b'\nBook "P^D^3 \nGoipghtF \n\nCOPYRrGHT DEPOSre \n\n\n\nThe Eye \nMind Energy and Matter \n\n\n\nThe Eye \nMind Energy and Matter \n\n\n\nBY \n\nCHALMERS PRENTICE, M. D. \n\n\n\nCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U. S. A. \n\nPUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR \n1905 \n\n\n\nTwo Copies rtoccfvfev! \n\nMAR 6 1905 \n\nCLASS o^ AAc Mo; \n\n/ <^9 oo<g \ncopy fcj. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nCopyright, 1905 \n\nBY \n\nCHALMERS PRENTICE, M. D. \n\n\n\nR. X. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY \nCHICAGO \n\n\n\nCONTENTS \n\nChapter Page \n\nMotto 7 \n\nFable - 9 \n\nI Mind, the Master Architect - - 11 \n\nII Energy^The Human Power-House - - 18 \n\nIII Brain Strain 25 \n\nIV Open-Air Life\xe2\x80\x94 Evolution - - - - 33 \nV General Treatment 46 \n\nVI Nervousness Cause of Drink Habit - 52 \n\nVII Consumption 61 \n\nVIII Vision 71 \n\nIX Eye Muscles and Nerve-Centers - 81 \n\nX Causes of Disease ------ 85 \n\nXI Latent Conditions 89 \n\nXII Muscle Irregularities - - - - 93 \n\nXIII Horizontalizing and Verticalizing - 96 \n\nXIV Reversal of Method in Esophoria - loi \nXV ExoPHORiA - 115 \n\nXVI Hyperphoria, Cataphoria, and Cyclo- \n\nPHORiA 123 \n\nXVII Ametropia - 126 \n\n\n\nIN THE UNION OF HEALTH ADJUNCTS, AND THE ABSENCE OF \nPESSIMISM, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS INCURABLE DISEASE. \n\n\n\nA MAN HAD A HEAVY LOAD TO MOVE. IN HIS STABLE HE HAD \nTHREE GOOD HORSES. FIRST HE HITCHED \'\'PHYSICAL CULTURE" \nTO THE LOAD. THIS POWERPUL HORSE PULLED AND TUGGED \nWITH ALL HIS MIGHT, BUI WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE LOAD; \nTHEREFORE HE WAS RETURNED TO THE STABLE. NEXT, "FAITH- \nCURE," OR "mental medicine," was GIVEN A TRIAL. HE EXHIB- \nITED GREAT INTELLIGENCE, ABILITY, BUT SOMETHING WAS \nLACKING. HE ALSO FAILED, AND WAS RETURNED TO THE STABLE. \nTHIRD, AND LAST, THE NEW HORSE, "CONSERVATION OF ENERGY," \nWEARING HIS BLINDERS, OR SPECTACLES, WAS GIVEN A TRIAL. \nHE CONCENTRATED AN ENORMOUS FUND OF ENERGY AND APPLIED \nIT TO THE LOAD, BUT HE FAILED, AND WAS LIKEWISE RETURNED \nTO THE STABLE. \n\nDURING THESE VARIOUS TRIALS, A COMPETITOR ACROSS THE \nSTREET WOULD BRING OUT HIS HORSE, "PESSIMISM," AND HITCH \nHIM TO THE OPPOSITE END OF THE LOAD, URGING HIM TO PULL \nTHE OTHER WAY. \n\nTHE MAN HAD TRIED ALL THREE OF HIS BEST HORSES, WAS \nDISAPPOINTED, BECAME DISCOURAGED, AND SAID: "iT IS IM- \nPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THIS LOAD." \n\nA PHILOSOPHER, RECOGNIZING THE SITUATION, SAID: "TRY ALL \nTHREE HORSES AT THE SAME TIME." THE SUGGESTION WAS \nACTED ON, AND THE LOAD MOVED OFF WITH GREAT EASE. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER I \n\nMIND, THE MASTER ARCHITECT \n\nIn the early summer days, when the air is rich \nand redolent with the perfume of flowers and \nyouthful vegetation, it is sweet to awaken in the \nyoung hours of morning, when all is perfect \nsilence and the darkness of night still reigns. \nYou listen \xe2\x80\x94 and listen \xe2\x80\x94 to \xe2\x80\x94 nothing. By and \nby comes to your ears the peep of a little bird. \nFor a time all is silence \xe2\x80\x94 and again the little \nnote breaks in as if it were a signal, for then the \ngreat chorus of little feathered musicians breaks \nthe silence of night with the overture of morning. \n\nThe great curtain begins to rise. The horizon \ntakes on a faint gold and gray. Slowly its col- \nors grow brighter and brighter, changing and \nblending with all the varied shades that only the \nsunburst of morning can give. During the period \nof this glorious spectacle the great sun comes \nup and sheds its beneficent rays over the world. \n\nThe chasm between them was a deep one, with \nprecipitous sides and yawning depths. His \nsweetheart said, \'* Won\'t you come?*\' \n\n\n\n1 2 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nHe saw her form, he heard her voice. His body \ntrembled for the leap, when a voice said, \'\'You \nhave not the strength; you will be dashed and \ncrushed on the rocks below. Think.*\' \n\nThen he thought, how must it be, for be it \nmu^t, that they should meet? \n\nHe thought, and thought, and thought, until \nthe frenzied atmosphere grew clear. With \nenergy he seized an ax, cut down a tree. It fell \nacross the yawning space. His bridge was made. \nThey met. \n\nYears ago some one thought, thought large \nand deep and well. This thought set energy to \nwork, in the forests, the quarries, and the mines. \nTimber, stone, and iron were brought forth, and \nmade the Brooklyn bridge. \n\nWhat is thought? Only we within ourselves \nreally know that we think ; we do not know that \nothers think. From their words and acts we \ninfer that they think ; for if we were talking and \nacting thus, and thus, as they are, we know we \nshould be thinking, and we infer our line of \nthought to them. \n\nThe best evidence of soul and its function, \nthought, is within ourselves; all evidence outside \nis inferential. \n\nWe are forced to strictly inferential lines of \n\n\n\nMIND, THE MASTER ARCHITECT 13 \n\nevidence for all that lies beyond our personality. \nIn fact, all rational beings insist on this infer- \nential evidence as being good and our lives are \ngoverned by it. \n\nWhat would be the conclusion as to the san- \nity of a person who said of a watch, \'\' I see that \nenergy and matter were required to construct \nthis watch, but chance has properly united the \nwheels"? Or what should we think of one who \nsees marble, stone, and iron, through the inter- \nvention of energy, being formed into a palace, \nand says, \'* Energy and matter are the only \nfactors in this structure that can be proved" ? Or \nwho looks at a piece of delicate point lace and \nsays, *\' Energy and matter made those threads \nand threw them into their regular and intricate \npositions. It is a matter of chance, but that \nthought is there cannot be proven, because we \ncannot see the thought." \n\nA person with such judgment would be con- \nsidered foolish, ignorant of the higher sense, and \ntotally unconscious of the laws of equity. We \ndo prove that thought is there, with energy in all \nits work in matter. Both personal and inferential \nevidence declare it. Want of perception and \nhigher sense are not evidence. \n\nFirst, best evidence. Without a single excep- \ntion, in all instances where we enlist energy and \n\n\n\n14 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MATTER \n\nmatter to do from the least to the greatest thing, \nthought, conscious or subconscious, is always \nthe dominating factor. Try as long and as \noften as you will, you cannot conceive of a single \nthing that we accomplish in which mind is not a \nfactor. \n\nSecond, or next best evidence. In reviewing \nthe acts of our fellow-kind we insist that thought \nis always a factor, although our evidence is only \ninferential. \n\nWhen we go beyond our kind, into a realm \nwhere we are strangers, the necessity for infer- \nential reasoning becomes absolutely imperative. \n\nWe now point to a flower, with its color and \nperfume, whose architecture exceeds that of man; \nhere, in this flower, energy is building matter into \nform ; now, when we insist on the three factors, \nmind, energy, and matter, in all of our near and \nsure evidence, by what license can we eliminate \nthought from this process of flower-building? \n\nSome looked upon matter as a condition of \nmind. Others considered energy a condition of \nmatter. There were those who speculated on \nmind as a condition. \n\nMany of our modern and, we believe, better \nthinkers conceive mind, energy, and matter as \nthree actual things, three proximate principles. \n\n\n\nMIND, THE MASTER ARCHITECT iS \n\nThe latter view is correct ; for the rules ap- \nplied in common law we must in justice accord \nto the immutable law of the universe; now, in \ncommon law we eliminate all speculative evidence \nand confine our case to personal, or ** first, best \nevidence," under which we know that in what- \never we accomplish, mind, energy, and matter \nare always a trinity, therefore inseparable in the \ncosmic scheme. \n\nCan we conceive that mind exists without \nenergy and matter? It would have nothing to \nobey its dictates and no experiences to record. \nThe quality and quantity of mind, energy, and \nmatter can be separately estimated, but of neces- \nsity by different methods. The soul cannot be \nweighed on hay scales, as materialists might insist \nupon, as a matter of proof. \n\nMatter has form and ponderability, and is \nweighed. \n\nEnergy is measured by the foot-pounds that \nit can lift. \n\nMind is measured by the result of its dictations. \n\nThe aborigine thought small and built an \nadobe hut. The Grecian architect thought large \nand the Parthenon was made. \n\nIn making, from a needle to an anchor, a \nsnowball to a steamship, mind, energy, and mat- \nter are always inseparable factors. \n\n\n\n1 6 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nMind is the primal architect, the designer; it \nsets energy to work and constructs a bridge or a \npalace ; it also directs the work in its own body, \nour body, and builds up or tears down according \nto the state or quality of the mind. \n\nThought cannot build a bridge without work- \nmen and material, also labor and material are \never necessary adjuncts in building and sustain- \ning this human castle in which the soul resides. \n\nAll faith cures, from religion to the medical \npractitioner, are effected by the same power, the \n*\' mind-states,** which are induced by various \nmethods. \n\nThis is all and just what Christ claimed when \nhe said: **Thy faith hath made thee whole.** \n\nWhen the mind is working on the vigorous \nlines of faith, peace, and hope, the anatomical \nbrain is sending out nerve force, in perfect order, \nthat builds up and invigorates all parts of the \nbody. \n\nThe converse is just as true; weak mind con- \nditions, such as fear, anger, and foolish forebod- \ning, induce ill health and shorten life. \n\nIt is unpleasant to contemplate how much evil \nthe pessimist may do, or how many lives his \npoisonous words have shortened or destroyed. \nThe higher his position the more potent his \nopinions for evil. \' \n\n\n\nMIND, THE MASTER ARCHITECT 17 \n\nThe pessimist is more dangerous than a veno- \nmous serpent. \n\nIt matters not what the bodily conditions may \nbe, if traditional ignorance, fear, and pessimism, \nwhich are disease-makers, be abandoned and the \nmind persistently, insistently, takes on a vigorous \nfaith and hope, then a healthy nutrition takes \nplace everywhere. \n\nA weak objective must never be permitted to \nsuggest any controlling influence over the mind; \nit is the mind\'s province to control the weak ob- \njective, by making it strong; the mind is easily \ncultured to ignore the influence of all except \nhealthy objectives; this \'\'mind-state" in con- \njunction with the conservation of energy to do \nthe work, and a proper dietary, accomplishes all \nthings desirable. \n\nThought is function of the soul. \n\nWhenever and wherever energy is at work with \nmatter, mind is present. The Great Architect is \nalways supervising His work; be it in the rolling \nbillows or the morning mists, the tornado or the \nbreath of spring, God is there, omnipresent \nthroughout the limitless universe. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER II \n\nENERGY\xe2\x80\x94 THE HUMAN POWER-HOUSE \n\nMind, the master architect, engages energy \nto do its various kinds of work. It must always \nhave workmen or its plans cannot be executed. \n\nThe brain of man is a power-house in which \nthere are many dynamos. Wires lead out from \nthese dynamos to all parts and every organ of \nthe body. The various organs and parts of the \nbody are motors or engines that keep up their \naction by the energy they receive over the wires \nfrom the dynamos in the brain. The food we \nconsume is a fuel which contains latent energy. \nDigestion prepares this fuel for admission into \nthe blood. The blood carries it to the nerve \ncenters, or dynamos, where much of it is finally \nburnt up, consumed, and the latent energy, \nwhich held the food together in its fuel form, is \ntransformed into nerve energy, which is con- \nducted by the nerves to every part of the \n** human plant*\' \xe2\x80\x94 the body. \n\nIt is quite proper to call the human body a \nplant, the brain a power-house, and the nerve \ncenters dynamos ; for it is in the nerve centers, \n\ni8 \n\n\n\nENERGY\xe2\x80\x94 THE HUMAN POWER HOUSE 19 \n\nas in an electric dynamo, that a transformation \nof energy takes place. It is here, in the human \ndynamos, that the form of energy known as \nnerve- force first makes its appearance. \n\nAll known phenomena are due to energy, which \nhas different forms of manifesting itself. Fuel \nhas energy in a latent state. It is burnt in a fur- \nnace, and the energy that was latent becomes \nmanifest by being transformed into heat and \nmechanical motion through a steam-engine. The \ndynamo transforms this mechanical motion into \nelectricity; and as long as the medium is appro- \npriate, this energy continues to manifest itself as \nelectricity. But when it passes on to a less per- \nfect conductor, like carbon, it takes on the wave \nlength of light ; and, as long as the medium for \nlight is appropriate, energy continues in the wave \nlength of light, even through the period of thou- \nsands of years and the space of millions of miles. \nBut, when the light comes in contact with \nanother medium, a dark color, then the energy \ntakes on the wave length of heat, and so on \nforever this energy continues to change its pace \nof travel and wave length in accordance with the \ncharacter of the medium through which it passes. \n\nEnergy is never annihilated or lost; it mani- \nfests itself in different wave lengths, such as elec- \ntricity, heat, light, magnetism,. nerve-force, etc. \n\n\n\n20 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nThe medium and surrounding conditions deter- \nmine the form in which it manifests itself; and \nwhat is known as nerve-force, that performs all \nthe functions of man, is one of these forms of \nenergy manifestation. There are storage centers \nin the human plant called ganglia. Muscles also \nhave energy stored in them ; but all such storage \ncenters are dependent on the human power-house. \nEvery process carried on in the human body \nrequires a certain amount of energy. Every \norgan and minute part is an engine, in itself \npowerless to perform any function whatever, and \nas dead as an engine without steam or a motor \nwithout electricity. But when endowed with \nenergy, each part does its work, performs its \nfunctions, the same as an engine, or motor, when \nproperly energized. Every organ acts just as its \nenergy-supply dictates. If the function of a \npart is normal, it is because the dominating \nenergy supply is normal. If the function is \nweak or feeble, it is because the energy supply \nis feeble. Also, if the function is overdone or \nexcited it is due to an over or excited energy \nsupply. Disease is nothing but perverted func- \ntion, and is simply the expression of a perverted \nor abnormal energy supply. Critically, organic \ndisease is a lesion due to long-continued func- \ntional disease. \n\n\n\nENERGY\xe2\x80\x94 THE HUMAN POWER-HOUSE 21 \n\nNerve force has alterations similar to electric \ncurrents, viz. : high voltage and low amperage ; \nor low voltage and high amperage in disease, \nwhile a normal relation of voltage and amperage \nexists in health. \n\nWe recently visited an electric plant having \neight dynamos that supply energy for twelve \nelevators, twenty motors, three thousand lights, \nbesides the lighting of two large theaters. The \neight dynamos in this power-house are connected \ntogether, so that they furnish a common fund of \nenergy. Several times the wires that conduct \nenergy have become grounded, and then a large \namount of the electricity leaked away to the \nearth. Under this condition the elevators were \nrun and the theaters lighted ; but the dynamos \nwere necessarily strained to their utmost capa- \ncity, which rapidly wears and burns them out, \nthus making the \'\'brains\'* of the plant of very \nshort life. \n\nThe dynamos in the human brain are also in- \ntimately connected by conductors, so that, when \nan organ or part is called upon for excessive \nwork, the dynamo that presides over this part \nfurnishes the excess of energy needed by robbing \nall of the other dynamos of their energy, or \nworking power. Thus all other parts of the \nbody, for the time being, must suffer from the \n\n\n\n^2 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nlack of functioning power they are deprived of. \nSo, in this way, an organ may be weak or defi- \ncient without it or its dynamo being at fault, \nsimply because some other dynamo is taking its \nneeded energy to supply some overtaxed func- \ntion. \n\nThe occasional overtaxing of a function may \nnot result in much observable injury to other \nparts; but through oft-repeated and continued \nexperiences the excessive function becomes a \nhabit, and more or less continuous in its excessive \ndemands on the common energy-fund, continu- \nously depriving other parts of a healthy function- \ning power. Thus we can readily see that organs \ncan be diseased without the cause being in them \nor their governing nerve centers. \n\nOf all organs in the body^ the eyes are most \ncapable of demanding arid getting an excessive \nshare of the general fund of nerve-energy from \nthe huinan power-house, for the following reasons: \n\nI. The feeling of vision is the most acute of \nall the senses, because it is actively aroused by \none of the most imponderable elements known \nto science \xe2\x80\x94 light. By the impact of its delicate \nwaves our consciousness is made to feel shape, \nmotion, and color. Its rays, reflected from vari- \nous objects, pass through the cornea, the aqueous \nhumor, the crystalline lens, the vitreous body, and \n\n\n\nENERGY\'-THE HUMAN POWER-HOUSE 25 \n\nthere reach the retinal nerves. The delicacy of \nthis touch, or impact, on the retinal nerves is \nbeyond the conception of the human mind ; yet it \nestablishes from this point an impulse which is \nconveyed to the sight centers at the base of \nthe brain, which with no uncertainty determine \nform, color, motion, quantity, and space. Here \nwe have the most positive sense or feeling known \nto man, produced by the most imponderable \nagent known to science. \n\n2. This work of seeing, requiring energy, is \nkept up continuously for sixteen out of twenty- \nfour hours or two-thirds of our entire life. \n\n3. The dynamos governing the function of \nvision are the largest in area of any in the human \nbrain, and the most extensively distributed. \n\n4. The conductors from the dynamos to the \neyes are very large, and capable of conducting \nmuch energy. \n\n5. The distance between the eyes and their \ndynamos is short, thus offering little resistance \nto the transit of energy. \n\nThese are our reasons for claiming that perfect \nvision may exist under excessive anatomical \ndefects. A patient says, **0h, there is nothing \nthe matter with my eyes. I can see perfectly.