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found to have no squint. The cases labelled as "amblyopia"
receive no actual squint training until the visual acuity has been
improved to 6/12 or better. Thirty cases received squint training
and of these 7 were cured; in 10 cases the treatment had not been
completed, some of them being in sight of cure. Considering the
high standard required before a case is considered cured and the
comparable results obtained at other clinics, the figure of 23 per
cent. is very gratifying.
Copy of Circular Letter to all Head-Teachers.
Children easily contract bad habits in reading and writing.
They tend to crouch over their books and get their heads down
when writing. Such habits are difficult to break.
There are several ways in which children fall into these bad
habits. Often it is a perverted form of hero-worship, the attitude
adopted being that of some school-fellow who is the subject of
admiration. Sometimes the children believe they will create an
appearance of studiousness and a favourable impression on their
teachers. Again, the child may have discovered that by getting
closer to print he/she obtains larger images and prefers this state
of affairs even though the outlines are not so clear. Many cases
are short-sighted, and cannot read or write in a proper position. Of
the cases mentioned, those who are not short-sighted will be able,
provided the habit has not become fixed and led to spasm of the
focussing muscles of the eyes, to read perfectly well when the book
is gradually withdrawn from their eyes. Such children do not
require an ophthalmic examination ; but those who, by reason of
myopia or spasm of their focussing muscles, cannot read when
usual print has reached a point of 24 inches from the eyes should be
referred to an oculist.
One of the evils that can effect children's eyes by close reading
and writing has already been indicated—spasm of the focussing
muscle which leads to abnormal congestion of the eyes and may
result in short-sight. Short-sighted eyes tend to become more shortsighted,
such tendency being increased by the lowered position of
the head.
It is a matter of prime importance that children, when reading
and writing, should be trained to sit in a position which does not
allow of the eyes being closer than 16 inches to the page.