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diff --git a/75415-h/75415-h.htm b/75415-h/75415-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4546144 --- /dev/null +++ b/75415-h/75415-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3291 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Spectacle Secrets | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; + text-indent: 1em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} + +hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} +table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; } + +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right; line-height: 1.5em;} +.tdc {text-align: center; line-height: 2em; padding-top: .5em;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; + color: #A9A9A9; +} /* page numbers */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 85%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: 1px dashed;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +/* uncomment the next line for centered poetry */ +.poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} +.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} +.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + +.fs70 {font-size: 70%} +.fs80 {font-size: 80%} +.fs90 {font-size: 90%} +.fs120 {font-size: 120%} +.fs200 {font-size: 200%} + +.no-indent {text-indent: 0em;} +.bold {font-weight: bold;} +.wsp {word-spacing: 0.3em;} + +/* Poetry indents */ +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3em;} +.poetry .indent1 {text-indent: -2.5em;} +.poetry .indent2 {text-indent: -2em;} + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp100 {width: 100%;} + +.column { + float: left; + width: 20%; +} + +/* Clear floats after the columns */ +.row:after { + content: ""; + display: table; + clear: both; +} + +.row {} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75415 ***</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 85%"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Cover"> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h1>SPECTACLE<br> +SECRETS.</h1> +<br> + +<p class="center no-indent fs120 wsp">BY GEORGE COX.</p> +<br> + +<hr class="r5"> +<p class="center no-indent bold fs90">SECOND EDITION.</p> +<hr class="r5"> +<br> + +<p class="center no-indent" style="line-height: 1.7em"><span class="fs120">LONDON:</span><br> +PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 128, HOLBORN HILL;<br> +<span class="fs70">AND SOLD BY</span><br> +COX, 100, NEWGATE STREET;<br> +HAMILTON, ADAMS, & CO., PATERNOSTER ROW;<br> +COX, 5, BARBICAN;<br> +<span class="fs70">AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS AND OPTICIANS.</span><br> +1844. +</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center no-indent fs70">BASINGSTOKE:—PRINTED BY ROBERT COTTLE.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="no1" style="max-width: 31.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/no1.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center no-indent">N<sup>o</sup>. 1.</p></figcaption> +</figure> +<br> +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="no2" style="max-width: 29.9375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/no2.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center no-indent">N<sup>o</sup>. 2.</p></figcaption> +</figure> +<br> +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="no3" style="max-width: 22.9375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/no3.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center no-indent">N<sup>o</sup>. 3.</p> + +<p class="center no-indent"><em>Anti Pressure</em></p> + +<p class="center no-indent"><em>Solid</em></p> + +<p class="center no-indent"><em>Blue Steel.</em></p></figcaption> +</figure> +<br> + +<div class="row"> +<div class="column figcenter"> + <img src="images/no4.jpg" alt="" style="width:60%"> +<p class="center no-indent fs80">N<sup>o</sup>. 4.</p> +</div> +<div class="column"> + <img src="images/no5.jpg" alt="" style="width:60%"> +<p class="center no-indent fs80">N<sup>o</sup>. 5.</p> +</div> +<div class="column"> + <img src="images/no6.jpg" alt="" style="width:60%"> +<p class="center no-indent fs80">N<sup>o</sup>. 6.</p> +</div> +<div class="column"> + <img src="images/no7.jpg" alt="" style="width:60%"> +<p class="center no-indent fs80">N<sup>o</sup>. 7.</p> +</div> +<div class="column"> + <img src="images/no8.jpg" alt="" style="width:60%"> +<p class="center no-indent fs80">N<sup>o</sup>. 8.</p> +</div> +</div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</span></p> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="PREFACE">PREFACE.