*\' \nHe really means there is nothing wrong with his \nvision. A cashier robs a bank and becomes rich ; \n\n\n\n24 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MATTER \n\nhe lives in princely fashion, but the depositors \nand stockholders suffer the loss of their funds. \nIn some cases it is under the most perfect vision \nthat the most destructive brain-strain exists, \ncompared with which manifest visual defects and \ntheir consequences are trivial. \n\nThe same identical foot-pounds of energy may \nbe used in anger or utilized in a laugh, may be \nexhausted in hate or expended in love, accord- \ning to the dictates of the mind. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER III \n\nBRAIN STRAIN \n\nIn the long history of the past, glasses were \nresorted to for the purpose of correcting imper- \nfect vision only. More especially during the \nlater years it has been observed that glasses now \nand again have relieved nervous disorders, and \nthe more closely we have studied and observed \nthe effects of properly adjusted spectacles in dis- \nease, the more convinced we have grown that \neye strain is the cause of many serious disorders, \nand that its correction will in a great measure \nrelieve troubles that have heretofore baffled the \nskill of the medical profession. \n\nWhen evidence comes from here and there of \nthe cure of diseases that have always been con- \nsidered fatal, it awakens, at first, incredulity, but \nif we are able to offer good and logical reasons \nwhy eye strain has such a powerful influence \nover the entire body, then we will be able to \ndispel this unbelief. \n\nAll the work connected with the function of \nvision is done in the base of the brain. We do \nnot see in the eye. It is simply a mechanical \n\n25 \n\n\n\n26 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\ninstrument similar to a photographic camera fof \nfocusing the rays of light on its posterior part, \nthe retina. From here these delicate impres- \nsions are conveyed over nerve fibers to the gray \nmatter cells lying in the outer part of the pos- \nterior portion of the brain. It is in the back of \nthe brain that vision takes place, that the photo- \ngraph is printed. This is the largest center in \nthe entire nervous system. To this we must \nalso add the centers that govern the movements \nand adjustment of the eye for far and near vision. \nThe center that governs the focusing of the eye \nlies in the third ventricle ; the cells governing the \nconverging of the eyes when they are being used \nfor reading, sewing, writing, or any close occu- \npation, are in the aqueduct of Sylvius, while those \ngoverning the external muscles that turn the eye \noutward are in the floor of the fourth ventricle of \nthe brain, at its extreme base, at the top of the \nspinal column. \n\nConsidering all of these centers that are con- \ncerned in vision, they occupy at least one- \nthird of the gray matter area of the entire brain. \n\nThe natural position of the eyes in a state of \nperfect rest is distant vision. As the eye ap- \nproaches closer and closer to an observed object, \nit is necessary to gradually increase its focus, \nwhich is done by work or strain in the gray mat- \n\n\n\nBRAIN STRAIN 27 \n\nter cells in the third ventricle. In approaching \nan object it is also necessary for the eyes to con- \nverge towards each other, that both may be fixed \non the object simultaneously. This contraction \nof the internal muscles is effected by work or \nstrain in the cells of the aqueduct of Sylvius. \nSometimes the eyes are converged for a very \nnear point and used for a long period in this posi- \ntion, as in sewing, reading, etc. Then they pull \nupon and establish a counter-strain in the exter- \nnal rectus muscles. \n\nIn view of the location of these centers there \nmust be a terrific strain in the base of the brain \nat all times during continued near vision. When \nthe eyes are looking off into the distance, these \nstrains are relieved. This is what gives the \nbrain and nervous system so much rest in the \nout-of-door or open-air life. \n\nIt is a normal and natural function to be able \nto exert these strains and use the eyes for near \nwork, but it is unnatural and abnormal to exert \nthese strains constantly, as is done in some indoor \noccupations. It acts as a constant overdraft on \nlife\'s fund of energy, and detracts from the \nfunctioning power of all other parts of the body. \n\nSince women have abandoned their close in- \ndoor work and have taken up outdoor life and \nfield sports they are fast rising nearer and nearer \n\n\n\n28 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nto the physical basis of men, and men who aban- \ndon their out-of-door lives for indoor callings and \nclose occupations are becoming enfeebled and are \nbreaking down. \n\nIt is easy to see how these strains, continued \nfrom day to day, may irritate, disturb, and de- \nprave other nerve centers that preside over the \nvarious functions of the body; and naturally \nwhen anatomical defects exist these strains and \ntheir evil consequences are much greater. \n\nIt has long been a well-known fact that irrita- \ntion of the fourth ventricle of the brain induces \ndiabetes. \n\nSome of the functions of the liver receive \ntheir motive force from the floor of the fourth \nventricle, as also do the external rectus muscles \nof the eye. Now, when there is a strain in these \neye muscles inducing irritation in their fourth \nventricle cells it is only reasonable to suppose \nthat this irritation will be communicated to the \nadjacent cells governing other functions, the kid- \nney, liver, lungs, heart, stomach, etc. \n\nWe have been wont in the past to use the \nword reflex to account for certain diseases in \ndistant parts of the body originating from eye \nstrain and other local points of irritation, but \nwhen we view these disorders from the nerve \ncenters we have a better understanding of how \n\n\n\nBRAIN STRAIN 29 \n\none diseased condition of the body may arise \nfrom another. \n\nFrom the most minute cells to the largest \norgans of a healthy body every part has a place \nin the general economy, and a function to per- \nform. Each part is a motor or anatomical \nengine, which is set in motion, or whose func- \ntion begins, when they receive their working \npower, and ceases when that working power is \nwithdrawn. Any alteration from the normal \nnerve currents will relatively disturb and alter \nthe function of a part. \n\nDisease is not an entity, a thing, a something \nthat, ghost-like, walks around and crawls into \npeople. // is simply perverted function. The \nenergy supply is too much or too little, the \nvoltage too high or too low, as it may also be \nwith the amperage in the energy supply. Cer- \ntain symptoms of perverted function are called \ndiabetes, others Bright\'s, others consumption, \nand so on through a long list of pathology. \n\nA long-continued diverted function physically \nalters and changes parts until organic disease is \nthe result. Natural secretions of organs are put \nin check and abnormal secretions ensue, such as \nuric acid and other poisonous secretions. Ex- \ntreme nervous excitement has been the cause of \n\n\n\n) \n\n\n\n30 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\npoisonous secretions in the milk of mothers nurs- \ning infants. \n\nTherefore, when the great central nervous sys- \ntem is irritated and robbed of its power, by \nexcessive eye strain, it is impossible to say what \npart of the body may be made to suffer, and \nit is also impossible to determine what relief will \nnaturally follow a correction of these visual de- \nfects. \n\nOne of the principal effects sought with glasses \nis to check the waste or loss of energy from use- \nless brain strain, this energy being needed for \nfunctioning other parts of the body. \n\nWe have often thought, and are now con- \nvinced, that if there is a place where the conser- \nvation of energy is of greatest value, it is in the \nsick-room, when vitality is low and the various \nfunctions of the body are crying out for their \nlost functioning power. \n\nOur clinical experience with glasses in the sick- \nroom has been very encouraging. In many in- \nstances where there was a fevered condition, \nhigh temperature, and abnormal heart action, \nwhich belongs to various diseases, we have \nused medium fogs with a small amount of prism \nbase in, and in all cases there has been a lower- \ning of the temperature, a bettering of the heart \naction, and a more cheerful condition induced. \n\n\n\nBRAIN STRAIN 3^ \n\nWe have suggested the use of glasses for this \npurpose to several advocates of repression who \nare general practitioners, and their experience \nhas been such as to make them exceedingly en- \nthusiastic. We quote from a report by one of \nthese medical gentlemen, who, after citing a \nnumber of successful cases, says: \n\n*\' Life is so interesting nowadays that young \nand old are tempted, even when confined by ill- \nness, to use their eyes for close vision every \nwaking hour, thus permitting the eyes to con- \nsume far more than their share of energy. \n\n** I have found repression, in conjunction with \nother methods of treatment, to be of great value, \nnot only in my office practice, but at the bedside \nas well.\'* \n\nOnly the long-confined invalid can appreciate \nthe glow, the cheer, and happiness that pervades \nthe whole being when he is first wheeled in his \ninvalid chair to the window, where he looks off \nat the sky, clouds, and distant objects. This \nthrill of pleasure is almost instantaneous, and as \nthe practice is continued, strength grows until \nthe patient is able to take out-of-door exercise, \nwhich usually results in still further advancing \nhealth. \n\nThe reason why looking off into the distance \nbrings relief, and acts as a tonic to the entire \n\n\n\n32 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nsystem, is because the brainwork of focusing \nand converging is for the time being abandoned. \n\nThis relief of brain strain by constant out-of- \ndoor life is one of the chief factors in curing con- \nsumption and other diseases. \n\nAs a last resort, after we have expended all \nefforts to relieve an invalid, we advise them to \ntake a change of air, a change of scene, an ocean \nvoyage, quit reading, and live out of doors as \nmuch as possible, when usually an improve- \nment in health sets in. Under all of these con- \nditions there is long range of vision, a cessation \nof the focusing and converging strain. This re- \nlaxation of brain strain in open-air life is one of \nthe chief factors in inducing health, whereas \nheretofore it has been solely attributed to fresh \nair. Therefore, poor people unable to make ex- \npensive trips, if they will persistently and reg- \nularly resort to open-air life at home, will de- \nrive vast benefits. \n\n*\' Repression" is forced reversal of strain with \nspherical glasses and prisms. For latent hyper- \nopia an over-correction is worn, which temporarily \n**fogs" the vision, hence the name *\'fogs*\' ; first, \nshutting out the laborious work of delicate de- \ntail; second, stimulating a cessation of strain \nthrough the ciliary muscles. In esophoria prism \nbase in causes forced abatement of spasm, etc. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV \n\nOPEN-AIR LIFE\xe2\x80\x94 EVOLUTION \n\nWe are living in a swift civilization, we are \nfollowing callings and pursuits widely different \nfrom those of our near ancestors ; and our vari- \nous systems and organs have not had time to \nevolve to those changes which are necessary to \ncope with our present requirements without \nundergoing great discomforts and seriously cur- \ntailing our lives. \n\nOften our health and much of our lives are \nsacrificed to an improper use of vision. It may \nseem extravagant to attribute so much to the \neyes; but it is the province of these chapters to \nshow that it is a fact. \n\nPulmonary consumption was once looked upon \nas an incurable disease, but now it is a well- \nknown fact that many cases get well by simply \nliving out of doors. All diseases and serious \nnervous conditions are equally benefited by an \nopen-air life. The benefits derived by invalids \nfrom living in the open air have usually been \nattributed to the freshness and purity of the air; \nbut one of the chief curative factors of the open- \n\n33 \n\n\n\n34 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nair treatment is the relief of brain-strain due to a \nlonger range of vision. \n\nIt is a matter of history that King George III. \nof England was afflicted with a nervous disease \namounting to serious mental derangement. His \ncourt physicians called in consultation the most \nnoted London specialists, but the king\'s malady \ncontinued to increase to the extent that the \nqueen was obliged to remove to other apart- \nments. Later the king was taken to the castle \nat Kew Gardens; but his condition here continued \nto grow worse, until Dr. Willis and son of Lin- \ncolnshire were called to take professional charge \nof the king. At once they took the king out of \ndoors, and walked with him in the beautiful \ncountry gardens. This practice was continued \ndaily until the king was well. \n\nFanny Burney notes in her *\' Memoirs,** De- \ncember II: \'\'To-day we had the fairest hopes. \nThe king took his first walk in Kew Gardens." \nThen a discord raged in the medical council, \nwhen Dr. Warren pronounced the king to be \nworse than he had been at Windsor. Dr. Willis \nwas denounced as an empiric ; but yet the king \nrecovered under the care of Dr. Willis. March \n14: \'\'The king, I have seen him again. He \nsmiled at my start, saying he had wanted to see \nme, and added, * I am quite well now; I was \n\n\n\nOPEN-AIR LIFE\'-EVOLUTION 35 \n\nnearly so when I saw you before in the Gar- \ndens.\' \'* The *\' Memoirs*\' also state, March 14: \n*\'A11 Windsor came out to meet the king. \nIt was a joy mounting to ecstasy.\'* We \nattribute the relief in this and similar cases to \na lessening of brain-strain due chiefly to a long \nrange of vision. \n\nIf you are tired and nervous, go to the win- \ndow, and for a few minutes look ofl into the far \ndistance. At the same time take note of the \nsoothing, calming feeling that comes over your \nentire being. Then turn again to doing some- \nthing that requires a close range of vision, and at \nonce the nervousness will return. This is a \nsimple, easy thing to do, and will afford you \nmuch valuable information. \n\nBusiness men, when tired, often close their \neyes for a moment, as they have learned by intu- \nition that it rests the entire system. The reason \nwhy closing the eyes has such a calming effect \nis because one-third of the brain is for the time \nbeing shut off from work. The colored-glass \ntreatment for nervous diseases, which had quite \na following a few years ago, undoubtedly had \nsome merit in it on account of softening and \ntempering the light, thus in a degree resting a \nlarge portion of the brain. \n\nPeople living in bright, sunny countries are \n\n\n\n36 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nirritable and have nervous temperaments, due to \nstrong light. Persons living in foggy countries \nhave calm, quiet nervous systems. Many phy- \nsicians advise their nervous patients to go to \nfoggy atmospheres. \n\nThe above are a few evidences that overwork \nof the sight centers in the brain has a great \ninfluence in wrecking health. \n\nMany students sacrifice their health and lives \nin attaining an education, because of the brain- \nstrain sustained by the close use of the eyes. \nAll occupation requiring a close use of the eyes \ntends to break down health. \n\nWith our present knowledge most of these \nevils can be avoided. \n\nMany students with really superior minds are \nconsidered dull because they fail to memorize or \nremember what they read in their text-books. \nThe reason is that they are afflicted with such \ngreat eye-strain that it requires nearly all of the \nnerve-force they possess to fix the eye upon the \nbook, and there is not sufficient left for the pro- \ncess of ideation and thought. Such students are \nforced to learn exclusively through the medium \nof hearing. \n\nThe wide difference as to health in and out of \ndoors is well illustrated by calling to attention \nthe farm women of Flanders, the fish-wives of \n\n\n\nOPEN-AIR LIFE\xe2\x80\x94 EVOLUTION 37 \n\nLeith, and slave women who work on planta- \ntions. They are all as hardy and muscular as \nmen. \n\nNow for a moment let us look at the converse \nside. Strong, muscular men leave their country \nlife and take up office callings in cities, where a \nclose range of vision is required, inducing an ever- \nincreasing brain-strain from which our most use- \nful and prominent men are constantly falling \nvictims to heart-failure and apoplexy. \n\nThe eyes of man and the brain-centers that \ndo their work were built up for, and originally \nadapted to, out-of-door use, and when they are \nrequired to do near work constantly, say thirteen \ninches, then a strain takes place deep in the mid- \ndle of the brain to sustain the near focus and \nconvergence of the eyes. \n\nIt IS the author\'s belief that the differences of \nphysical conditions between man and woman are \ndue to the fact that woman spends her life in- \ndoors, doing things that require close vision, \nwhereas the lives of men are usually taken up by \ncallings that afford a longer range of sight, and \nthat, if man were to take up woman\'s work, and \nwomen the work of men, but a few generations \nwould pass before men would be the weaker and \nwomen the stronger sex. \n\nFor the past twenty-five years oculists have \n\n\n\n38 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nbeen advocating the fact that eye-strain may be \nthe cause of headaches, nervousness, and many \nfunctional diseases ; but the author believes him- \nself to be the first to attribute the effects of \n** open-air life\'* to natural relief of eye-strain \nand its attendant disorders. \n\nA natural query would be, ** What class of dis- \neases are due to eye-strain, and can be relieved \nby removing the cause?" A general answer best \nmeets this question. All diseases are empha- \nsized or made worse by anything that irritates \nand depletes the nervous system ; and, naturally, \nany disease will be more or less relieved by cor- \nrecting nerve-strain. \n\nThere is a remedy for those whose occupations \nare such that they cannot take advantage of \nopen-air life, but are forced to continue at a close \nrange of vision, which is to aid the vision so that \nwhen it is being used at a near point the eyes \nhave about the same adjustment as they would \nin looking over the open country, and conse- \nquently the brain would be as free from strain. \n\nThe above statements are undoubtedly start- \nling, and a good reason ought to be given why \nsuch radical effects on the general system are to \nbe attained through the medium of vision. The \nprincipal reason is this: more than one- third of \n\n\n\nOPEN-AIR LIFE-DEVOLUTION 39 \n\nthe gray matter of the brain is utilized to per- \nform the functions of the eyes. \n\nThis vast and sensitive area of the brain is \nunder the command of the modern oculist. So \nby the aid of glasses, through the eye, he can \ninfluence and curtail the work in these large brain \ncenters; and, as all nerve centers are connected \nby association fibers, it can be seen that nerve \ncenters governing other parts of the body would \nbe influenced. \n\nThe eyes of herbivorous animals generally look \noutward from each other. A large proportion of \nsuch animals are unable to look at an object with \nboth