - constituting short-sightedness or farsightedness - may practically disappear, so as to cause the individual no trouble if the eyes be properly managed ; while on the other hand, it may be aggravated into a serious impairment of vision if the child be improperly trained in the use of the eyes. One of the worst features in the usual training of children is the practice of teaching them to read and write at an early age, such as four and five years ; for it should be remembered that the eyes must be strengthened, like other parts of the body, by the growth of the individual. It is just as unreasonable and injurious to impose serious effort upon the child's eyes by teaching him to read early as to overtax his limbs by requiring him to carry heavy burdens while his bones and muscles are still soft and tender. The power of sight in later years is much influenced by the time of life at which children are required to undertake close and continuous effort with the eyes. For most children in this country this time begins when the child is sent to school. In addition to the fact that the eyes are now used continuously and closely, there are the disadvantages which result from the use of improper type in the text books, and of improper illumination. Children should not be permitted to use books printed in small and closely-set type, as is so often the case in the school-books which they are compelled to employ. Then, again, the illumination is rarely all that could be desired. In many cases the quantity of light admitted to the schoolroom is quite insufficient, requiring the closest attention and straining of the eyes. One of the most important items, however, is the avoidance of all those tasks which require close application of the eyes. The use of textbooks for instruction during the first years of school life, is not only useless for the education of the child, but is often the cause for serious impairment of vision in after life. The various systems of '4 object-teaching " and " kindergarten " obviate to a certain extent the disadvantages of the system of textbooks still in common use in most of the public schools. Half a century ago Beer said: " He who has taken the fruitless pains, as often as I have done, to try and impress upon parents and friends in the most friendly manner and upon the most convincing grounds the mischievous effects upon the eyes of growing children, of the forcing-house system of the present day, will still be disheartened to find his well-intended counsel, based upon long experience and often repeated, either entirely neglected or listened to only by a few. Because people hold the imperfectly understood principle that children should be constantly occupied, there is at all hours of the day a master at hand. There is reading, writing, language-learning, drawing, arithmetic, embroidery, singing, piano-playing without end, until the persecuted victims are rendered pale, weak and sickly, and to such an extent short-sighted or weak-sighted, that finally medical counsel must be obtained. Of what avail is it to many charming girls, many estimable women, that as children they wrere regarded as prodigies, when the soundness of their eyes and the acuteness of their vision have been sacrificed? I have seen pictures worked upon a tobacco pouch in the so-called pearl stitch, which were scarcely inferior to miniature painting, and which I examined with much pleasure until I remembered the eyes of the embroideress. In the present daily teaching of children the work most injurious to their sight is the constant piano practice from engraved notes; since the uniformity and the small size of these notes are calculated to fatigue and weaken the strongest eyes, as any one may ascertain by experiment. " Professor Arlt, the famous eye surgeon of Vienna, commenting upon these lines says: " If the illustrious Beer were now with us, he would not fail to call our attention to the injurious print of many books such as the stereotyped editions of Latin, Greek and German classics, the pocket dictionaries, and the small maps which require a magnifying lens to render the names of places readable. Parents and teachers should be very careful that such books and maps are not used by the children under their charge. The number of those who, in consequence of these books, have suffered in the extent, duration and clearness of their vision, is not inconsiderable, and I remember that I myself, when I had completed my school education, was no longer able to see a mountain an hour's journey distant, and which in my thirteenth year I had seen from the same place with perfect distinctness. " Mr. Brudenell Carter, of London, in discussing the same subject, remarks : " With regard to the actual conduct of the teachings, it must be remembered that there is no reasonable doubt of the injurious influence of premature exertion of the brain in retarding the development of the body, the eyes of course included ; and I myself entertain none that such premature exertion is at least equally injurious to the mental faculties themselves. Many years ago I wrote an essay upon the artificial production of stupidity in schools, which had for its purpose to show the manner in which the proceedings of teachers may defeat their supposed objects ; and this essay has now been so often reprinted in this and other countries that I would fain hope that it may have induced some few teachers to reconsider their ways. For the present purpose it is sufficient to observe that any excess of school work implies almost of