</h2> +</div> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="no-indent"><span class="smcap">Every</span> effort of human ingenuity professing to remove or lessen +pain and inconvenience, is, naturally enough, hailed with approbation, +and the public require not so much to be aroused to estimate +fully the advantages proposed, as to be guarded against +implicit belief and heedless confidence in the value and importance +of the remedy. It is, however, of the utmost importance to be +accurately informed what kind of benefit we may fairly expect +from the use of the given means, and to what extent this benefit +may be obtained; and yet the man who steps forward to state +this plainly and fairly, too often fails of the success which his +undertaking deserves. Experience proves that such endeavours +have been contemned by some, looked upon with cold indifference +by others, and viewed with suspicion by nearly all. We are too +apt to suspect interested motives, to doubt the sincerity, and +undervalue the abilities of men, who have devoted their lives, and +the force of their talents, to a particular pursuit; and then, as +though this cunning incredulity was closely allied to implicit credence +in the wildest chimeras, we become ready listeners, and +passive victims, to pompous and plausible charlatans, who make +the largest promises, alike indifferent to the practicability or usefulness +of their specifics. “It is a great mistake,” said an able +English statesman of the last century, “to suppose men harmless +because they are blockheads; the dunce thinks neither of country +nor of consequences in the pursuit of his petty interests and passions, +which may, and often do, lead him to work the greatest +public calamities.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</span></p> + +<p>I have refrained from advancing any crude theoretical opinions, +which might fairly be questioned. The information conveyed +in these pages is of a practical character; has stood the purifying +test of time; and, being based upon the immutable principles of +optical science, courts every enquiry and challenges all investigation.</p> + +<p>My object has been to provide the public with a compendium of +sound and standard information on this most interesting and +essential subject, in order that, possessing themselves of the +truth, and becoming conversant with the real merits of the question, +they may no longer be the victims of ignorant, designing, +and knavish speculators, who so mercilessly practise on their +credulity. I have freely availed myself of facts and observations +with which I have become familiar in the course of my own +experience and connexion with an establishment of more than +one hundred years’ standing, and, at the same time, have endeavoured +to condense in one publication the essence of many voluminous +treatises.</p> + +<p>“It is only by condensing, simplifying, and arranging in the +most lucid manner possible, the acquired knowledge of past +generations, that those to come can be enabled to avail themselves +to the full of the advanced point from which they will start.”</p> + +<p>I have only to add, that though I would not desire to offend the +critical acumen of any of my readers, yet, having but little leisure, +and those moments of rest being snatched from the busy whirl +of commercial pursuits, I have been much more anxious to give +solid information in language universally understood, and divested +of technicalities, than to employ nice set terms, chosen to please +the critic’s curious ear.</p> + +<p class="right fs120"> +GEORGE COX.<br> +</p> +<br> + +<p>The first edition of this work having found a ready sale, spite +of all the opposition and abuse lavished against it by the itinerant +<em>opticians</em>, I have reprinted it with such improvements as the kindness +of friends and my own experience have suggested.</p> + +<p> +128, <span class="smcap">Holborn Hill, London</span>,<br> +<span style="padding-left: 3em"><em>January, 1844</em>.</span><br> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="Reviewers_Opinions_of_this_Work">Reviewers’ Opinions of this Work.</h2> +</div> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p>“The information which this little book contains is really very +good and very applicable to the instruction both of the short-sighted, +who never reflect before they buy, and of the very long-sighted, +who, from excess of cunning in the search of great bargains, +are, like our friend Moses in the Vicar of Wakefield, open to very +<em>gross</em> impositions in the matter of spectacles and their very <em>chagrin</em> +cases. Those who are not opticians or oculists will do well to read +the book before they commit themselves in the purchase of glasses +either from itinerant or stationary quacks. But this is not all: +though a simple monograph of the frauds of one trade, the book +may be generalized into “a manual of the whole art of puffing,” +and an exposure of the silly credulity of the public in all its +branches. Mr. Cox also discloses some of the machinery of newspaper +puffing in a way which almost tempts us to claim it as “our +thunder,” it is so much in unison with our published opinions on +the subject.”</p> + +<p class="right"> +<cite>Athenæum.</cite><br> +</p> + +<p>“In this well-written work Mr. Cox has given a popular description +of the eye, and the adaptation of spectacles to correct +constitutional defects or organic disease: by attention to a few +simple rules which he lays down, any one may effectually fortify +himself against the artful representations of dishonest dealers in +spectacles “made to sell.” The public is indebted to Mr. Cox +for having exposed the tricks of the insidious marauders in several +towns in which they were practising their impositions, and his +tract contains some correspondence between him and several eminent +surgeons, from which it appears that they had been represented +as vouching for pretended improvements in spectacles, of +which they either knew nothing at all, or with regard to which they +themselves had been deceived by the fraudulent pretenders.”