eyes at the same time, because the lines of \nvision diverge from each other. In some birds \nthe eyes are so situated that they look in oppo- \nsite directions, or nearly so. Birds and beasts \nwith such divergent eyes present the side of the \nhead to an object to get the best view of it ; also \nthey are of a milder disposition, with small means \nof self-defense except their wide range of vision, \nwhich gives them timely warning of approaching \ndanger. The eyes of carnivorous animals are in \nsuch a relative position that the * Mines of sight" \nare not nearly so divergent as they are in the \nherbivora; their relation is such that by a con- \ntraction of the internal rectus muscles they are \nrotated inward, so that both eyes can center their \n\n\n\n40 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nvision on a single point at th^ same time, thus \nincreasing the impact and sense of vision in the \nnerve centers. This class of animals have ner- \nvous, irritable, and sometimes vicious disposi- \ntions; they kill and live upon their prey. Their \nfield of vision is not so extensive as that of herbiv- \norous animals, but this deficiency is made up \nfor by their exceeding activity and physical com- \nbative powers. The eyes of animals having \nsingle binocular vision have a tendency to diverge \nand are only held in visual alignment by a con- \ntraction of the internal rectus muscles. For many \nyears past we have frequently observed the eyes \nof lions, tigers, and other carnivorous animals as \nthey lay half-asleep on dull, lazy days, languidly \nclosing and opening their eyes. As the eyes \nopened we were able to observe a slight, quick, \nconverging movement, small but perceptible in a \nmajority of cases, especially in the older and \nlazier beasts. After death there is a considerable \ndivergence of the eyes in all such animals. \n\nIn the summer of 1895 we opened an inquiry \nwith ten zoological gardens and animal-keepers, \nwhose observations verified the above statements \nin main particulars. \n\nIn 1893, with the assistance of the United \nStates Army, Department of the West, we secured \n\n\n\nOPEN-AIR LIFE-EVOLUTION 41 \n\nexaminations of one thousand North American \nIndians. The test consisted of a prism, base \ndown, before one of the eyes, creating vertical \ndiplopia. There was a general tendency of the \neyes to diverge. A similar examination of eight \nhundred uncivilized African negroes showed the \nsame tendency. In making the above examina- \ntion of eighteen hundred aboriginals, three cases \nof convergent strabismus were met with among \nthe Africans. When we reach men of civilization \nthis general tendency to diverge seems to have \nchanged into a tendency to converge ; this is not \ndue to anatomical shortness of the internal \nmuscles, but to a tonic, fixed spasm, or innerva- \ntion of them. It is a functional convergence \nwhich in death or blindness changes into a diver- \ngent condition. \n\nThose following the various pursuits of civili- \nzation a great share of the time have their eyes \nfixed on near objects, for illustration say thir- \nteen inches or three dioptres. The refraction of \nthe crystalline lens has to be increased for thir- \nteen inches, and the eyes converged many \ndegrees, which is accomplished by the excessive \nuse of nerve-strain. In various pursuits these \npositions and strains are kept up day after day \nfor months and years, until the strain or nerve \nimpulses will not easily or completely suspend \n\n\n\n42 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nthemselves when the person seeks for distant \nvision, and then we have a tending inward of \nthe eyes and sometimes myopia. When we \nthink of it we can see what excessive brain- \nstrains such persons are relieved of by change \nof scene into the open country. The strains \nwhich keep up many degrees of convergence \nand about thirteen inches of refraction are for the \ntime being relaxed, and thus the nerve-centers \nare much relieved. This factor of relief to ner- \nvous persons is fully equal to that of fresh air. \n\nThese deep brain-strains acquired by the con- \nstant close use of vision become more or less \nfixed and hold the eyes in certain abnormal posi- \ntions of adjustment, so that when a test is made \nwe may find that eyes tend to converge toward \neach other, but such a test does not inform us \nwhether the convergence is due to a short internal \nrectus muscle or a tonic spasm. And cognately \nthe ciliary muscle that focuses the lens may have \na fixed spasm in it so that when glasses are fitted \nduring these conditions of spasm they may pro- \nduce perfect vision, but they will tend to per- \npetuate the spasm of the ciliary muscle and \nperhaps increase it, thus adding materially to the \ndeep brain-strain. \n\nMechanical glass- fitting, according to the ac- \ncepted methods of the day, is responsible for \n\n\n\nOPEN-AIR LIFE-EVOLUTION 43 \n\nmany serious conditions to the eyes and nervous \nsystem. Glasses that bring about perfect vision \nmay be exceedingly injurious. The physiologi- \ncal aspect of vision should always be carefully \nstudied in adjusting glasses for sight. .When \neyes have a tendency to turn inward toward each \nother, esopkortay it is always due to spasm and \nnot to short internal muscles, for the following \nreasons : \n\nOur old manifest diffusion tests fail to show \nthe anatomical defects that necessitate brain- \nstrain to bring about good vision, for two reasons: \nfirst, nerve impulses that have been kept up for \nyears become persistent and will not suspend dur- \ning the tests; secondly, the various muscles and \nparts become more firmly fixed in their assumed \nshapes by the material deposits under the nutri- \ntion of the high innervation and their shapes \nand positions are statically fixed for the time \nbeing. \n\nThe eyes of new-born babes are hyperopia^ defi- \ncient in magnifying power; they lack refractive \npower, while the optic axes are seldom if ever \nstraight. The eyes of these little ones give us \nno accurate data of the relative anatomical \nlengths of the eye muscles or the amount of \ninsufficient magnifying power of the eyes, for \nthe reason that the impulses of energy which \n\n\n\n44 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\ncorrect these anatomical defects are inherited \nand at work before birth, so that without ever \nhaving seen the light of day these little ones \nenter the world with eye-strain of various degrees. \nAn observation of many years, which we think \nwill be concurred in generally, leads us to the \nconclusion that when eyes once straight go blind \nthey turn outward. \n\nEyes lose their proper axial relation under vari- \nous states of insensibility. Some twelve years \nago it occurred to us that the eyes of the dead \nwould come nearer showing the true anatomical \ncondition, but not absolutely, owing to the \nmaterial deposits just mentioned, so we insti- \ntuted an investigation of the eyes of the dead in \nmorgues, deadhouses, and other places. We \nhave thus obtained a record of over three thou- \nsand cases. In from twenty-four to forty-eight \nhours after death the eyes turn outward from \neach other almost without exception. Some- \ntimes one eye turns up more than the other; \nagain, both eyes may turn upward and outward. \n\nWe have- not in any single case seen eyes in the \ndead which appeared to us to be perfectly straight. \n\nThe above facts lead us to the conclusion that \nthe eyes of man are in a state of evolution as yet \nincomplete. We are positive that the evolution \nof the human eye is not complete for the pur- \n\n\n\nOPEN-AIR LIFE-EVOLUTION 45 \n\nposes of the present civilization without artificial \naid. \n\nA common question is: "Why did not God \nmake our eyes perfect?*\' He did make them \nmore perfect than they are, but He did not invent \nthe present, so-called, civilization. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER V \n\nGENERAL TREATMENT \n\nThroughout all ages of intelligent man there \nhas existed a desire for health and a laborious \nsearch has been kept up for methods and reme- \ndies that induce it. \n\nAmong the various and many schools one and \nthe same end is sought, namely, to restore to its \nnormal function any part in which a disturbed \ncondition exists, where the nerve-force or motive \npower is doing erratic or abnormal work. \n\nAll of these various methods, each possessing \nmore or less value, may be classed under three \nheads : \n\nFirst, psychic medicine, which includes all of \nthose healing sects that seek for relief by indu- \ncing desirable mind conditions, such as faith, \nhope, and positive assurance of good conditions \nto come. This psychic medicine enters more or \nless into all methods of cure, for there is always a \ncertain amount of faith in trying any remedy, \nand more or less belief in it. Beyond question, \npsychic medicine or faith cure is a most valuable \nadjunct of health, and always necessary to suc- \n\n46 \n\n\n\nGENERAL TREATMENT 47 \n\ncess. It would be unjust not to credit to it \nmany wonderful results. \n\nSecond, the accu7nulation and conservation of \nenergy^ in which the effort is to build up weak- \nened parts by furnishing them with a fund of \nenergy, through the use of proper foods and \nremedies, and by conserving all waste energy. \nThere is no question of the absolute necessity of \nenergy to do the work and perform all of the \nhealthy functions of the human economy. It is \nthe only principle through which mental condi- \ntions can succeed in achieving their end. \n\nThud J physical medicine y including all that class \nof remedies acting as stimulants, such as hydrop- \nathy, massage (the lazy man\'s exercise), physical \nculture, Swedish and mechanical movements, \nelectricity in all its forms, and out-of-door exer- \ncise. All of these remedies tend to call energy \ninto parts whose disturbed functions have been \ndeficient in nerve or functioning force. This \nform of treatment is of great and indispensable \nvalue. To be successful in any physical treat- \nment, however, it is a necessity for the patient \nto have a sufficient fund of energy to respond to \nthese various calls for it. \n\nThe above three principles are at all times \nnatural adjuncts to each other, and when sepa- \nrately employed in a commercial contention one \n\n\n\n48 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nWith another they lose their highest values and \nare fads. \n\nNo matter how valuable any one agent or ad- \njunct of health may be, it is a fad when employed \nalone. Its full value dawns only when it is scien- \ntifically united with all other health adjuncts. \n\nToo frequently some sufferer has tried all these \nadjuncts separately, and has failed to be rewarded \nwith the sought for results, while the result might \nhave been happily different had the three natural \nadjuncts been united in the necessary systematic \nway. From a lack of system much has remained \nhidden, and there is undoubtedly greater value \nin all of these adjuncts than has ever been \nbrought out. \n\nOne or two illustrations will suffice to show \nthe necessity of uniting all these natural adjuncts \nof health, and the folly of attempting to employ \nthem separately. \n\nFor instance, in the electric or X-ray treat- \nment, it is sought by stimulation to bring nerve- \nforce into a weak part and rehabilitate its lost \nnormal nutrition. In these various endeavors to \nrestore the normal functioning power, there is \nno thought given as to whether there is suf- \nficient energy to respond to this call for it. \nSome individuals have a sufficient fund of energy \nin the power-house. It responds, goes to the \n\n\n\nGENERAL TREATMENT 49 \n\nstimulated part, and the patient gets well. In \nothers there is a deficiency of energy, due to its \nvast leakage through the visual nerve centers, \nwhich are the largest, or perhaps some other \ncenters of the nervous system. Through neg- \nlecting such conservation of energy such patients \nfail to get well. This does not lessen the value \nof X-ray or other physical methods, but if more \ncare be given to the conservation of energy it \nincreases their values and makes them more \nprominent in good results. \n\nTo massage a patient or seat him before an \nX-ray machine and expect stimulating action to \nbring nerve-force and vigorous nutrition, without \nfirst ascertaining if the power-house has the \nenergy to spare, is almost equivalent to trying \nX-rays on an inanimate body. \n\nA well-known author says: \'Certain individu- \nals develop a decided reaction after the first treat- \nment, whereas others resist the action of the \nrays to such a degree that it is only after from \none to two months of daily treatment that we \nare able to develop a reaction. In one case \ndaily treatments have been given for over two \nyears, and although the tube has been placed \nvery near the body, nothing more than a slight \nredness has developed. It is evident from this \nthat an idiosyncrasy must exist.** \n\n\n\nso THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MATTER \n\n*\' Idiosyncrasy" is a delightful word, but it \nmeans nothing and explains nothing. The fact \nis that, in cases of failure, a draft was being \ndrawn on the human power-house and there was \nno deposit of energy there. \n\nNever draw a check on a bank in which you \nhave no deposit. One who indiscriminately draws \nchecks on banks in which he has no funds is \njustly regarded as a criminal. \n\nThe possibility of conserving energy by the \nuse of ** repression" glasses is greater than by \nany other means, on account of the sensitiveness \nand vast area of the sight centers in the brain. \nThrough the visual centers hundreds of thou- \nsands of foot-pounds of energy can be conserved \ndaily, sent by the mind, and called by physical \ntreatment into parts that are in need of it, thus \nrestoring vigor. \n\nEven when eye-strain is not the primary cause \nof disease the disturbed nerve centers can be \ncontrolled and energy conserved through the \nvisual centers, by \'* repression." \n\nThe false idea of the incurability of disease \nhad its origin much in the same way as the erro- \nneous idea of the boy who, failing to do his \nsums in arithmetic, decided that mathematics \nwas a failure. So the members of the medical \nprofession, in their weak erudition, assuming that \n\n\n\nGENERAL TREATMENT 51 \n\nthey possessed all that could ever be known of \nhealth methods, decided that certain diseases \nwere incurable because, in their unenlightened \nstate, they failed to cure them. \n\nThis erroneous idea of incurability has acted, \nin the cases of many thousands of patients \nafHicted with the diseases thus classed among the \nincurable, as a strong dose of psychic poison, not \nonly retarding recovery, but often absolutely \npreventing it. \n\nNow we can say : In the union of health ad- \njuncts, and the absence of pessimism^ there is no \nsuch thing as incurable disease. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI \n\nNERVOUSNESS CAUSE OF DRINK HABIT \n\nThe drink habit would be a serious evil if the \nmisery and suffering occasioned by it were con- \nfined to the drinker, but those who suffer from it \nmost are the unoffending ones. \n\nThe strong appetite for drink is distinctly a \nnervous disease, in which liquor is resorted to as \na relief for the nervous distress. The relief thus \ninduced is only temporary, of short duration, \nthe more permanent effect being to emphasize \nthe nervous disorder. \n\nIf this nervous condition can be better and \nmore permanently relieved by other means, the \nappetite for liquor at once ceases ; and it can be \nand is relieved in the most extreme cases. \n\nPsychic influence is a strong and necessary fac- \ntor. It is not difficult to convince the intelligent \nthat it IS easier to stop drinking than it is to con- \ntinue it. Avoid all pessimism on this point of \nview, whether from personal acquaintances or \nthe columns of the press; but if you do hear or \nread this \'\'mental poison," innocently and care- \nlessly administered, antidote it at once by saying \n\n52 \n\n\n\nNERVOUSNESS CAUSE OF DRINK HABIT S3 \n\nto yourself, **I am sorry for your mind with its \nweak, thoughtless opinions; it is easier 7tot to \ndrink.** It is necessary in this, as well as every \nother nervous manifestation, that the mind have \nenergy to obey its orders, to do the work it lays \nout. \n\nThe universal experience of drinking men is, \nthat immediately after eating a wholesome and \nhearty meal the appetite for drink vanishes for a \ntime. This leads us to the conclusion that the \ncraving for drink is a misinterpretation of a \nstrong appetite for food, which should be re- \nsorted to as frequently as the desire returns, \nthus furnishing a good supply of energy and \nbuilding material. \n\nOut-of-door exercise, vigorous manual labor, \nand cold shower or plunge baths stimulate a dis- \ntribution of this energy and building material \ninto all parts of the body, where it restores \nvigorous normal functions. \n\nNext, to obtain the most positive and imme- \ndiate relief we must subdue all brain irritation \nand conserve wasting energy with \'* repression*\' \nglasses, which act on the largest gray-matter \narea of the brain, the visual centers. \n\nThe action of repression\'* glasses in subduing \nthe irritability and appetite is immediate. We \nhave repeatedly seen people addicted to the \n\n\n\n54 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nhabit of taking thirty or forty strong drinks \ndaily cut off liquor at once without the least \ninconvenience or the least restraint being ex- \nercised over them. \n\nThere is no trouble about it ; the nervous irri- \ntability being subdued, there is no longer any \ndesire for the pseudo-remedy, drink. Often a \nrepulsion, an abhorrence of liquor ensues. \n\nDuring his lifetime v/e had the pleasure of \nknowing Dr. Leslie E. Keeley, and had several \ninteresting conversations with him on the subject \nof alcoholism. He believed it to be due to \nbrain irritation, or classed it as a nervous dis- \nease. In our opinion he was undoubtedly cor- \nrect. We know that a large majority of cases \nof drink habit take their origin from nervous \nirritation resulting from eye strain. Dr. Keeley\'s \nearly treatment consisted of injecting into the \ncirculation a remedy, probably atropine or some \nof its congeners, that caused the dilation of the \npupil of the eye, the loss of accommodation, and \ninability to read during the time of treatment. \n\nThis led us to believe that eye defects and irri- \ntation of the sight centers of the brain had much \nto do with inducing the liquor habit. \n\nCareful investigation on these lines verified \nour conclusions. We found, by setting the \nvisual nerve centers at rest with \'^repression" \n\n\n\nNERVOUSNESS CA USE OF DRINK HABIT 55 \n\nglasses, that better and more permanent results \nwere obtained. \n\nThese facts were first made public in an ad- \ndress at Milwaukee on the 2d of August, 1904. \nThe greatest interest in this subject was at once \nmanifested by the press over the entire world, but \nin its enthusiasm it failed to note the revolution in \noptics, the reversal of the old methods of treat- \nment, especially in cases of esophoria and latent \nhypermetropia. It is this publicity which has \nstimulated us to make extended comment on \nthis phase of nervous disorder. \n\nThe excessive use of tobacco