Spectacles.—To preserve the sight where it is found to be defective, it is not only necessary that the lenses should be exactly adapted to the defects of each eye taken separately, but that the distance of the centres of spectacle eyes should be exactly the same as that of the wearer’s eyes, and that they should be held at the right height to centre the eyes. Further, that they should fit the nose and face so as to keep them in a level position. Of course for this result the spectacles must be made to measurement by the skilled optician to fit the face. The optical defects are discovered for perfect correction for myopia and presbyopia by means of an instrument termed an optometer, which every professional optician possesses. There can scarcely be a greater mistake than picking up a pair of spectacles of a friend, or of an ordinary shopkeeper, who has no skill or appliances to properly test the sight. This is very often done, and spectacles are taken in use which appear to improve the sight slightly, but which ultimately increase optical defects.
Folding Glasses are often used in place of spectacles for elegance of appearance. No oculist recommends them, as from their weak structure it is impossible for them to be kept to correct form in wear. Mr. Stanley, whose advertisement appears in these pages, has invented a form of hand-glass, which is quite as light and elegant as the folding glass, which has the merit of keeping in a rigid form as certainly as ordinary spectacles. These for the best results have to be made to measure with all the care of a good pair of spectacles.
Protectors.—These protect weak eyes from excess of light, which is often very irritating, and from dust, which is injurious where there is any soreness. There are a great number of forms. Blue or smoky-grey is generally found to be most pleasant. In all cases these protectors should be well ventilated by wire gauze round the glass. They take many forms, to the fancy of the wearer. Their use should never be neglected by persons with weak eyes in sunny or dusty weather. The cheapest form have rubber bands attached to them so as to go round the head; these cannot be recommended, the rubber becomes permanently soft from the heat of the head. Steel frames are recommended.
Domestic Motors. Continued from p. [954].
Rider’s Household Pumping Engine.—Since our last edition was published a great improvement in these engines has been introduced by the makers. It consists in forming the furnace or fire-box in two parts, in such a manner that it can be swung apart, as shown in Fig. 218. The fire-pot or heater, which, being exposed to the fire, is naturally the most vulnerable part, can be replaced in a couple of hours, and the whole closed up ready for use as in Fig. 217. This improvement is the subject of a patent by J. C. R. Okes, 39, Queen Victoria Street.
The “Rider” Hot Air Engine has been before the public for many years, and is a thoroughly reliable machine, increasing in favour. It has been adopted by the Government for barrack water supply; by the Sultan of Turkey for his palaces, and is largely used in Australia, India, and other countries, besides in our own, where hundreds are in constant use.
The Bathroom. Continued from p. [847].
A well-made geyser is a great comfort. In that named the “Lightning” Geyser, made by Messrs. Ewart and Son, of Euston Road, London, not only is hot water obtained instantly at any time, but by reducing the quantity the temperature can be raised to boiling in a single minute. The taps are so arranged that whenever the flow of water ceases from any cause, the gas is instantly reduced, so that the geyser cannot be burnt, and the gas cannot be wasted. The advantages over the circulating system are that the installation is less costly, that a fire in the kitchen is not needed in order to have a hot bath, that boiling water for hot drinks can be had in a single minute, and hot water for bathing instantly at any hour of the night as well as during the day.
Messrs. Reid’s (69, St. Mary Axe, London) combined baths and fittings deserve special mention. By recent improvements these baths are practically self fixing; there is no cutting away of woodwork, the bath having only to be placed in position and the supply and waste pipes connected to the unions sent with same. These baths can be supplied for fixing with the usual casing, or decorated in any style to stand entirely without enclosure of any kind. Particulars of some of the above firm’s manufactures may be found on p. [989].