</p> + +<p class="right"> +<cite>Christian Advocate.</cite><br> +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</span></p> + +<p>“This is a useful little work, treating on a subject of universal +importance—namely, defining the laws by which deficiency of sight +can be assisted, founded on scientific principles, and aided by extensive +observation in a long practice; we would recommend a perusal +of the pamphlet to such as are about to seek the aid of the +maker of spectacles.”</p> + +<p class="right"> +<cite>Morning Advertiser.</cite><br> +</p> + +<p>“This little <em>brochure</em> is correct, ingenious, and useful: moreover, +it is valuable as exposing the gross ignorance, impostures, +and frauds of Jews, pedlars, and other locomotive quacks. The +humbug of <em>amber</em> spectacles, <em>coloured</em> pebbles, clarified crystals, +&c., is here thoroughly exploded. Altogether the information in +this pamphlet is well deserving of attention.”</p> + +<p class="right"> +<cite>Aldine Magazine.</cite><br> +</p> + +<p>“An amusing exposure of the puffing and swindling systems +pursued by some self-styled opticians, from which besides may be +gathered a good deal of sound, practical information.”</p> + +<p class="right"> +<cite>Era.</cite><br> +</p> + +<p>“If every body’s sight were impaired, we should strongly hope +that this little treatise would become universally known; but as +we have reason to believe there are some people in the world who +can see a little, we shall only address ourselves to the former, to +whom we can confidently recommend the perusal of this talented +work. Besides a great deal of necessary and sound information +on the use and nature of spectacles, we find a number of <em>exposés</em> +of the tricks pursued by many unprincipled persons styling themselves +opticians, which is put forth by the author in a very distinct +manner.”</p> + +<p class="right"> +<cite>Blackwood’s Lady’s Magazine.</cite><br> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</h2> +</div> + +<hr class="r5"> + + +<table class="autotable"> +<tr> +<td class="tdc" colspan="2">CHAPTER I.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdr fs70">Page.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Invention of Spectacles and Burning Glasses</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Examination of Opticians—Artful Impositions</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_2">2</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Duke of Wellington and the Bubble Schemes</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_4">4</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Basis of Optical Knowledge—Physiology of the Eyes</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_6">6</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdc" colspan="2">CHAPTER II.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Failure of Sight and the Application of Spectacles</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_10">10</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Lenses—how to determine their Focal Lengths</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Brazil Pebbles—Periscopic and Parallel Lenses—Process of</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Working—Tests of Quality—and Experiment</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_14">14</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Railroad Spectacles—Neutral Tint Shades</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Country-made Spectacles—Trial Box of Sight</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdc" colspan="2">CHAPTER III.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Visit to the Optician—Rules for selecting Spectacles</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Spectacle Frames—Russian Remedy for Short Sight</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Solid Blue Steel Spectacles</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_26">26</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Anti-pressure Spectacles—Single Eye Glasses injurious</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Prices of Spectacles</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdc" colspan="2">CHAPTER IV.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Specious Quackery—Testimonial Writers</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_30">30</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Amber Spectacles analysed—Puffing Advertisement</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_33">33</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Opinions of Dr. Neill Arnott, Dollond, Curtis, &c.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Absurdity and Ignorance of Puffing Advertisers,</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdc" colspan="2">CHAPTER V.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Instances of Gross Imposition—Clarified Crystals and Coloured Pebbles!</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Naval and Military Officers—Definition of Law</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_39">39</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Ladies and Spectacles—Persevering Roguery</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">An Old Clothes Man Metamorphosed</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdc" colspan="2">CHAPTER VI.