in any of its \nforms can be classed with that of liquor as indu-. \ncing and emphasizing nervous disorder, as it acts \nupon, stimulates, irritates, and ultimately de- \npresses the same nerve-centers. An extended \nobservation seems to show that those persons \nmost broken by the drink habit are also users of \ntobacco in some of its forms to an excessive ex- \ntent, thus doubling the deleterious effects upon \nthe system. In some cases, under the treatment \nhere outlined, both habits are abandoned with \ngreater facility than one, as each acts in a great \nmeasure as a link to the other. \n\nExtreme cases must frequently be cited to \nshow physiological action, as the milder and in- \n\n\n\n56 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\ntermediate effects are not a sufficient proof to \nthe minds of some. One such case is that of a \nsoldier in the United States army, whose case \nwas presented to us by his commanding officer. \nHe had been an excessive chewer and smoker of \ntobacco for many years, and when observed, \nthe cumulative effect on his nerve-centers had \nbeen so great that a chew of strong tobacco \nwould in fifteen minutes throw him into a deli- \nrium, during which he would shout, sing, jump, \nand dance until he fell exhausted. At the time \nof observation of the case, he so dreaded the \neffects of tobacco that he avoided its use, unless \nurged by some of his comrades to take it, or for \nexperimental ends. This is cited simply as the \nmost extreme effect we have ever observed. \n\nIn many other cases the patient has been \nwarned against the use of tobacco by an extreme \ndisturbance of the heart\'s action, stomach dis- \ntress, and a peculiar disagreeable numbness per- \nvading the entire body to its extremities, almost \nimmediately upon the tobacco being resorted to. \nAn intelligent observation of these warnings on \nthe part of the patient has resulted in saving \nsome lives from the poisonous effects of the ex- \ncessive use of tobacco. In these cases the time \narrives when the cumulative disturbance of the \nnerve-centers is so great that it ceases to require \n\n\n\nNERVOUSNESS CA USE OF DRINK HABIT 57 \n\nany great quantity of tobacco to cause immedi- \nate distress. The slightest bit of it is sufficient \nin extreme cases. \' \n\nThe importance of the subject is our excuse \nfor making impersonal reference to a few out of \nseveral hundred cases of drink habit. \n\nIn the summer of 1904 a professional man was \ndiscussing this subject with us, he being very \nskeptical. He was addicted to thirty or forty \nstrong drinks daily, and acknowledged himself \nweak and helpless, but expressed his willing- \nness to try fogging and prisms, although he said \nhe had no faith in the method. He put on \n\'* repression** glasses and wore them faithfully. \nAt the end of a week we met him. His first \nremark was: ** Doctor, it is marvelous. My \nappetite for drink left me at once, and I have \nnot since had a desire for it.*\' A few days \nlater the patient overworked one Saturday night, \ntook off his glasses during a period of four hours \nfor close work, and before returning home that \nnight had again filled up with twenty or thirty \ndrinks. The following morning he returned to \nthe glasses, which again relieved him. This \nincident induced him to believe more strongly \nthan ever in the efficacy of \'* repression** glasses. \n\nIt is not necessary always to wear \'\'fogs** for \n\n\n\nS8 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nthis purpose. In time the strain becomes re- \nlaxed and clear vision can be attained without a \nreturn of the appetite. * \n\nHere is an interesting case, for the reason that \nit had been treated for the strong drink habit in \nsix different institutions that made a specialty of \ntreating such cases. Each having failed, the \npatient had lost all hope of ever finding relief. \nFrom robust, vigorous manhood he had wasted \naway to a mere skeleton. Being a highly edu- \ncated and very intelligent man, his skepticism \nand despondency were correspondingly great \nwhen the case came under our notice. We pro- \nceeded by mechanically setting the brain at rest \nwith \'\'fog\'* or \'^ repression\'\' glasses, which at \nonce in a great measure subdued the general \nnervous irritability and induced a calm feeling \nakin to sleepiness. Then the psychic adjunct \nwas administered to the fullest extent of our \nability, because of his extreme skepticism. \n\nStrengthening and easily digestible food was \nprescribed, such as raw eggs, oatmeal, toast and \ntea, etc., to be taken at short intervals. Daily \nbaths and physical culture were taken up. \nLong morning and evening walks were pre- \nscribed, which the patient soon learned to enjoy, \nand when bedtime came he was properly pre- \npared for a good night\'s sleep. \n\n\n\nNERVOUSNESS CAUSE OF DRINK HABIT 59 \n\nA vast improvement was observable in the \npatient during the first twenty-four hours. Each \nday added to his improvement, until at the end \nof three weeks the case was dismissed. The \nresults are best told in the patient\'s own words \nto us four months later: \n\n**I am pleased to be able to say to you that I \nhave steadily improved since I left your care, \nand, in fact, am in better health than I have \nbeen for years. My very marked improvement \nhas been a subject of comment by my friends \nand acquaintances. My appetite has been \nsteadily good and my sleeping improved. I \nhave a general feeling of vigor which I had not \nexperienced for years. I am sixteen or seven- \nteen po-unds heavier than before I went under \nyour care. I have not touched even a cigar \nsince I dropped the habit in Chicago, and have \nexperienced no difficulty along that line. I \nhave nibbled a little at chewing tobacco, but to \na very trifling extent. My general nervous con- \ndition is very good indeed. There has been \nsuch a toning-up of my system that I never \nknow what it is to feel Hired\' as I did before \nyou treated my eyes. \n\n\' \' I shall always be very grateful to you for the \ntreatment you gave me while in Chicago. I \nhave been slow, however, to proclaim my eman- \n\n\n\n6o THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\ncipation from the troubles which have heretofore \nbeset me, because you are not the first person \nwho has held out to me promises of relief, and \nI was therefore somewhat skeptical. My faith, \nhowever, has become strengthened and firmly \nfixed, because from nothing have I heretofore \nreceived the same marked results and the same \ndegree of self-confidence." \n\nTo the uninitiated a radical advance is always \nat first beyond clear conception, of necessity \ndim, uncertain, until by new experience ever- \nincreasing light at last illumines the truth. \n\nAdvancement implies liberality, patience, \ncourage, endurance. History ever has repeated \nitself, and ever will. There will be always some- \nthing new; infinity ever lies beyond. Bright \nstars will be ever appearing anew in the firma- \nment of science. It is our God-given province \nto turn our instruments on these new-born satel- \nlites and record the truths they whisper to us, \nof the perfect, immutable laws of God. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII \n\nCONSUMPTION \n\nTubercular consumption is not a local but a \nconstitutional disease, and calls for general treat- \nment. Tubercle bacilli do not and cannot cause \nconsumption in a perfectly healthy individual. \nThey induce disease only in persons with low- \nered vitality, who thus become susceptible to \ntheir influence. \n\nThe microbe theory as to the origin of disease \nis in no way affected by assuming that general \nnervous derangement, in some cases more or less \nlocalized, is the underlying or predisposing cause \nof disease in general. If all the organs and parts \nof the animal economy are receiving a generous \nand adequate supply of motive-force from the \nnerve-centers, the functions are necessarily per- \nformed with vigor. They are continued undis- \nturbed by the presence of the microbe, apparently \nmuch the same as an engine furnished with a full \nand vigorous supply of steam would not be \nperceptibly or materially affected in its move- \nments though a hand were to be placed upon \nthe fly-wheel. \n\n6i \n\n) \n\n\n\n62 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nIt IS when the various organs and parts of the \nbody are furnished with a minimum motive-force \nfrom weak nerve-centers, just barely enough \nforce to keep up the function, that the presence \nof the microbes is sufficient to interfere with the \nperformance of its work. In this case the mi- \ncrobes cause still further disturbance of certain \nfunctions, inducing their characteristic disease. \nThe engine in this case is supplied with so little \nsteam that the placing of a hand upon the fly- \nwheel proves sufficient to check its normal action. \n\nThus, in a very plain and simple way, are we \nenabled to account for the immunity of some \npersons from disease though they have been ex- \nposed to infection. Many theories have been \nadduced to explain this, but it is undoubtedly \ncorrectly explained by this theory. \n\nIf twenty people were to migrate into a mala- \nrious district, some of them would in time suc- \ncumb to the poisonous influences of the malaria, \nwhich would induce fever and ague, bilious, \ndengue, or some other form of fever, according \nto the nature of the microbe. Perhaps ten of \nthem would be constant victims of the malaria, \nwhile ten of the same company, who breathed \nthe same air and drank the same water, would \nenjoy perfect health. All take in the poisonous \ninfluences in equal proportions; but those whose \n\n\n\nCONSUMPTION 63 \n\nfunctions are debilitated by a lack of energy will \nyield to the baneful influence, while those whose \nfunctions are perfect and vigorous will not be \naffected. It is not, as we have often heard it \nexpressed, that those who do not suffer throw off \nthe microbe; this is a meaningless expression; \nthey take the microbe into their systems in the \nsame proportions as those who yield to disease, \nbut their functions are so perfectly and strongly \nperformed that the presence of the microbe fails \nto disturb their action, and the microbe could \nwell be classed as simply an exciting cause that \nacts only where a predisposing cause exists. \n\nThere are, it is true, bacilli sufficiently power- \nful to excite functional disturbance in the average \nhealthy person, but the few exceptions of this \nkind fall far short of establishing a general rule \nand leave bacilli properly classed as nothing more \nthan exciting and not prime causes of disease. \n\nAs all animal and vegetable life thrives best in \nits selected habitat, where the temperature, the \nfood obtainable, and all other conditions are \nbest suited to it, so the tubercular bacilli find \npoorly nutritioned, weak lung tissue their most \nsuitable dwelling-place. The weak lung tissue \nis not there because of the presence of bacilli. \n\nIn a stagnant pond we find tadpoles and amoe- \nbae. The stagnant pond is not there because \n\n\n\n64 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nof the presence of the tadpoles and amoebae. \nThe fresher waters of the lake are filled with fish \nand the cold mountain stream with hardy trout, \nbut the lake and stream are not there because of \nthe presence of the fish. The prairies do not \nexist because the prairie-dog, the owl, and the \nsnake make their homes there, nor do the woods \nand forests take their origin from their various \ninhabitants. The earth was created before man, \nand without exception all kinds of life seek their \nmost suitable home. \n\nCruel injustice has been meted out to sufferers \nfrom pulmonary consumption by microbe theo- \nrists and others who have insisted that it was \nincurable and contagious. The contagion, if \nthere be contagion, is more of a psychic charac- \nter, established and set up by pseudo-theorists, \nwho are lending all of their assistance to empha- \nsize dangers and horrors that have no existence \nother than that induced by psychic poison. \n\nWhen a few well-known doctors are inter- \nviewed concerning some supposed epidemic of \ndiphtheria, if the press takes it up with sufficient \nprominence, nearly every sensitive person im- \nagines that he has an irritated throat, and is con- \nstantly opening wide his mouth and asking some \nfriend to observe if his throat is not red or irri- \ntated. This same psychic influence, in conjunc- \n\n\n\nCONSUMPTION 65 \n\ntion with bad sanitation, was the cause of many \nof the epidemics and plagues of mediaeval and \nancient days. \n\nIt was but recently that a well-known profes- \nsional English gentleman remarked that con- \nsumption would be easy to cure were it not for \nthe disturbing influence of pessimism. \n\nIn the union of health adjuncts, and the \nabsence of pessimism, there is no such thing as \nincurable disease. \n\nIn studying the causes of physical and mental \ndisorder, it often happens that when we have \ndiscovered a logical factor in either engendering \nor relieving it, we are led by our intense interest \ntherein to overlook or ignore other equally im- \nportant factors or causes bearing in the same \ndirection. In the treatment of consumption \n(pulmonary tuberculosis), it is both a pleasure \nand an encouragement to note one remedy so \nbeneficent in its results that there is scarcely any \ndisagreement as to its value, namely, the open- \nair or out-of-door life. So many trustworthy \ncases are at hand of cures of consumption by this \ntreatment that it would be idle to deny its effi- \nciency. That the open air and things incident \nto living therein bring effective relief is evident \nfrom the fact that many consumptives have been \n\n\n\n66 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\ncured by the same in low and high altitudes, in \ndamp and dry climates, without regard to geo- \ngraphical locality. In the dry air and lofty alti- \ntudes of Colorado and in the damp air and low \naltitudes of London\'s parks, sufferers from this \ndisease, by living out of doors, have been re- \nstored to health and vigor. \n\nWe can gather a good idea of the various fac- \ntors entering into the cure of consumption from \nthe transactions of the Royal Medical and Chi- \nrurgical Society of London. At a session of \nthe society. Dr. Kingston Fowler opened the \ndiscussion by suggesting that **a fair trial should \nbe given the system of treatment which had been \nelsewhere employed with success.\'* \n\n** Fresh air,** said he, **was only one of the \nfactors in the treatment. Brehmer was the first \nto systematize the method, which consisted in, \nfirst, the residence of the patient in a sanitarium \nunder constant medical supervision; second, \ncomplete freedom from excitement of all kinds ; \nthird, a life spent in the open air; fourth, rest \nduring periods of disease attended by fever; \nfifth, methodical hill-climbing as an exercise \nwhen fever is absent; sixth, an abundant and \nvaried dietary in which vegetables occupied an \nimportant place; seventh, various hydrothera- \npeutic measures.** \n\n\n\nCONSUMPTION 67 \n\nThe above conditions look to the conservation \nof energy; a deficiency of which, in our opinion, \nis the primary cause of the disease. Lung tissue \nplentifully supplied with and naturally utilizing \nenergy, is vigorously functioned, structurally \nstrong, and proof against the contagion; and \neven when once enfeebled and the disease has \nset in, if by the open-air, or any other method, \nsufficient energy can be brought into the tissue \nof the lungs and a normal assimilation is again \nestablished, then the bacilli, a secondary factor \nin the disease, will disappear and the patient get \nwell. \n\nIn the treatment of this disease there are three \nimportant things to do: First, avoid all pessi- \nmism; it belongs to the ignorant of darker days \nthan these; have faith and be of good cheer; \nsecond, conserve all waste of energy and increase \nthe energy supply by proper feeding; third, \ndirect energy to the lungs by scientific methods \nof breathing and other exercise during appro- \npriate periods. \n\nProfessor Clifford Allbut at the same session \nof the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society \nsaid: \'*I have noticed a considerable difference \nbetween \'open-air\' treatment and treatment by \n\'draughts,\' for instance with pavilions on the \'H* \nplan. The dining-room was placed north and \n\n\n\n68 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nsouth. When the windows were all open it was \nvirtually a portico, and the wind would blow \nthrough it like a passage. I think that system a \nwrong one. In small bedrooms the same thing \nhappened and there were circular draughts ; these \nresulted in cold catching.*\' \n\nIt seems, therefore, that the most perfect ven- \ntilation, giving a plentiful supply of fresh air, is \nnot so effective a curative agent as the open-air \nor out-of-door treatment. Draughts through a \npavilion, dining-room, or sleeping-chamber are \ncurrents of air, and if fresh, in what respect do \nthey differ from the wind or breezes out of \ndoors? With free and perfect ventilation there \nis no difference in the purity of the air in and \nout of doors ; yet there is a vast difference in the \nhealth-giving factors in favor of the out-of-door \nlife. \n\nWhat is it that the nervous sufferer enjoys out \nof doors not elsewhere to be found? Undoubt- \nedly fresh air is a factor in health, but from this \nevidence there must be another great factor to \nbe found in open-air life \xe2\x80\x94 which is, long range \nof vision, relieving the pressure and strain in the \ndeep centers of the brain. \n\nDuring the past fifty years there has been a \nvast increase in reading matter and occupations \nrequiring the use of the eyes at a near point. \n\n\n\nCONSUMPTION 69 \n\nWe were not born to cope with these conditions. \nWe have been suddenly compelled to use our \neyes in such work before they have been evolved \nto a condition suited to the exigencies of our \npresent civilization. Their forced adaptation to \nour new needs and wants is therefore a great \nwear and exhaustion of the nervous system and \nan enormous wasteful expenditure of energy. \n\nSome persons yield more readily than others \nto these strains, which is probably due to various \nconditions of anatomical defects in and about \nthe eyes. \n\nWe have tried several times the experiment of \nhaving consumptives and very nervous persons \ntake their books into the open air and spend the \nday reading, with the result that their conditions \nwere made worse and the night more restless; \nwhereas an idle day in the open air brought \nrelief. They had the same freshness of air in \nboth instances. Several patients have told us \nthat even sitting and talking on the veranda \nmade a very great difference in their condition \nfrom a day spent in idleness in the \'*open.