The optical manual, or, handbook of instructions for the guidance of surgeons in testing the range and quality of vision of recruits and others seeking employment in the military services of Great Britain, and in distinguishing and dealing with optical defects among the officers and men already engaged in them / by T. Longmore.

  • Longmore, T. (Thomas), Sir, 1816-1895.
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The optical manual, or, handbook of instructions for the guidance of surgeons in testing the range and quality of vision of recruits and others seeking employment in the military services of Great Britain, and in distinguishing and dealing with optical defects among the officers and men already engaged in them / by T. Longmore. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    Austria.—The Austrian Recruiting Regulations of 1883 (In- struktion zur aerztlichen Untersucnung der Wehrpflichtigen,' Wien, 1883) give more precise directions as regards visual limits of fitness for military service than previous regulations on the subject. The necessary visual power (V.) which was before at the discretion of individual examiners, is fixed by them. It is mentioned in them that Snellen's types and objects, metrically numbered, have been introduced as sight-tests. Reduction of V., but leaving more than one-half of normal V., does not incapacitate men for military service who are fit in other respects ; reduction of V., but leaving more than ^ normal Y. in the right eye, accompanied by reduction of V. to less than ^, or even to |th of normal V. in the left eye, incapacitates for general military service, but does not incapacitate for the Purveying and Clothing Departments and certain other portions of the army ; reduction of V. to less than ^ in the better of the two eyes incapacitates for military service, but only after subsequent confirmation. M. with a distant point of distinct V. at 12 inches from the eye, or beyond, does not cause unfitness for military service, M. with a distant point limited to 8 inches, if V. is good, though rendering unfit for general military service, does not incapacitate for service as medical ofiicers, dispensers, in the clothing and administrative Departments, or as one-year volunteers. M. with a far point of 12 inches or less, if the man is able to read printed letters, or recog- nise figures of ^rd of a Vienna line in height and breadth at any distance from the eye when wearing concave 4-inch spectacles, determines unfitness for military service. If the man is able to read the test-objects under these conditions, he gives a positive proof that he is myopic beyond the limit of fitness, i.e., beyond ^\ th. If, although myopic, the man cannot read the print with the —4' spectacles, he is to be sent to a military hospital for further scientific examination. H. of such a degree that the man is able to read printed letters, or recognise other characters of 1 Vienna line in height, and of corresponding breadth at a distance of more than 12 inches from the eye when wearing + 6 spectacles unfits for service. Experience has proved that hypermetropic persons can comply with this test only when their H. is above ^th. If the hypermetrope cannot satisfy this test, further special examination is to be made at a military hospital. If H. is not so high in degree r^s ^th, it does not cause unfitness for military service. Strabismus affecting either eye, if its central visual power is less than ^ of normal V., determines unfitness ; strabismus affecting the left eye, if its visual power is more than ^ of normal V., does not cause unfitness for military service. ^ Belgrium.—The latest Belgian regulations determine that reduc- tion of V. in the right eye to Jrd of normal V. causes exemption from military service. Reduction of V. even below this limit in the left eye, by itself, does not cause exemption. Blindness of either eye causes unfitness for military service in the Belgian army.