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Specimens of Puffing Advertisements,</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Royal Patronage—Cataract Alarmists</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Abstract of Act of Parliament</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_46">46</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Newspaper Paragraphs,</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdc" colspan="2">CHAPTER VII.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Provincial and Metropolitan Scheming</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Public Cautions—Tricks at Brighton</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Liverpool Mercury—Parabolic Cheats</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_60">60</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdc" colspan="2">CHAPTER VIII.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Correspondence with the Duke of Wellington</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">—— Frederick Tyrell, Esq. J. Hodson, Esq.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Signatures of J. Soden, Esq., J. F. Ledsam, Esq., —— Alexander, Esq.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Correspondence with Robert Keate, Esq.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Pretended Discoveries, Humorous Scraps, &c.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_66">66</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p> + +<p class="center no-indent fs200 bold wsp">SPECTACLE SECRETS.</p> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</h2> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“Science should be stripped of every thing that tends to clothe it +in a strange and repulsive garb, and especially every thing that, to +keep up an appearance of superiority in its professors over the rest of +mankind, assumes an unnecessary guise of profundity and obscurity, +should be sacrificed without mercy.”—<span class="smcap">Sir I. F. W. Herschel.</span></p> +</div> + +<p class="no-indent"><span class="smcap">Spectacles</span> and side-saddles, we are quaintly informed, +became common in England in the reign of Richard the +Second. The ancients, however, knew the power of +burning-glasses, and one cunning rogue, we are told, +discovered a new way to pay old debts, by means of a +round stone or glass used in lighting of fires, with which +he melted the bond, written, as usual in those days, on +wax. Their burning glasses were spheres, either solid +or full of water, their foci were consequently very short +and confused. A long interval occurred before spectacles +were constructed, and three hundred years elapsed +between the invention of spectacles and telescopes.</p> + +<p>Our eyes should have our nicest and most tender<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span> +care, since it is by them we are familiarized with objects +of the most exquisite interest and beauty, abounding on +the earth we inhabit, and in the starry firmament above +us:—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“My soul, while Nature’s beauties feast mine eyes,</div> + <div class="verse indent1">To Nature’s God contemplative shall rise.”—<span class="smcap">Dodsley.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="no-indent">The faculty of sight should be estimated and regarded +by us with more than ordinary care, when we reflect that +it is the medium through which the most exalted and +gratifying impressions are received; and our watchful +regard to its healthful preservation and agreeable exercise +is the more required from the consideration, that +while to its admirable organization and delicate sense +of perception we stand so much indebted, those very +qualities render it extremely sensitive to injudicious +treatment.</p> + +<p>It would be a wholesome, fair, and proper regulation, +to restrain all from practising as opticians but those +practically conversant with the production and application +of lenses for the purpose of aiding the exercise of +sight. It is considered indispensable for the surgeon +and medical practitioner to prepare for his profession by +a course of study, reading, and practical operations, and +to be subjected to an ordeal where his capabilities are +examined and tested. Such an arrangement, though it +<em>may</em> sometimes be abused, guarantees to us practitioners +who understand their duties; and thus are the many +“ills which human flesh is heir to” alleviated and subdued, +while those unfortunates who are practised upon +by the empiric and miracle-monger, have their calamities +aggravated, and their sufferings increased.</p> + +<p>It is a question often mooted, how far it is the duty +of a just and equal government to interfere in such<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span> +cases for the protection of its subjects: this, however, is +evident, that whatever restrictive laws are framed, if +they are attempted to be enforced while a want of information +prevails upon the subject, the very people for +whose benefit and protection they are introduced, will, +likely enough, view them with distrust and suspicion, and, +until the imposition has been unmasked, will look upon +those who have assumed characters not their own, as +persecuted individuals, entitled to their sympathy rather +than their detestation. It is by diffusing information, +and clearing away obscurity, that we shall erect the best +safeguard against delusion. Those who are ignorant +are consequently credulous, superstitious, and undefended +against the tricks and subtleties of the artful and +designing.