*\' \n\nEvery time a person quits close occupation \nand goes out of doors, where a long range of \nvision can be enjoyed, there is a feeling of gen- \neral relief, due to a **letting-up*\' of energy strain \nof various degrees. It is this relief of eye-strain, \n\n\n\n70 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nenergy-strain, or brain-strain that we regard as \none of the chief factors in the cure of consump- \ntion by the open-air treatment. \n\nAs a preventive of eye-strain and its effects, \nall persons living indoor lives, reading, writing, \nand making close application of the eyes, should \nwear glasses which give good practical vision \nyet keep the eyes in the same position and as \ndevoid of brain-strain as if leading an outdoor \nlife. Assuming the eyes to be normal, if we \nput on glasses for reading and all close work \nthat are equivalent to an out-of-door adjustment \nof the eyes, then, while using such glasses at a \nnear range, the brain is as free from strain as if \nthe eyes were looking into the extreme distance \noutdoors. Now, conservation of energy in the \ntreatment of consumption being important, the \nattainment of the same by the relief of eye-strain \nis an exceedingly important factor in the cure \nof this and other diseases of the nervous. system. \n\nThis method has been followed by us for sev- \neral years with a very satisfactory measure of \nsuccess. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII \n\nVISION \n\nSight is an active function. Although we see \napparently without effort and without volition, \nyet every moment of vision is costing its ade- \nquate amount of vital energy. True, we cannot \nestimate just how much energy is utilized in \nlooking for a given length of time at any particu- \nlar object or scene, but we do know that many \nnervous persons are very much exhausted by the \nuse of the eyes for a short time in an art gallery, \nwhere things of great interest are constantly \nattracting their attention. Some are more ex- \nhausted by one hour of such effort with the eyes \nthan they would be by ten hours of manual \nlabor; consequently the same amount of vital \nforce that would be required for ten hours of \nlabor may be expended in one hour through the \nmedium of the eyes. \n\nThis extravagant waste might find a good par- \nallel in the following: An electric plant is scien- \ntifically constructed for the purpose of running \nfifty arc lights ; each light utilizes a given amount \nof electric force, and the fifty lights just use up \n\n7\xc2\xab \n\n\n\n72 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nwhat force the dynamo can easily generate. \nNow, in lieu of one of these arc lights, if \nwe place an electric motor which uses twenty \ntimes as much force as the light that it has dis- \nplaced, the whole electric system will be dis- \nturbed, from the fact that the electric motor is \nutilizing more than its share of the motive-force; \nconsequently the other forty-nine lights in the \ncircuit will not receive enough to perform their \nnormal functions ; they will burn irregularly and \nfeebly. We have here a state of affairs in our \narc-light system which may be likened to that \nform of nervous debility where the prominent \nfeature is constant exhaustion, due to the lack of \na sufficient supply of nerve-impulse. But in the \nanimal economy, another condition may follow \nwhen the \'\'dynamo" is overtaxed; the nerve- \ncenters may be excited to an irritable condition \nin which they generate an excessive amount of \nnerve-force, and then we have an excited or agi- \ntated form of nervous derangement ; and whether \nit be general or localized, it soon wears out life. \nStrictly construed, the terms neurasthenia \nand nervous debility mean a weak or depressed \nnerve-force supply. They are sometimes care- \nlessly applied, but are not properly applicable, \nto all nervous derangements ; for we often meet \nwith nervous disorders that consist of an exces- \n\n\n\nVISION 73 \n\nsive supply of nerve-force, usually accompanied \nwith more or less irritability, all functions in \ngeneral being emphasized. The enormous as- \nsimilation in abnormally fat persons, and the \nexcessive muscular development and activity in \na class of phenomenal athletes, whose histories \nare short and frequently end in some rapidly \nwasting disease, are extreme examples of that \nform of nervous derangement which consists of \nan excess of nerve force supply and which should \nbe called neurasthenia. \n\nOur fast ocean steamers can run nineteen or \ntwenty miles an hour without excessive con- \nsumption of fuel ; but when the speed is raised \nto its highest possibilities, the last two, three, or \nfour miles are attained at a very extravagant \nincrease in the fuel, the consumption being far \ngreater in proportion per mile, as well as result- \ning in a great strain throughout the ship. A \nship is sometimes unable to sustain the highest \ntension that can be put upon her by her engines, \nand therefore the careful engineer does not use \nthe excess or abnormal quantity of steam. He \nruns his ship at an easy pace, and thus her life \nis lengthened many years. Likewise, when we \nlearn that some of our functions are being per- \nformed at an abnormally high tension requiring \nan extravagant amount of nerve-force to sustain \n\n\n\n74 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nthem, which is rapidly wearing us out, we should \nsuspend this high rate of function and conserve \nas far as possible our life forces, by removing the \ncause of the irritation and waste of energy. \n\nThe nerve-centers are capable of generating a \ncertain amount of motive-force, or nerve-impulse, \nand no more. Whenever the call upon the cen- \nters exceeds their ability to respond, the result \nis a disturbance somewhere. A large amount of \nmotive-force is utilized in the function of vision \neven when it is performed under the easiest pos- \nsible circumstances; but when there are defects \nin the eye and its appendages, there is a still \ngreater demand for nerve-force to bring about \ngood vision. \n\nEach nerve-center is intimately connected and \nin delicate sympathy with all other centers of the \nnervous system. Any radical change in one cen- \nter sends its characteristic influence throughout \nthe entire system. \n\nHarmonious and pleasant sounds, picturesque \nscenes filled with things of beauty, loveliness, \nand goodness, have the most marked influence \nover the nerve-centers in general and manifest \nthemselves in the form of the body, the grace \nof movement, and the sweetness of expression \nin the features. Such external influences have a \ntendency to produce, through the medium of \n\n\n\nVISION 75 \n\nvision, the perfect man and woman; whereas \nthe one who is reared amid scenes of crime and \nbrutality, coarseness, and privation, is so influ- \nenced in his whole physical being that, to the \nexperienced eye, their marks are everywhere to \nbe seen. \n\nThe reason husband and wife grow to look \nalike after living years in each other\'s company \nis, that they so constantly have looked upon \neach other\'s features, been made glad by the \nsame influences, and enjoyed the same sunshine, \nand have been so often subjected to the same \nexperiences, that their functions have become \nsimilar, and are indexed in the approximation of \ntheir appearance. \n\nNow, what particular portion of the nerve-cen- \nters should we expect to have the greatest influ- \nence in changing and controlling the general \nnervous system? Would it be one of the smaller \nand duller centers, or would it be the largest and \nmost sensitive? We would reasonably look to \nthe latter as bearing the highest influence. \n\nOf all the centers in the nervous system, which \nis the largest, most sensitive, and most con- \nstantly in use? \n\nAs delicate as are the feelings of touch, taste, \nhearing, and smell, there is yet another of a \nmuch more highly acute nature ; in fact, by far \n\n\n\n76 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nthe most delicate sense of all, with the largest \ngray-matter area \xe2\x80\x94 sight. \n\nThe musician runs his eye over the page of \nwritten music, and he hears it. One sees a per- \nson across the street eating a lemon, and he \ntastes it. The salivary glands begin to act at a \ngreat distance from the lemon. \n\nThrough the medium of vision, mothers com- \nmunicate influences to their offspring by changes \nin the nerve-impulses that control the function \nof construction or building. There are many \nsubstances which we cannot recognize by the \nsense of touch, but which sight determines for \nus at once, showing that the visual nerve-centers \nare the most sensitive of all. \n\nIt is through the feelings awakened by sight \nthat in reading a book and looking at its illus- \ntrations, we are enabled to live in the very \natmosphere of the scene that is depicted, feeling, \ntasting, smelling, and hearing the various things \nand surroundings that the author suggests. \n\nColor has much to do with irritating and ex- \nciting the visual centers. The finer waves of \nlight on the chemical side are the most resting \nto the nerve-centers. The violet, blue, green, \nand shades merging on to the yellow, all give \ncomfortable and soothing vision. But the coarse \n\n\n\nVISION 77 \n\nred rays on the heat side of the spectrum are \nvery irritating and wearing on a sensitive, ner- \nvous brain. Some animals are excited in the \nextreme by the color of red. A red cloth is \nused by the Spanish bull-fighters to arouse and \nexcite their prey to fury. This is done through \nthe medium of the visual centers. Various birds, \nsuch as geese, swans, and ducks, are similarly \nexcited through the visual centers by the color \nred. We have frequently advised exceedingly \nnervous persons to abandon or change the red \ndecoration or color of the walls of their living \napartments, in favor of the soft colors on the \nopposite side of the spectrum, such as olive, \ngreen, and violet. In some cases the effect of re- \nducing the nervousness was almost instantaneous. \nEveryone is familiar with the cooling, soothing \neffects of that pale green in the baby blades of \ngrass and the first little leaves of spring. \n\nIf the light of a single candle is sufficient to \nproduce a perfect impression of a given object in \nthe visual centers, say a letter A, there is a feel- \ning produced in the nerve-centers that tells us of \nthe presence of a letter A. If twice the light \nthat is necessary is reflected from this letter A, \ntwice the impact or impression that is necessary \nis conveyed to the visual centers and they are \n\n\n\n78 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\ntaxed to a double capacity. Should this light \nbe increased to twenty candle-power, where one \nwould be sufficient, the visual centers will re- \nceive an impulse twenty times as strong as neces- \nsary to produce the function of seeing the letter \nA, or whatever object the eye may be resting \nupon, and the feeling of sight is overtaxed and \ndisturbed; for sight is nothing more nor less \nthan feeling. \n\nThis excessive amount of useless work even in \na normal eye wears on these delicate centers \nbeyond necessity, and they become centers of \nirritation and convey disturbed conditions to \nother parts or centers of the nervous system. \nWe touch a person on the shoulder gently ; this \nperforms the function of attracting his attention. \nIf we were to use a club and strike a severe blow, \nthe attention would be attracted, but the force \nof the impact would be more than necessary, and \nan injury to the part would be the result. It is \nthe same with the delicate sight centers. Just a \nsufficient amount of light to perform the function \nis all that is required, but a flood of light can be \nadmitted sufficient to practically bruise these \ndelicate parts of the nervous system. \n\nSince the advent of electric lights, which have \npractically turned night into day, there has been \na remarkable increase in nervous disorders, in- \n\n\n\nVISION 79 \n\nsanity, and tendency to suicide, due to over- \ntaxation of the visual centers of the nervous \nsystem. \n\nHow sweetly nature tempers light! We turn \nour eyes in the direction of hills, valleys, rivers, \nand woods, and the light reflected from the vari- \nous objects passes into the eye and touches the \nnerves of sight, which convey the restful pictures \nto the conscious centers of the brain, and here \nwe feel the form, the size, the color, and the \nmotion of the various objects in the scene. \n\nThe feeling of harmonious sounds in the audi- \ntory centers is enjoyable for the space of two or \nthree hours, but a continuance beyond this \nlength of time becomes tiresome, and the same \nsounds repeated for five or six hours would be \nannoying. These centers become temporarily \nexhausted or worn out. \n\nThe feeling of taste when eating the choicest \ndelicacies, in a short time, perhaps an hour, \nbecomes wearied, temporarily perverted, and if \ntaxed beyond this time, enjoyment ceases. The \ngustatory centers refuse to be overworked. \n\nThe feeling of smell through the olfactory cen- \nters is very delightful for the first few inhalations \nof some delicate perfume ; the sense of smell is \nat first prominent, but after a few moments the \nodor seems to excite no feeling at all. From \n\n\n\n8o THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\noverwork the olfactory centers have suspended \ntheir functions. \n\nThe feeling in the visual centers commences \nearly in the morning and continues until late at \nnight. For an average of sixteen hours continu- \nously, the feeling in the visual centers has been \nconstant. No other sense in the nerve-centers \nis capable of such continued endurance. \n\nFor good or for evil, according to their char- \nacter, the senses of feeling, taste, smell, hearing, \nand sight all have a marked influence on both \nour mental and our physical lives. Sounds of \nharmony, delicacies of wholesome and pleasant \ntaste, odors that delight and please the sense of \nsmell, and scenes of beauty, all have an elevating \ninfluence over our mental and physical lives tend- \ning to a refinement of both mind and body. \n\nThe Grecian was a poet, a philosopher, a sculp- \ntor, while the Scythian was a wanderer and a \nrobber. One was reared amid surroundings of \nbeauty and culture, the other had a barbarian \nland, rude as his manners and wild as his heart. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX \n\nEYE MUSCLES AND THEIR NERVE-CENTERS \n\nEach eye has ten muscles, which perform all \nthe movements necessary to the function of \nvision. Four of them are called rectus or \nstraight muscles, as follows : The superior rectus, \nthe inferior rectus, the external rectus, and the \ninternal rectus. Next are the superior and in- \nferior oblique muscles. These are the six ex- \ntrinsic muscles of the eyeball. Within the \neyeball there are four muscles \xe2\x80\x94 the circular \nciliary, the radiating ciliary, the circular iris, \nand the radial iris. \n\nConsidered individually, the primary action of \nthe long muscles of the eye is as follows: The \nexternal rectus turns the eye outward ; the inter- \nnal inward; the superior, upward and slightly \ninward, with a torsional movement of the upper \naspect of the eye toward the nose. The inferior \nmoves the eye downward, slightly inward, with a \nslight torsion of the upper aspect of the eye \nfrom the nose. The superior oblique makes a \ntorsion of the upper aspect of the eye toward \nthe nose, with a slight movement of the optic \n\n8i \n\n\n\n82 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\naxes outward and downward ; the inferior oblique \nproduces torsion of the upper aspect from the \nnose, with a small tendency to turn the optic \naxes outward and upward. The circular ciliary \ncontracts around the edge of the crystalline lens \nand increases its antero-posterior curvature, thus \nincreasing its refractive power. The radiating \nciliary is a much weaker muscle which assists in \nretracting and flattening the lens. The circular \niris muscle contracts the pupil and the radial \niris muscle assists in dilating it. \n\nConsidered relatively, there are four antago- \nnistic sets of muscles: First, the superior and \ninferior recti ; second, the external and internal ; \nthird, the superior and inferior obliques; fourth, \nthe superior and inferior recti as antagonized by \nthe superior and inferior obliques. The latter \nset slightly diverges the optic axes, and the \nformer set slightly converges them. \n\nThere are six sets of synchronously acting \nmuscles: First, the superior recti turn both eyes \nupward; second, the inferior recti move them \ndownward; third, the right external and left \ninternal recti turn both eyes to the right; \nfourth, the left external and right internal recti \nturn both eyes to the left; fifth, the superior \nand inferior obliques of the right eye, acting \ntogether, in connection with the superior and \n\n\n\nEYE MUSCLES AND THEIR NERVE CENTERS 83 \n\ninferior recti of the left eye, have a tendency to \nturn both eyes sh\'ghtly to the right ; sixth, the \nsuperior and inferior obh\'ques of the left eye, \nacting synchronously with the superior and in- \nferior recti of the right eye, turn the eyes slightly \nto the left. \n\nA most important further secondary action \ntakes place as follows: When the eye is turned \nupward so that the relative equator of the eye- \nball is thrown below the parallelism of the in- \nternal and external recti, a contraction of these \nmuscles will assist in turning the eye upward. \nConversely, when the eye is turned downward so \nthat its equator lies above the line of these \nmuscles, their contraction will assist in turning \nthe eye downward. When the eye is turned \noutward so that its equator lies inside the line \nof the superior and inferior recti, their contrac- \ntion would assist in turning the eye outward. \nWhen the eye is turned inward so that the \nequator lies outside of the line of the superior \nand inferior recti their contraction assists in turn- \ning the eye inward. \n\nIt is the tonic contraction of the superior and \ninferior recti, especially their internal edges, \nthat prevents a converging eye, in squint, from \nmoving back into a normal position after the \ninternal rectus has been completely divided by \n\n\n\n84 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nan operation. This is the cause of the many \nfailures to straighten eyes by surgery. \n\nThat various parts receive their nerve-supply \nfrom the same nerve does not imply that their \nfunctions are necessarily similar, or that the \ngoverning nerve-centers are in the same local- \nity; for two fibrilla in a nerve, lying side by \nside, may have the most widely separate origin \npossible in the nerve-centers. \n\nAll of the ten muscles of the eye receive their \nnerve supply over the third cranial nerve, with \ntwo exceptions. The superior oblique receives \nits supply from the fourth nerve and the ex- \nternal rectus muscle over the sixth nerve. \n\nThe nerve cells that govern accommodation or \nfurnish energy to the ciliary muscles lie in the \nfloor of the third ventricle, in the middle base of \nthe brain. The cells that energize the internal \nrectus muscles that converge the eyes lie in the \nposterior part of the floor of the third ventricle \nand the aqueduct of Sylvius. The nerve cells \nthat control the external rectus muscles are in \nthe floor of the fourth ventricle of the brain at \nthe top of the spinal column. