Father Castelli, thus deplores the calamity: "The
noblest eye which ever nature made is darkened —
an eye so privileged, and gifted with such rare
powers, that it may truly be said to have seen more
than the eyes of all that are gone, and to have
opened the eyes of all that are to come." — Althougb
the disease which rendered Milton blind — ^techni-
cally called " amaurosis," was probably the result of
overwork and a dyspeptic condition, still ihe worst



144 THE 9YiS. '

•

forms of this disease are dependent upon morbid
conditions of the brain, and ooeur freijaently alnong
those who have no occasion closely to apply their
eyes. It is, however, a resnlt which may occnr
from inattention to early symptoms, and persistence
in the use of the organ when diseased. The symp-
OeneraiiTmptonui toms nsually occur after some extra-
of ujury from ordinary^ effort, such as preparing a

long manuscript, incessant reading in
a fine print book, protracted application to some
kiijd of manufacture ; reading while lying in bed,
or in the cars ; but sometimes, they come on insidi-
ously or unexpectedly, and the person finds him-
self unable to use the eyes for a considerable period
without intermission. K he persists in their use,
pain is produced in the eyeball and over the brow,
and strong light becomes painful. Furthermore
the lids become diseased, and he is said to have
weak eyes. This condition is described under sev-
eral technical names. Without great imprudence,
if there is cessation of labor, evil results are not
usually to be apprehended. This is a disease that
belongs eminently to civilized society. It would
never occur in the native state, and is the result of
overwork. It usually happens to those who work



.OVtBWORK. 145

by artificial light Those most exposed to it are
literary people, scriveners, book-keep-

Persons most

ers, engravers, jewellers, chainmakers, uaweto injury
type-setters, watch-repairers, stitchers, fro™ overwork,
lapidaries, saddlers, exoferoiderers, draftsmen, and
artists. Its early symptoms should be well known,
because the disease may be arrested or prevented
by prompt attention to its earliest symptoms. 