</p> + +<p>If a book is published, our opinion is almost insensibly +influenced by what the reviewers say of it. If a new +association, a company, or enterprise of any kind is +projected, we look to the list of directors, committee, and +patrons. Our education and universal custom induces +us to pay deference to those whom we suppose to be +possessed of superior information, to be men of character +and reputation, and entitled, from their position in +society, to be regarded with respect.</p> + +<p>These legitimate feelings have been so poisoned and +tampered with by those who have designedly entered into +a conspiracy to hoodwink the people, and share the +plunder; and again by the hardly less criminal apathy of +others, who, without dividing the spoil, have suffered the +trickery to pass unexposed; that professional and literary +men cannot but perceive distrust and want of +confidence in their decisions, now becoming general +among the reflecting and intelligent classes of society,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span> +who see that they have been trifled with, and treated as +credulous dupes, and that they really have no guarantee +for the merits of a production, the purity of a proposal, or +the honesty or propriety of any measure to which distinguished +names and lofty patronage are appended. The +exposé of the practices of the railway, mining, and other +bubble schemes illustrates this truth; and the secrets +elicited during the discussion on Mr. Serjeant Talfourd’s +Copyright Bill, clearly demonstrate how infamously the +confidence of “a generous public” has been abused.<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<p>The great and benevolent men who existed before us, +and devoted their time and contemplations to the interesting +science of optics, have fully and clearly demonstrated +the laws which regulate the action of light, the +cause and effect of luminous phenomena, and the principles +upon which vision depends. We have the conclusive<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span> +and unvarying results of their numberless experiments, +performed under every modification of circumstances, +to guide us in establishing principles and rules +of action, which the studious and practical opticians of +our own times have tested, and, ascertaining them to be +free from error, now adopt and act upon them.</p> + +<p>The captious and consequential may complain of this +admission, as tending to detract from the importance with +which they might otherwise be regarded; but the optician, +who deserves that name, is not anxious to array himself +in borrowed plumage, nor to appropriate as his own that +which rightfully belongs to others. Granted that we +act upon settled and incontrovertible philosophical principles, +is it not infinitely more gratifying to have the +assurance of a correct result, than to be for ever experimentalizing +without arriving at a satisfactory conclusion? +The skilful surgeon and the talented engineer are guided +in their operations by certain fixed and universal laws, +yet no one will dispute that to perform the duties of +either of those professions requires much application, +skill, and expertness. Precisely so with the optician of +the present day. He has fixed, universal, and certain data +for his operations; and it is upon his intimate knowledge +of these, and the careful and judicious application of +them, that his success depends.</p> + +<p>When the healthy powers of vision begin to fail, we +feel a tender and anxious concern to perpetuate the +enjoyment we find to be so intimately dependent upon +the uninterrupted exercise of sight, and are instinctively +led to seek for a remedy. Much mischief will be +avoided, and misapprehension removed, if we consider +that in applying artificial aid to the eye, we have to do with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span> +one of our most sensitive and easily deranged organs. +The human eye is composed of a series of humours and +membranes: the outer coating, called the <em>sclerotica</em> (<em>a</em>), +see <em>Plate, Fig. <a href="#no1">1</a></em>, is exceedingly strong, and the muscles +which move the eye are attached to it; the white of the +eye is a portion of this coating. The <em>cornea</em> (<em>b</em>) arches +out or projects from the eye-ball; it is transparent, and +of a circular form. The next coating to the sclerotica +is called the <em>choroides</em> (<em>c</em>); it has no muscular motion +except at its extremities, near the front of the eye. The +<em>iris</em> (<em>d</em>) is next apparent; it attaches itself to the sclerotica +by a cellular substance called the <em>ciliary circle</em> (<em>e</em>). +According to the colour of the iris the eye is termed +black, blue, hazel, &c. It is composed of two sets of +muscular fibres, the one tending, like radii, towards a +centre, the other forming a number of circles concentric +with the same centre. The aperture in the iris is +called the <em>pupil</em> (<em>f</em>); it is always round, but varies in +diameter as the radial or the circular fibres