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER X \n\nCAUSES OF DISEASE \n\nWe give specific names to disturbances in the \nvarious parts or organs of the body, but still \nthey are nothing more than erratic functions, \nwhich may be localized in the liver, kidneys, \nheart, digestive apparatus, lungs, or any other \npart or parts of the economy. \n\nHealth is that condition in which all the func- \ntions are normal. Any departure of a function \nfrom its normal state is disease. \n\nDisease is localized abnormal innervation and \nalways central in the nervous system. \n\nDisease may take its origin from a sufficient \nirritation of any of the nerve-centers, but much \noftener will find its origin through the most \nhighly acute and sensitive centers. \n\nWhat is termed organic disease really consists \nof some lesion of the parts which is the result of \ncontinued erratic function, and in the true sense \nlesion is not disease but the result of disease. \n\nThe growth of tumors is due to abnormal inner- \nvation. In a benign tumor there is an excess of \nassimilative nerve-impulse which causes the part \n\n85 \n\n\n\nS6 THE EVE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nto gather unto itself more than its proportionate \nquantity of natural tissue. In a malignant \ntumor cognate conditions exist, in which the \nassimilation consists of gathering heterogeneous \nelements forming a structure which is alien to \nthe part, and according to many of the best \nknown authorities it always has its origin in \ndevitalized, weak embryonic cells, due to a defi- \nciency of nerve-force supply. \n\nIn the study of disease, we have exhausted \nour fullest resources in searching for causes. \nWe find various lesions, such as deposit, disin- \ntegration, hypertrophy, atrophy, and other ab- \nnormal conditions, and often have settled upon \nsome of these lesions as being the cause of other \npathological symptoms. This is not true; they \nare nothing more than accompanying conditions \nand results of a common cause. A lesion is \nalways a result and not a prime cause. \n\nDiseases of the eye, like those of the body, \nare localized abnormal innervation. By con- \nsidering a few individual cases, we can draw \ngeneral conclusions which will enable us to indi- \nvidualize any disease of the eye under the theory \nof erratic function. Eye-strain causes disturb- \nances of the nerve-centers, and they are reflexed \nto the eye, disturbing the various delicate func- \ntions of nutrition. In cataract, there is a gradual \n\n\n\nCAUSES OF DISEASE 87. \n\nloss of those vital forces that keep up the nutri- \ntion and life of the crystalline lens, and it slowly \ndies, becomes a foreign, opaque body. \n\nIn glaucoma, one of the most popular treat- \nments is iridectomy, and sometimes cyclotomy. \nOccasionally these operations have been known \nto arrest the disease, which, in our opinion, they \ndo only when the glaucoma has been dependent \non latent strain through the ciliary muscle. \nThe iridectomy, as well as the division of the \nciliary muscle, would have a tendency to sus- \npend the tonic spasm or contraction of latent \nhyperopia, and thus in a measure restore equilib- \nrium in the distribution of nerve-force to various \nparts of the eye; but, where these operations \nfail to produce any effect whatever, our opinion \nis that there may be an excessive strain in \nsome one of the long muscles that is giving \nrise to the disturbance ; and if this long muscle \nstrain is sought out and corrected, the improve- \nment will be as certain as in those cases that \nare relieved by operations affecting the ciliary \nmuscle. \n\nMany forms of inflammation of the eyes are \ndue to these causes, and a correction of latent \neye-strain often acts like magic in relieving these \ntroubles after they have resisted other treatment. \nAny disease of the eye, other than zymotic or \n\n\n\n88 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MATTER \n\ntraumatic, and a continuance of even these, may \ndepend on eye-strain. \n\nIn determining the cause of a disease, it is \nvery important to discriminate between exciting \nand predisposing causes, for we commit an error \nin supposing some exciting disturbance to be the \nsole cause. This can always be laid down as a \nwrong conclusion where the same or a similar \nexciting cause fails to bring about universally \nsimilar results. If the same exciting causes are \nbrought to bear on two persons and one is \naffected by them and the other not, there is \nsomewhere a difference in the two individuals. \nThere is a weakness in one which causes him to \nyield to the exciting cause. In the other vigor \nexists sufficient to resist the exciting cause. \n\nAny investigation of disease is remiss if it \nstops at exciting causes. When we have found \none prominent cause for a disease, we should not \nrelax our search for others. \n\nAll medicines or remedies are administered \nwith the expectation or hope that they will cor- \nrect whatever disturbed functions the disease \nmay consist of. The end sought is to reestab- \nlish normal action in the nerve-centers and thus \nrestore perfect function. \n\nWe do not inherit disease, but those conditions \nwhich may, if neglected, give rise to disease. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI \n\nLATENT CONDITIONS \n\nDefects in various parts of the eye, including \nthe muscles as to their length, may exist to a \nvery considerable extent and yet the function of \nvision be perfectly performed. Some of the \nmuscles may be so short that they would cause \nthe visual axes to deviate many degrees if it were \nnot that the opposite muscles pull them into a \nnormal position, through the intervention of \nnerve-impulse. Nerve-impulse is also the pri- \nmary factor in causing the ciliary muscle to con- \ntract around the crystalline lens, increasing its \nrefractive power when it is deficient. Just how \nfixed and permanent, through a long lapse of \ntime, these nerve-impulses may become, acting \nas masks to anatomical defects, is the chief \nobject of our inquiry. \n\nThe average person of middle age whose eyes \nare apparently perfect may be seated behind an \neight degree prism, base down, when at twenty \nfeet a light will appear as two lights, one directly \nover the other or vertical. According to the \nprevailing idea, this indicates that the eyes are \n\n8q \n\n\n\n90 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nbalanced as far as the lateral or external and \ninternal rectus muscles are concerned. Now, if \nthis balance depends upon the anatomical length \nof the muscles, the following test would indicate \nit : We take off the eight degree prism, base down, \nand place on the patient say six degrees of prism, \nbase out. We direct the patient to look around \nthe room for a few minutes, and then renew the \ntest with the eight degree prism, base down, while \nthe six degree prism is still on the patient. One of \nthe two lights will probably still appear to be di- \nrectly over the other. We are now certain that \nwe have six degrees of prism unaccounted for by \nthe test. Sometimes we are able to put as high \nas twenty or even more degrees of prism over a \npatient\'s eyes, base in or base out, as just de- \nscribed, and after they have been used for an \nhour, more or less, the lights will still appear to \nbe vertical. If the anatomical length of the \nmuscles was the cause of the position of the \neyes, and the lateral muscles balanced without \nprisms, then when we put on six degrees of \nprism, base in or base out, we ought to have \nfound this added prism by the difference in \nthe position of the lights. Such experiments \nclearly demonstrate how unreliable all diffusion \ntests are. Long trained and more or less \nfixed abnormal nerve-impulses hide defects \n\n\n\nLATENT CONDITIONS 9^ \n\nunder these tests where they really exist to a \nhigh degree. \n\nNow, if this tendency to single vision asserts \nitself with such alacrity and certainty under an \nartificially created irregularity, how much more \nwould the constant effort of years, working and \npulling against a muscle that is too short, have a \ntendency to hide the defect from all diffusion \ntests? \n\nThe various disturbances taking their origin in \nthe visual nerve-centers from eye-strain have \nbeen doing their devastating work from the very \ntime of birth ; they have been generating, from \nthe very hour the two eyes first began to train \ntogether, those conditions that are conducive to \ndisease. From that moment, nerve-force waste \nand brain irritation with its correlated conse- \nquences began. It is true, in certain cases, that \nsome of the most distressing symptoms of disease \nare often relieved immediately on a correction of \nthe abnormal innervation ; but it stands to reason \nthat the greater measure of disturbed conditions, \nwhich have been so many years in being estab- \nlished, require patience and time for perfect relief. \nThe various nerve-impulses that perform their \ncharacteristic functions must all be changed. \nThe nerve-centers that generate this force, and \nthe avenues they travel, must all be differen- \n\n\n\n92 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\ntiated. A new correlation has to be established, \nand sufficiently long established to maintain a \npermanency of the new and desired condition of \naffairs. \n\nThe relief of pain and the subjugation of other \nsymptoms is simply an indication that we are \nproceeding in the right direction with repression. \nAlthough pain may be stopped, or a prominent \nsymptom subjugated, before perfect health is \nrestored there are other fully as important \nchanges to take place which will require time. \nOften serious diseases or conditions exist that are \nunaccompanied by pain; nevertheless, they are \nas emphatically important. Where disturbed \nbrain centers have been for years furnishing im- \nperfect motive-force to perform the various func- \ntions throughout the body, the parts become \nmore or less enfeebled. It takes time to rebuild \nthat which has been many years in breaking \ndown. We are apt to become enthusiastic when \nsuddenly relieved of some pain or alarming \nsymptom ; but the process of reconstruction that \nfollows the new supply of vital force is not imme- \ndiate. We are not conscious of it from day to \nday, but we can realize it after a lapse of time, \nand we become calmly conscious that years will \nbe slowly added to life. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII \n\nMUSCLE IRREGULARITIES \n\nThe following are the terms usually applied to \nthe irregularities existing in the extrinsic muscles \nof the eye: \n\nOrthophoria: Regular or correct tending of \nthe optic axes. \n\nHeterophoria: Different tending of the optic \naxes. \n\nEsophoria: Inward or convergent tendency of \nthe optic axes. \n\nExophoria: Outward or divergent tendency of \nthe optic axes. \n\nHyperphoria: Upward tending of the optic \naxes. \n\nCataphoria: Downward tending of the optic \naxes. \n\nCyclophoria: Tendency of an eye to rotate \nrelatively from its mate. \n\nThese terms have heretofore been used in a \nrelative sense only; namely, esophoria, a relative \ntending of the optic axes toward each other; \nexophoria, a relative tending from each other; \nhyperphoria, in which one eye tends relatively \n\n93 \n\n\n\n94 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nhigher than the other; cataphoria, in which it \ntends lower. A person with but one eye may \nhave any one of the above conditions. The \noptic axis of a single eye may turn inward, out- \nward, upward, or downward from what would \nbe a normal position, giving rise to considerable \ndisturbance and strain, especially if a glass is \nworn, in which case the clearest vision is sought \nthrough its center, necessitating the holding of \nthe eye in a normal position. If a glass is not \nworn, the head is usually thrown into that posi- \ntion which most relieves the strain. If the upper \nmuscle is short, the chin is thrown down and the \nforehead forward; if the lower, the chin is \nthrown up and the head back; but if the short \nmuscle is the outer, the head is usually turned so \nas to relieve the strain. These conditions are \nquite common in persons with but one eye, so \nit is well to discriminate between relative and \nindividual heterophoria. \n\nBy considering only the relative position of \nthe two eyes, we are likely to overlook some \ngrave defect in the ocular muscles, for it is pos- \nsible for both of the superior muscles to be short \nin conjunction with a relative deviation. Where \nboth superior muscles are short there is the ten- \ndency to throw the chin downward, and this in \nour opinion has much to do in inducing the \n\n\n\nMUSCLE IRREGULARITIES 95 \n\nungraceful position commonly called *\' round \nshoulder*\' or ** stoop/* In accommodating the \nhead and body to these various forms of hetero- \nphoria, awkward relative positions of the body \nare sometimes acquired. It has been suggested \nthat spinal curvature has been occasioned by it. \nMany cases require long and careful investiga- \ntion before safe conclusions can be drawn. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII \n\nHORIZONTALIZING AND VERTICALIZING \n\nFrom a physiological standpoint, there would \nappear to be a great number of visual centers in \nthe nervous system. When rays of light are \nreflected from an object and focused in each \neye, there is a strong effort of the two eyes to \nfix themselves in such a position that the picture \nmade or reflected on the posterior part of each \neye shall be in corresponding localities. A ray \nof light falling exactly on the most sensitive \ncenter or yellow spot of the right eye stimulates \nthrough the nerve-centers a tendency to fix the \nleft eye in such a position that a ray of light \nemanating from the same point will also fall upon \nthe most sensitive center or yellow spot in that \neye. The same tendency prevails throughout \nthe field of vision. If an eye is fixed on an \nobject, it will be possible to see other objects \nfor quite a distance in various directions without \nmoving the eye; for instance, objects upward as \nfar as forty-five degrees can be seen, outward \nover ninety degrees, downward about seventy \ndegrees, inward fifty-five to sixty degrees. \n\n96 \n\n\n\nHORIZONTALIZING AND VERTICALIZING 97 \n\nTo define an object as having form, it is neces- \nsary that several impressions be received in the \nnerve-centers simultaneously or nearly so. The \naverage acuity of vision is an angle of one minute. \nThe top of a letter E falls on a portion of the retina \nthat conveys an impression of its existence, also \nthe tongue of the letter and the bottom of it; the \nupright portion and the two spaces between the \ntongue and the upper and lower parts fall upon \nseparate portions of the retina, each of which takes \na distinct impression, and their relative positions \nare noted by separate and distinct sensory cen- \nters in the brain ; consequently we feel the form \nof the letter E. If it were a single sensory cen- \nter that these distinct and separate objects were \nconveyed to, it would be a single confused im- \npression. \n\nSo, from a physiological standpoint, we see that \neach minute point in the posterior part of the eye \nor field of vision is susceptible of taking a sepa- \nrate impression, and has somewhere a distinct \nsensory center in the nervous system. In look- \ning directly in front of us, we see a red light off \nto the right because rays emanating from it have \nfallen on that portion of the field of vision that \nconveys its impression to that particular center \nin the brain that locates it, and always does \nlocate any object falling upon it, to the right of \n\n\n\n98 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nthe optic axes; and so it is with each minute \nand separate locality throughout the entire field \nof vision. When we contemplate the numerous \nobjects that may be distinguished without moving \nthe eye, we may conceive how numerous must \nbe the sensory centers for the function of vision. \nAt least one for each angle of vision. \n\nThe minute angle is a definite area on the \nretina at any fixed distance. In the vertical \nmeridian alone we have over seven thousand \ndifferent points of fixation, or minute angles. \nTo approximate the entire range of fixations in \nall meridians we will take the square of six thou- \nsand, which is thirty-six millions of minute angles \nor points on which one eye can possibly fix. \nThis is a very conservatively liberal approxima- \ntion. \n\nWhen the two eyes are fixed so that rays of \nlight falling from a given point are * reflected on \ncorresponding localities in the field of vision, a \nsingle impression of the object ensues, because \neach of these corresponding points is supplied \nwith a nerve-filament that leads to a common or \nsingle sensory center; but when rays coming \nfrom the same point fall on different or non- \ncorresponding localities in the two eyes, they \nnecessarily meet with nerve filaments originating \nfrom two different sensory centers, and each eye \n\n\n\nHORIZONTALIZING AND VERTICALIZING 99 \n\nconveys an impression of the same object to dis- \ntinctly separate centers, and two impressions of \nthe same object are the result. \n\nAlways, under such conditions, there is a strong \neffort of the two eyes to fix their optic axes so \nthat the two apparent objects may be fused into \none, thus avoiding confusion and increasing the \nsense of vision. In doing so, the various muscles \nact as follows: Let two imaginary lines bisect \neach other at right angles, one horizontally and \nthe other vertically, and we shall have a cross. \nNow, suppose the eyes to be out of visual line \nso that a dot will appear to the right eye to be \nin the lower right-hand corner of the space occu- \npied by the cross, and that to the left eye the \nsame object will appear in the left upper portion \nof the cross. These impressions simultaneously \nseen with bQth eyes will appear as two dots. To \nmerge or fuse these two impressions of the dot \ninto one, the external and internal muscles move \nthe eyes laterally until they are in such a posi- \ntion that the two dots are brought to the imagi- \nnary vertical line of the cross. One will now be \nabove the other. This we call the tendency to \nverticalize, exerted by the internal and external \nrectus muscles; while at the same time, the \nsuperior and inferior rectus muscles move the \neyes upward and downward to such a position \n\n\n\nLofC. \n\n\n\nloo THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nthat the dots are brought to the imaginary hori- \nzontal line. This we call the tendency to hori- \nzontalize. \n\nThe vertical and lateral muscles in accom- \nplishing the above movements receive some \naid from other muscles. These tendencies to \nhorizontalize and verticalize being exerted sim- \nultaneously, bring the two impressions of a dot \nto the center of the cross, merging them into \none object. In this position, rays emanating \nfrom a single point fall on corresponding locali- \nties in each eye, and are conveyed to a single \nvisual center, producing the impression of one. \nThe superior and inferior oblique muscles also \nplay their part in the rotations of the eyes, so \nthat rays from a single point may fall upon cor- \nresponding localities. The above process is \ncalled fusion. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV \n\nREVERSAL OF METHOD IN ESOPHORIA \n\nSince the publication of \'\'The Eye in Its \nRelation to Health/* in 1895, there has been no \nradical change in our general views except in \nregard to esophoria, and even with reference to \nthat subject our present views were well fore- \nshadowed and outlined in that work. We now \ntreat esophoria as being always due to spasm. \nIn no case do we recognize shortness of the in- \nternal muscles as the cause. \n\nThis radical departure in methods was pub- \nlished in the Medical Journal, New York, July 24, \n1897, under the caption \'\'Strabismus Theories.