necessity an undue application of vision to near objects ; and that hence, when the eyes are either weakly or diseased, such excess should be strictly prohibited. " It is very worthy of note that, in the experience of eye surgeons, it is exceptional to meet with a child suffering from defective vision who has not, before the defect was discovered, been repeatedly and systematically punished by teachers or schoolmasters for supposed obstinacy or stupidity. The very reverse of this practice is that which ought to obtain ; and apparent obstinacy or stupidity should lead from the first to the question, 'Can he see perfectly' ? Children have an indefeasible claim upon their elders for friendly and considerate treatment. If they are harshly or unjustly dealt with, punished for errors which they cannot avoid, or forced to undertake tasks, either mental or bodily, which are beyond their powers, they will suffer either in mind or body, or in both. Unfortunately the work of teach'ing seems to exert a destructive influence upon the imagination, using that word in its true scientific sense, and the average schoolmaster has often done an amount of wrong which can hardly be repaired, before the surgeon has any opportunity of interposing to put the saddle upon the right horse, and to assign the palm of stupidity to the pedagogue instead of the pupil." The same excellent authority says with reference to the selection of an occupation : 11 In the choice of a profession for children the capabilities of their eyes should never be left out of account. The state of a young man whose eyes refuse to perform his accustomed work may be even more painful than if he were blind ; and we should find fewer persons in this condition if more care were taken to consider the powers of the eyes before deciding upon an occupation. Eyes which within a few years would fail an engraver, a goldsmith or a watchmaker, would last their possessor his lifetime if he were an agriculturist, a gardener, or employed in many other callings. He who has sound and normal eyes, may choose his occupation without reference to them ; but he who is short-sighted or weak-sighted, or whose eyes are inclined to be inflamed, must endeavor fully to realize the claims which an otherwise desirable calling will make upon his sight, and to understand the different ways in which this or that kind of work may be injurious to him. " It may perhaps be laid down as a general principle, that a child who is simpiy s)ic)rt-sighted and who can employ his eyes continuously and with clear vision upon small objects, such as very fine print, so long as it is near enough, may undertake work which requires accurate and continued seeing. Experience teaches that merely short-sighted eyes, when the short-sight has not reached a very high degree, will bear without injury very fine and continuous work In the higher degrees of short-sight, however, it is undesirable to engage in any occupation in which the vision must be directed by turns to near and to distant objects, since the latter will require the use of lenses, which increase the strain thrown upon the eyes by the former. " Children who are the subjects of weak sight or farsightedness, and who either cannot see near and small objects clearly, or cannot see them for long together, or only by the aid of convex glasses, should be dissuaded from engaging in occupations which will demand from them the application of the eyes to uniform work upon fine or small objects. The far-sighted individual can indeed be greatly assisted by glasses, but these are not available in all pursuits. " Children who have often suffered from any of the various forms of inflammation of the eyes which are incidental to early life, especially if they show any tendency toward a relapse, or if they are still prone to irritation of the margins of the lids, should never be allowed to undertake any kind of work in which they will be exposed to dust, particularly woolen dust, to smoke, or to excessive perspiration from fire or heat. " Even when the eyes are of natural formation and acuteness, it would be improper to forget how much the power of sustained effort with the eyes is dependent upon the general vigor of the muscular system. Girls of feeble frames and late development should avoid on this account the more sedentary forms of industry; and should rather find employment in work that is comparatively coarse, than in sewing, embroidery, or the like. The caution herein contained applies also in a still greater degree when the eyes have been weak or inflamed during childhood. " In addition to the foregoing general principles, the whole edu cation of children with delicate eyes should be regulated with some reference to their delicacy. For those who attend a day school, the distance and manner of the journey and the protection to be afforded upon the way require careful consideration, since various forms of inflammation of the eyes are caused or at least promoted, by exposure to wet or vicissitudes of weather. In all day schools there should be arrangements to allow the removal of wet or damp clothing, and especially of wet or damp boots or shoes, before the children are suffered to settle down to their tasks. The atmosphere of schoolrooms and the due supply of fresh air to them are matters which probably will not be regarded until school boards and school managers have no political or polemical questions left to dispute about." But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! 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