** \nIn that article we endeavored to explain why \nsuch marked relief sometimes followed tenoto- \nmies of the internal rectus muscle, which we \ndemonstrated as due to the relief of a conten- \ntionary strain, direct and counter strain, between \nthe internal and the external rectus muscles, \nillustrating the strain and its relief as follows: \n\n\' \' A rope forty feet long is turned around a post ; \neach end is held by a boy, who for some reason \ndesires to keep just twenty feet of rope on his \n\nlOI \n\n\n\n102 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nside of the post. The rope, to start with, being \nevenly divided, a minimum tension permits each \nto have his twenty feet of rope. Now, the \nstronger boy begins to pull ten pounds harder \nthan necessary, which would naturally give him \nmore rope. This requires the other boy to meet \nthis dynamic force by ten pounds of counter pull \nor resistance. This now stimulates the stronger \nboy to increase his pull, necessitating an increase \nof effort on the part of the other to prevent his \nlosing his position. Each continues to maintain \nhis twenty feet of rope, but, through gradually \nincreasing strain and counter-strain, both are \nnow pulling one hundred pounds each, where but \nvery few pounds would suffice to maintain a \nbalance. Now, if the stronger boy can be \nquieted and induced to diminish his effort, the \nweaker boy will be more than willing to meet \nhim by diminishing his effort, until the efforts of \nboth have been reduced again to a minimum, \neach still having his twenty feet of rope.\'\' \n\nWhen the stronger or internal muscle was \nrelaxed by operation, both the direct strain and \nthe counter-strain were for the time abandoned, \nand the temporary relief to the nervous system \nwas frequently very marked. \n\nBut this relief always proved of such a transi- \ntory character, with reference to systemic and \n\n\n\nREVERSAL OF METHOD IN ESOPHORIA 103 \n\nlocal conditions, that we were forced to our \npresent views, the following out of which in onr \npractice since has given uniform and universally \ngood results. \n\nIt was this unrecognized truth and the practice \non the old lines of correcting esophoria that led \nour profession into the differences of opinion as \nto the effects of eye-strain and the value of its \ncorrection. \n\nWe now proceed to give our original views of \nesophoria, and our more recent practice of the \nlast eight or nine years. \n\nEsophoria,* or a tendency to a convergence of \nthe optic axes, is the most deceptive and trouble- \nsome condition with which we have to deal, and \nfrom its very nature we can see how unreliable \nall diffusion tests are, as indicating the true \nconditions. \n\nWe will suppose a case where the lengths of \nthe various long muscles of the eye are such that, \nwithout effort, the axes of the two eyes are per- \nfectly parallel at a distance of twenty feet or \nmore. The muscles, in performing their func- \ntions at an infinite distance make their move- \nments in various directions synchronously, the \n\n*From "The Eye in Its Relation to Health," 1895, Chap- \nter XIII. \n\n\n\n104 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MATTER \n\nsuperior muscles turning both eyes upward, and \nthe inferior muscles turning them downward. \nTurning to the right, the right external and the \nleft internal act together, and the necessary in- \nnervation is compensated for when the two eyes \nare directed to the left; for then the left exter- \nnal and the right internal require an amount of \ninnervation equivalent to that required for the \nmovement in the other direction. \n\nSupposing the various inclinations of the head \nto the right and to the left to be of nearly equal \nfrequency, the oblique muscles will also be uni- \nformly exercised. Thus in the various move- \nments of the eye at a distance, there is a tendency \nto establish more or less of an equilibrium in the \nnerve-impulses that contract the various muscles ; \nbut when the vision is fixed upon some object at \na near point, as is necessary in reading, writing, \nand in the pursuit of various mechanical arts, the \ninternal rectus muscles receive an amount of \nnerve-force necessary to break the parallelism \nof the infinite distance, and converge the eyes \ntoward each other. \n\nThe repeated exercise of the internal muscles \nhas a constant tendency to develop their power, \nand there is no counter movement of the eyes in \nwhich the opposing muscles have any opportu- \nnity for a like development. It is for this reason \n\n\n\nREVERSAL OF METHOD IN ESOPHORIA 105 \n\nthat we always find the internal muscles much \nstronger than the external; but the difference in \nstrength between the internal and external \nmuscles has no tendency to cause the eyes to \ndeviate from perfect parallelism at a distance. \n\nUnder normal conditions there remains the \nability to suspend the nerve-impulse that gives \ngreater strength to the internal muscles. When \nthe eyes are removed from the near to the remote \npoint, the relaxation is a negative act, yet a nor- \nmal function. There is no contention between \nthe internal and the external muscles. Under \nnormal conditions, the function of suspending \nnerve-impulse exists in all the ocular muscles; \nwhen certain muscles contract to perform some \noffice their opposites relax to assist them. In \nthe fullest sense this suspension of nerve-impulse \nis probably not absolute. Just sufficient conten- \ntion continues to give the eyes a steady position; \nbut, where the employment of the eyes has been \nsuch as to necessitate their use at the near point \nconstantly, from morning until night, day after \nday, as in the case of an inveterate reader or \nwriter, or an artisan with his work constantly \nclose to his eyes, the nerve-impulses of the in- \nternal muscles are almost constant, v/ith little or \nquite infrequent periods of relaxation; thus the \nimpulse becomes such a fixed and constant quan- \n\n\n\nio6 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\ntity that ultimately there is an inability to sus- \npend it entirely. Such eyes, when examined at \na distance of twenty feet or more, show a posi- \ntive tendency toward convergence, while at the \nnear point we may find a balance, a convergence, \nor even a tendency to divergence, as a result of \nthe excessive abnormal innervation. \n\nBy diffusion tests a convergence may appear \nwhere the .... externals are short, in which \ncase it is a reverse manifestation .... \n\nThe above demonstrates how dangerous it is \nto rely on any diffusion test as an indication of \nthe true anatomical condition of the ocular mus- \ncles; and it is not strange that, by so doing, \nmany have been thrown into doubt and confu- \nsion as to the importance of this field of work. \n\nRepression, in which symptoms are our chief \nguide as we proceed, is the only method of safely \ndetermining whether the diffusion or manifest \ntests have given a true or false indication of the \ncondition of the muscles. The majority of cases \nof manifest esophoria are reverse manifestations, \nor due to spasm. When esophoria exists at the \nfar point, and exophoria at the near, it is pretty \nsafe to conclude that the esophoria is not due to \na short muscle, but to spasm. \n\nIn our recent and present views and practice, \n\n\n\nREVERSAL OF METHOD IN ESOPHORIA 107 \n\nwe regard esophoria as universally due to spasm \nwith the external rectus muscles always short. \nThis will clear up the differences of opinion as \nto the values of eye-strain, and the views and \npractice are here given in the words which we \nused in a professional address at Milwaukee \nAugust 2, 1904: \n\nThe eyeball consists of three coats or tunics; \nthe outer is the sclerotic, or skeleton of the eye; \nthe next within is the vascular tunic, the choroid; \nthe third, or inner layer, is the nervous system \nof the eye, called the retina. The refractive \nmedia, beginning at the front of the eye, are the \ncornea, the aqueous humor, the crystalline lens, \nand the vitreous body. With the exception of \nthe crystalline lens, the refraction in these vari- \nous media is fixed and unchangeable, except \nslight corneal alterations due to eyelid pressure, \nand in diseased states, but the crystalline lens \nlying immediately behind the pupil is an elastic, \nresilient body, capable of having its curvatures \nchanged by the muscular system which surrounds \nits periphera, thus varying the refraction of the \nocular system so that it can adjust or focus for \nnear, far, and intermediate distances. \n\nBerry, many other authorities, and we our- \nselves believe that the new-born babe is hyper- \nopic, or deficient in the magnifying power of the \n\n\n\nio8 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MATTER \n\neye. The anatomical state of rest is manifest \nhypermetropia. This primary insufficiency of \nrefraction is corrected in the following manner: \nA stimulus for more perfect vision excites a \ntransforming action in the axial gray matter cells \nin the floor of the third ventricle of the brain. \nThe nerve fibers transmit the nerve force from \nthese cells to the ciliary muscle which contracts \naround the edge of the lens, increasing the curva- \nture and magnifying power until normal vision \nensues. Through irritation sometimes these \nnerve-centers overdo their work, increasing the \ncurvature and refraction too much, inducing \nfunctional myopia or exaggerated hypermetropia. \n\nThe deficiency of refraction in the original \nanatomical state in different individuals varies \nconsiderably. To illustrate: \n\nCase one. An eye in its anatomical state of \nrest is deficient one- fourth of a dioptre; the \nnerve-centers energize the ciliary muscle and \nshape the lens, so that the refraction becomes \nnormal. \n\nCase two. In this case we assume that in the \nanatomical state of rest the refraction is insuffi- \ncient to the extent of eight dioptres. Now, the \nnerve cells transform a much greater amount of \nenergy than in case one, and send it over the \nnerve fibers to stimulate the contraction of the \n\n\n\nREVERSAL OF METHOD IN ESOPHORIA 109 \n\nciliary muscle, thereby enormously increasing \nthe curvature of the crystalline lens, and thus as \nperfect vision is established in case two, with \neight dioptres of refractive deficiency. \n\nA higher acuity of vision is frequently sus- \ntained in the latter case, because the nerve-cen- \nters are taxed to such a high state that extreme \nsensibility results. People having a higher acu- \nity of vision than normal have nervous systems \nof high tension. \n\nIn comparison with case one, case two prob- \nably requires more than one hundred times the \nenergy to adjust the lens, for the reason that \nthe last quarter of a dioptre requires much more \nstrain in adjusting than the first. Conditions \nare similar with a steamship running at a high \nrate of speed. The last two or three miles of \nthe rate are attained by a comparatively enor- \nmous expenditure of fuel. \n\nWhen the nerve-cells are capable of exerting \nthe strain, as perfect vision will be induced in \nthe exceedingly great as in the minor deficiencies \nof refraction. This enormous waste of energy is \nmore than the nervous system can afford, and all \nof the functions of the body will suffer severely \nthe loss of their proportion. \n\nWith these illustrations in view it becomes \nemphatically suggestive when we see professional \n\n\n\n1 10 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nmen simply directing their patients to look at \nSnellen\'s test type, and if they can read the letters \nindicating normal vision the subject of the eye is \ndismissed by them as having nothing to do with \nthe case. \n\nWhen we think how much strain may exist \nunder the most perfect vision, as in case two, \nwhen we consider its fatal consequences to life \nand happiness, such an examination and con- \nclusion are not only careless, but criminal. \n\nWhen the nerve-centers have kept up these \nstrains in adjusting the eyes for many years, the \nstrain becomes a habit, latent and continuous, \neven during the hours of sleep. These latent \nstrains exhaust and irritate the nerve-centers to a \nfar greater extent than manifest strains. \n\nMedical instillations into the eye of mydriatics, \nsuch as atropine and hyoscyamine, are resorted to \nfor the purpose of abating these strains and deter- \nmining the quantity of latent hyperopia, a system \nof medication not universally satisfactory and \nfor reasons objectionable to the patient. \n\nOne reason why mydriatics sometimes fail to \nact is, an educated correlation exists between the \nfocusing and alignment centers, and when atro- \npine is used to paralyze the ciliary muscle, the \naxial alignment continues and keeps up a strong \nassociation stimulus to the ciliary, thus prevent- \n\n\n\nREVERSAL OF METHOD IN ESOPHORIA m \n\ning the ciliary from yielding to the action of the \ndrug. Whereas, by repression with prisms and \nfogs we simultaneously attack both the ciliary \nand the alignment strains, so neither one can \nassist in hiding the other, but each assists in \nrevealing the other\'s defects. Mydriatics are \nused empirically, also repression or fogging is \nconducted on arbitrary lines. This is necessary \nbecause we are searching for an unknown quan- \ntity of latent strain. \n\nAs to the lateral position of the eyes the \nanatomical state of rest is exophoria; the eyes \ndiverge from each other. This is evinced by \nthe totally blind, the narcotized, deeply intoxi- \ncated, and the eyes of the dead. We have \nspoken of the necessity of the new-born infant \nto exert a strain to induce normal focus of the \neye from its anatomical state of rest \xe2\x80\x94 hyper- \nmetropia. We are now considering a second \nstrain that takes place in the nerve-centers dur- \ning the adjustment for single vision, these two \nstrains existing at the same time. \n\nThe internal muscles receive their working \npower from the nerve cells in the posterior pai^t \nof the floor of the third ventricle of the brain and \nthe floor of the aqueduct of Sylvius ; the exter- \nnal recti receive theirs principally from the floor \nof the fourth ventricle, deep in the base of the \n\n\n\n1 1 2 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nbrain at the beginning of the spinal cord. In \nthe anatomical state of rest, the eyes diverge. \nA stimulus for single vision energizes the internal \nmuscles, and they pull the eyes together into \naxial alignment. Sometimes from irritation the \ninternal muscles are too much innervated and \npull the eyes in too far, beyond the point of \nvisual alignment, establishing esophoria, which \nis always functional, due to tonic spasm, is \nalways latent, and productive of as much evil as \nlatent hypermetropia. \n\nEyes in their anatomical state of rest vary in \ntheir outward tending from a few to many \ndegrees. The amount of nerve strain varies \nconsiderably in different cases where the degrees \nof deviation are the same, for the tendons are \nbroad, thick, and unyielding in one case, while \nin another they are thin, elastic, and pull into \nline with less strain, even where the deviation \nmay be greater. \n\nIn treating esophoria, the use of prisms base \nout to get a simple mechanical adjustment of \nthe lines of sight is a serious error, but was the \nuniversal old method. \n\nIn esophoria our object is to cure the spasm, \nwhich is the cause of energy waste and brain \nirritation; then the maladjustment disappears \nby the relaxation of the internal rectus muscle. \n\n\n\nREVERSAL OF METHOD IN ESOPHORIA 113 \n\nThe practice of cutting the internal muscles, let- \nting the eyes out to a mechanical adjustment, \ndoes not lessen brain strain \xe2\x80\x94 the spasm; it in- \ncreases it. It simply diverges the visual axes \nand increases the strain as an ultimate effect, if \nthe nerve centers are able to furnish the energy ; \notherwise the interni lose their functioning \npower from the operation, in which case the \neyes ultimately turn outward into manifest \nexophoria. For this reason operations on the \ninterni for esophoria are always an error. \n\nBy repression with prisms, base in, esophoria \ncan always be cured and the average case can \nbe turned into manifest exophoria, which we do \nwhen wished-for physiological changes demand it. \n\nTo cure these two conditions, we proceed in \nexactly the opposite way to the old practice \xe2\x80\x94 \nprisms base in for esophoria and plus or fog \nglasses for functional myopia. By using prisms \nbase in for esophoria, all that can be fused for, \nthe eyes are forced to turn outward to maintain \nsingle vision. This causes the nerve-centers to \nabandon their nerve supply to the internal mus- \ncles and in time abates the spasm and the ex- \nhaustive brain waste. \n\nA light fog is not easily tolerated, because it \ndoes not sufficiently repress the strain to quiet \nthe nerve-centers and subdue the annoyance of \n\n\n\n1 1 4 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\ndim vision, but a dense fog so relieves the nerve- \ncenters that the dimness of vision is forgotten \nand a calm, quiet, even sleepy, condition is \ninduced. \n\nPrisms can be methodically increased at times \nand worn until the esophoria or spasm causing it \nhas disappeared, as with patience it always will. \nWith plus glasses that fog, the eyes invariably \nseek better vision by forcing the ciliary muscles \nto relax, and their nerve cells are obliged to \nrepress, hold back, the excess of nerve force that \nhas kept up the spasm, which in time by this \nprocess is abated. During this treatment the \nvision is dim. Under the arbitrary use of atro- \npine the vision is also dim, but it fails to produce \nas good results and is only temporary in its \neffect. When we remember that the nerve-cen- \nters governing vision per se, and the muscles \nthat adjust the eye for position, take up fully \none-third of the entire gray matter of the brain, \nand when we study eye-strain from a physiologi- \ncal standpoint, we should expect wonderful \nresults to follow the relief of these strains. \n\nGo through a lunatic asylum and cover the \neyes of the insane, and it would be impossible to \ntell whether they were insane or not. The eye \nis the strong distinctive feature that tells us that \nthe brain has gone wrong. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV \n\nEXOPHORIA \n\nWhen the visual axes are incorrect, the condi- \ntion is due to one of two causes \xe2\x80\x94 either an \nanatomically short muscle or one contracted by \nspasm. Without first positively ascertaining this \nfact no intelligent or safe procedure can be made \nin correcting eye-strain. \n\nWhen the optic axes deviate or have a ten- \ndency so to do, heretofore the fault has com- \nmonly been attributed to muscular weakness or \nparesis, and has been usually called asthe- \nnopia, in keeping with this idea of paresis. If \nthe left eye deviated above its mate, this theory \nassumed that the inferior muscle of that eye was \ninsufficient in strength to hold it down. If it \ndeviated inward, the outer muscle was said to be \ntoo weak ; if outward, the inner muscle was too \nweak. This reasoning naturally assumes that to \nmaintain a balance there is a constant conten- \ntion in the various eye muscles, and whenever \na muscle becomes weaker than its fellow there \nwill be a deviation in the direction of the stronger \none. That this cannot be true is evident from \n\n115 \n\n\n\n1 16 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nthe fact that the internal rectus muscle is known \nto have generally five or six times the strength \nof its opposite, the external rectus ; and if it were \na relative difference in strength of the muscles \nthat caused the eyes to deviate, all eyes having \nmuscles of such comparative strength would be \nconstantly turned in toward each other. This \nshows that it cannot be a question as to the rela- \ntive strength of the muscles. \n\nThe visual axes of normal eyes should, under \nphysiological relaxation of all the muscles, be in \na nearly parallel plane for an infinite distance; \nalthough some muscle might be weak, an eye \nwould present perfect balance with absolute re- \nlaxation of the opposite muscle. \n\nAn exception may be made in cases of paraly- \nsis, which cannot be determined by a relative \nposition of the optic axes alone, but by indi- \nvidual movements of one eye. \n\nThe almost universal deviation of the eyes of \nthe dead, the blind, the new-born babe; of those \nwho have been rendered unconscious by the use \nof anaesthetics, alcohol, or narcotic poisons; and \nof those who are in a state of suspended anima- \ntion from other causes, such as fainting, apo- \nplexy, or coma, is due to a suspension of \ninnervation, more or less complete, during which \nthe eyes fall into those positions in which the \n\n\n\nEXOPHORIA 117 \n\nanatomical length of the muscles would naturally \nhold them. Deviations under the above condi- \ntions are certainly not due to paresis or muscular \nweakness. True, we do have weak muscles, but \nthey are frequently on the side of the eye oppo- \nsite to that in which the theory of muscular \nasthenopia would fix them. As in exophoria, \nwhen the deviation of an eye is due to a short \nexternal muscle, tending to draw the eye out- \nward, it is the external muscle which is really \ninsufficient, asthenopic, or undeveloped, for \nnever has it had any normal action. It has \nalways been drawn upon and stretched by the \nopposite muscle, in the effort of the latter to \npull the eyes into line. In such cases, gymnastic \nexercise of the muscles in which there is a mani- \nfest deviation, with prisms base out, will some- \ntimes restore the balance, but it does so by mak- \ning the defect latent again. It does its work by \nincreasing the excessive innervation to a hiding \nstandard again. For the muscle that we increase \nin strength by gymnastic exercise is the over- \ndeveloped one. This exercise simply stretches \nthe short muscle more, and increases the exces- \nsive innervation in the strong one. The results of \nthese gymnastics on the nervous system are the \nopposite of what we seek to obtain. Such exer- \ncise will often restore a balance of the optic axes. \n\n\n\n1 18 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nbut it does so at the expense of the nerve- \ncenters. \n\nBut in that class of cases where there is a \nmanifest deviation of the optic axes, due to \nspasm, which usually turns the eye in a direc- \ntion opposite the short muscle, as in esophoria, \ngymnastic exercise will bring some relief, for it \nrepresses in a small measure the brain-strain, as \nit brings the eyes back into line. This relief is \nfrequently increased by crossing the line of bal- \nance and forcing the esophoric eye in the opposite \ndirection to a considerable extent by repression. \n\nThere is always a physical comfort in seeing \neasily, but the chief disturbances arising from \neye-strains are not local; they do not always \naffect the vision. \n\nIn exophoria the nerve-centers have wearied \nof holding the eyes in place and begin to sus- \npend their labor. There is an effort of the \nnerve-centers to rest from an overtaxed condi- \ntion, and we should always aid them as much as \npossible in this effort. This is done with prisms \nbase in, the same as in treating the spasm in \nesophoria. If physical conditions indicate it, \nand are improved by repression, we over-correct \nthe manifest defect in exophoria, thus assisting \nthe nerve-centers in getting rid of their burden of \nwork. \n\n\n\nEXOPHORIA 119 \n\nBy this repression for a few weeks or even \nmonths, we cannot expect to suspend entirely an \nabnormal nerve-impulse that has required many \nyears to attain its intensity. We should reason- \nably expect time to be necessary to break down \nnerve-impulses that have been established since \nbirth. \n\nThe more manifest a muscular defect is, the \nless will be the strain and disturbance of the \nnerve-centers, for this form has periods of rest ; \nbut no periods of rest ever come, even during \nsleep, to nerve-centers that are sustaining abso- \nlutely latent eye-strain. The highest state of \nnervous disturbance exists where the defects are \nabsolutely latent, or their manifestation reversed. \n\nAn eye, to accommodate itself to a prism, \nalways turns towards its apex. For this reason, \nin seeking to relieve a strain, we should always \npoint the apex toward the short muscle. \n\nThe power of the eyes to fuse is much higher \nat the near or reading point than at a distance. \nIt is also emphasized by bright light, by plurality \nof objects, non-similarity of shape, variety of \ncolor, and irregularity of arrangement. A plain \nblank surface offers no stimulus for fusion, a \nsingle point the least. Therefore, students and \nother workers at the near point, who are the \n\n\n\n1 20 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TETR \n\ngreatest sufferers from eye-strain, are capable of \nthe greatest relief, because they can utilize the \nhighest repression at the near point. \n\nAs cases differ more or less from each other, \nand each case requires special tests, especially in \nesophoria and exophoria, both being treated the \nsame, a single illustration will suffice. First, the \nciliary spasm is set at rest by, say, a plus three- \ndioptre lens, which permits the patient to see \nclearly at his reading or working distance, but \nno farther, all distant objects being fogged. To \nthis we add three degrees of prism base in before \neach eye, which relieves the converging strain to \nthe extent of six degrees. This prism stimulates \na relaxation of the ciliary and admits of clear \nvision at a little further distance than the plus \nthree-dioptre glasses would admit of alone. This \nrelative relaxation of internal recti and ciliary \nstrain varies considerably, and must be worked \nout by careful clinical tests. \n\nIn persons suffering from extreme nervous \ntrouble, who could read without glasses, though \nit caused them great nervous distress, we have \nfrequently used five or six dioptres of plus \nlens, with twelve degrees of prism base in for \nreading, and although great relief is experienced \nfor a time, in a little while even this amount of \nprism has proved insufficient. When such a case \n\n\n\nEXOPHORIA lai \n\narrives at a point where the patient can fuse for \ntwenty degrees or more of prism base in at an \ninfinite distance, we resort to a complete tenot- \nomy or relaxation of one of the external rectus \nmuscles, which results in greater relief than the \nprisms afforded. If further repression and con- \nservation of energy are necessary we continue to \nresort to this same method until we find a tenot- \nomy necessary on the opposite eye. This may \nseem radical to the novice, but there are cases in \nwhich the great and only danger is in leaving \nthese strains uncorrected. \n\nThe perfect and delicate correlated action of \nthe various muscles of the eye has been assumed \nby some to be a delicacy of mechanical balance \nof the various muscles, but this is seldom if ever \ntrue. In all cases, the balance is maintained by \ninnervation which is the outgrowth of a stimulus \nin the nerve-centers for perfect vision. In such \ncases, the nerve-impulses have continued so long \nin the performance of their various duties that \nthey have become fixed impulses and are virtu- \nally interlocked with each other. \n\nBy the novice the criticism would perhaps be \nmade that such radical repression would break \ndown the accommodation. It does break down \na perfect but laborious accommodation that \nalways exists where there is a high degree of \n\n\n\n1 2 2 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nstrain, which is making a constant and extrava- \ngant call on the nerve-centers, and often proves \nvery injurious to health. This is what it was \nalways our purpose to do with mydriatics. A \nnew and perfect accommodation is soon estab- \nlished, under better conditions and more favorable \nto health. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI \n\nHYPERPHORIA, CATAPHORIA, AND CYCLOPHORIA \n\nDefects are more universally latent in the su- \nperior and inferior than in the external and inter- \nnal ocular muscles, for the latter in the perform- \nance of their various functions are alternately \nconverging and diverging the optic axes, while \nthe superior and inferior have very little relative \nchange, upward or downward. Whatever position \nthey assume, the optic axes deviate very little rela- \ntively from a horizontal plane ; consequently the \nimpulses to the superior and inferior muscles be- \ncome more obstinately fixed, and defects in these \nmuscles are less likely to manifest themselves. \n\nIn hyperphoria, where one eye tends above its \nfellow, it may be due to a spasm or to a short- \nness of a muscle \xe2\x80\x94 the all-important point to \ndecide. Spasm plays such an exceedingly impor- \ntant part in a majority of the cases of hyper- \nphoria, cataphoria, and cyclophoria that in our \nendeavors to correct these conditions we should \nfirst give exhaustive attention to the abatement \nof latent ciliary spasm and the strains existing in \nesophoria and exophoria; for it is the lateral \n\n123 \n\n\n\n1 24 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nstrains that are very frequently the cause of in- \nducing functional hypophoria, cataphoria, and \ncyclophoria, and when we have subjugated the \nstrains of hypermetropia and those in the lateral \nmuscles, the former disturbances disappear with- \nout special attention. \n\nHyperphoria and cataphoria very frequently, \nand cyclophoria nearly always, take their origin \nas follows: With a wide pupillary distance, \nwhere the external muscles are very short, great \nstrain is necessary to converge the eyes for the \nnear point, reading, etc. The wider the pupil- \nlary distance the greater the strain and the con- \nverging angle will be. By tilting the head to \none side the lateral angle can be narrowed con- \nsiderably, even a fourth of an inch or more, but \nthis necessitates one eye looking a little higher \nand the other a little lower. It would also in- \nvolve a screw-like motion of both eyes, through \nthe action of the oblique muscles, so that fusion \nmay take place. The continuance of this posi- \ntion of the head for relief eventually results in \nthe nerve-impulses to the superior, inferior, and \noblique muscles becoming constant, and when \nsuch a case is examined with the head in an \nerect position one eye is found to tend higher or \nlower than the other, and also to have a tempo- \nrarily fixed rotation \xe2\x80\x94 cyclophoria. \n\n\n\nHYPERPHORIA, CA TAPHORIA, ETC. 125 \n\nSeat at twenty feet from a light a person who \nhas, say, five degrees of exophoria, or create it \nartificially. When diplopia is created, with a \nprism base down, the two lights apparently seen \nindicate the five degrees of exophoria, but by \ntilting the head to one side a few degrees one of \nthe lights appears directly over the other. The \ntilting of the head has narrowed the angle be- \ntween the eyes and assisted in overcoming the \ndefect. Persons subject to great strain in con- \nverging the eyes get partial relief by tilting the \nhead ; but the constant carrying of the head in \nthis position fixes the eyes on different levels, as \nwell as the rotation of the eye, and we have \nfunctional hyperphoria or cataphoria and cyclo- \nphoria. \n\nFor several years we have been careful to pro- \nceed along these lines in the treatment of hyper- \nphoria, cataphoria, and cyclophoria, and have \nbeen amply rewarded. \n\nThese conditions are sometimes due to short \nmuscles, but such cases are in so small a minor- \nity that before proceeding to correct them as \nshort muscles, every effort should be exhausted \nin trying to eliminate them as functional dis- \nturbances. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVII \n\nAMETROPIA \n\nIn the anatomical state of rest there is always \na deficiency of refraction, varying in different \nindividuals. The nerve-centers energize the \nciliary muscle, thereby increasing the curvatures \nof the crystalline lens. \n\nFirst, when the amount of energy furnished is \ninsufficient to increase the refraction to the point \nof perfect vision, say one dioptre, dim vision is \nthe result, and a one-dioptre lens is required to \ncorrect it. This is manifest hypermetropia. \n\nSecond, a case in which the nerve force in- \ncreases the curvatures of the crystalline lens suffi- \nciently to induce perfect vision, but this innerva- \ntion is laborious and unfixed, being quite willing \nto suspend, say one dioptre, with a correcting \nlens, which\' induces equally good vision under \nless labor to the nerve-centers. This has also \nbeen called manifest hypermetropia, but in some \nway should be differentiated from the first ex- \nample, preferably by calling it *\' functional\'* \nmanifest, because the function of perfect vision \nis exercised in such cases. \n\n126 \n\n\n\nAMETROPIA 127 \n\nThird, the nerve-centers send sufficient energy \nto the ciliary to induce perfect vision, and with \nsuch vigor that the nerve-impulses become tonic, \nso perfectly fixed that they do not suspend even \nduring the hours of sleep, and in some cases so \nimpregnable that mydriatics fail to break them \ndown. This is emmetropia. \n\nFourth, when the nerve-centers over-energize \nfrom over-use of near vision, or any cause, they \ntake on a tonic excitation, send too much energy \nto the ciliary muscle, increasing the refraction to \na point beyond emmetropia, say one dioptre. \nThis is functional jnyopiuy a continuance and \nincrease of which so disturb the nutritional pro- \ncesses in various parts of the eye that there is an \nincrease in the vitreous body and aqueous humor \nto such an extent that the eyeball is enlarged by \nbeing elongated. Its increase in size is in the \nantero-posterior direction, because the rectus and \noblique muscles bind it equatorially, preventing \ndilation in this direction. This is anatomical \nmyopia \n\nFifth, most cases of anatomical myopia are \nmixed with functional myopia, especially in their \nearlier histories. In such cases, if no glasses or \nan under-correction be worn, the stimulus for \nmore perfect vision may partly or completely \nsuspend the ciliary innervation, on the principle \n\n\n\n) \n\n\n\n128 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nof repression, which if resorted to at the reading \nor near point will frequently cure functional \nmyopia. \n\nIn a nomad, who is reared out of doors, who \nfollows such pursuits that his vision is mostly \nused at twenty feet and greater distances, the \nnerve-impulses to the ciliary muscle become estab- \nlished so that the easiest vision is for the far \npoint, and in many years of such use these im- \npulses become more or less fixed; while the \nchild of a higher civilization spends its life within \ndoors, amuses itself with toys, picture books, \nkindergarten amusements, and learning to read. \nWe will assume that such a child generally holds \nits book or toy ten inches from the eyes, in which \ncase the crystalline lens requires a much greater \nconvexity, or higher state of refraction, to bring \nabout perfect vision ; and this is effected by an \nincrease in the ciliary nerve-impulse which con- \ntracts the ciliary muscle. Through long-con- \ntinued use, this excessive impulse becomes \ncomparatively fixed, and in some instances refuses \nto suspend itself sufficiently to bring about dis- \ntant vision again, and myopia has set in. The \nregular work of the student and those following \nother pursuits which require the use of the eye \nat the near point, tends to perpetuate this disease \nand make it progressive. \n\n\n\nAMETROPIA 129 \n\nWhen the eye is emmetropic and the condi- \ntions of health are desirable, there is no reason \nfor interfering with the ocular apparatus. But \nif health is seriously disturbed, we can conserve \nenergy and allay brain-irritation by ** repressing** \nthose nerve-strains that are sustaining the em- \nmetropic condition, until we arrive at a new cor- \nrelation which requires much less energy to \nsustain it. \n\nThe repression of myopia is a difficult matter \nunless the patient is considerable of a reader. \nThen high repression at the near point can be \ntaken advantage of. On account of the relation \nexisting between the ciliary muscle and the in- \nterni, it is necessary to use as much prism base \nin as can be fused for at the reading point, in \nconjunction with plus or suitably weak minus \nlenses, according to the severity of the case. \nThe relaxation of the interni and that of the \nciliary simultaneously encourage and assist each \nother in suspending the excessive nerve-impulse. \nTo get sufficient relaxation of the interni it is \nfrequently necessary to tenotomize one or both \nof the external rectus muscles. \n\nSo great is the suspension under repression at \nthe near point that a myope of three dioptres or \nmore will be able to read comfortably at nine or \n\n\n\nI30 THE EYE MIND ENERGY AND MA TTER \n\nten inches with, say, plus three-dioptre glasses \ncombined with twenty to thirty degrees of prism \nbase in. The variations between prism and \nsphere will have to be determined clinically in \neach individual case. \n\nIf the acuity of vision of a myope be taken \nwithout glasses and he then be set to reading for \nfifteen minutes or more in repression glasses, on \nremoving them it will be observed that the acuity \nof vision is momentarily improved. It requires \npatience and persistence to arrive at permanent \ngood results. \n\nAstigmatism, or that condition in which the \nrefraction of the eye is different in various \nmeridians, disappears after correction of muscu- \nlar strain, showing that it is due to irregular \ntension in the extrinsic ocular muscles, which \ndistort the cornea by their irregular pull. \n\n\n\nThus, in a generalized way, we have set down \nthe experiences of a third of a century, which \nare but a suggestion of an exhaustless subject, \nnow in its beginning. Only the all-wise, self-suf- \nficient man is ready to quit, feeling that he has \nfinished. It is not such that make up the king- \ndom of heaven. It is in the renaissance that all \nmen are great. Life is superb when, as little \n\n\n\nAMETROPIA 131 \n\nchildren, we each day receive on the light wings \nof morning, in the sweet breath of dawn, some \nwelcome surprise from the infinite storehouse of \nGod. \n\n\n\n'