of the iris +are contracted or expanded, according to the quantity +and quality of light it is required to admit, acting like a +watchful centinel to regulate the amount of rays requisite +to transmit a perfect and well-defined image of objects +onwards to the brain, which, without its agency, would +appear one undistinguishable mass of confusion. The +chamber of the eye is darkened by the posterior surface +of the choroid membrane having a lining of dark-coloured +mucus, called the <em>pigmentum nigrum</em>. The last coating +of the eye is the <em>retina</em> (<em>g</em>), a delicate and most important +membrane in the construction of this noble instrument; +it is an expansion of the <em>optic nerve</em> (<em>h</em>), directly +emanating from the brain; and is spread like a net of +exquisite delicacy all over the surface of the choroides,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span> +terminating at the ciliary ligament. It receives the +images of objects by means of the rays of light that enter +at the pupil; it is transparent, but appears black on +account of the dark pigmentum behind it. The optic +nerve passes through a small aperture in the “<em>architectural +dome</em>” containing the eye, and it conveys the +impressions made on the retina into the depository of the +brain, where the “very form and spirit of the scene is +now conceived.” It is situated a little on one side of +the centre of the eye, inclining towards the nose.</p> + +<p>To describe more minutely the various fibres, humours, +and ciliary processes of the eye, or to enter more fully +into its anatomical arrangement, would be incompatible +with the design of this publication, which is intended for +the “general reader,” and therefore so simplified as that +it is hoped he cannot fail to understand. The three +transparent humours enclosed by the coats of the eye, +viz., the <em>aqueous</em> (<em>i</em>), the <em>chrystalline</em> (<em>k</em>), and the +<em>vitreous</em> (<em>l</em>), are, however, too important to be passed +over without some notice. The aqueous (<em>i</em>) humour it +is which gives a protuberant figure to the cornea (<em>b</em>); it +has a refractive power, similar to that of water, which it +also resembles in appearance. The chrystalline (<em>k</em>) +humour is more transparent than the purest chrystal; +its form is that of a double convex lens, which it also +resembles in its use, as it converges the rays which pass +through it, from every visible object to its focus on the +retina. It is suspended in a fine transparent sheathing. +The shape or convexity of this natural lens alters occasionally, +and shifts a little backwards or forwards in the +eye, so as to adapt its focal distance from the retina +to the different distances of objects. The vitreous +humour is situated at the back of the chrystalline, filling<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span> +nearly three-fourths of the globe of the eye; it is surrounded +by a thin capsule, which sends off a number of +membranous processes into the vitreous substance, where +they form cells, which, communicating with each other, +give a high degree of firmness and tenacity to the whole.</p> + +<p><em>Fig. <a href="#no2">2</a>.</em> represents the eye at the time when spectacles +are required, the cornea, or the chrystalline, or both, +having lost a part of their natural convexity, consequent +upon age or constitutional weakness. An object placed +at the same distance from the eye as in the perfect eye, +(<em>Fig. <a href="#no1">1</a></em>), has the focus carried beyond the retina. A +convex lens applied to the eye compensates for this loss +of capacity, and, converging the rays, corrects the focal +distance, and the image is now imprinted naturally on +the retina. The reverse of this takes place in the case +of the short-sighted; the humours being <em>more</em> convex +than in the perfect eye, the rays converge in a focus +<em>before</em> they reach the retina. A concave lens carries +the focus further on, and, by its aid, an object will be +depicted perfectly on the retina.</p> + +<p>No. 4 represents a plano convex lens—5, a double +convex—6, a plano concave—7, a double concave—8, +a periscopic or meniscus lens.</p> + +<p>What grandeur and sublimity of contrivance is here +blended with simplicity of action and power of expression! +How indispensable to a full appreciation of the +bounties of nature and the beauties of art by which we +are surrounded! To be deficient of this heavenly gift is +truly to have “wisdom at one entrance quite shut out.”</p> + +<p>Surely every consideration should influence us to +treat this invaluable faculty with judicious care, instead +of allowing it to be tortured and trifled with by the +ignorant and unprincipled.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></p> + +<p>Having surveyed the general construction, and glanced +at the inimitable mechanism of those windows of the +soul, we shall be better prepared to understand the +reasoning, and to comprehend the principles upon which +the science of optics is based. Those of my readers +who have leisure to pursue this subject, will find new +light, and more convincing illustrations attend their +enquiry at every step. It is a subject abounding in +beauty and interest, introducing us to new regions of +sublimity and grandeur, where the contemplative mind +will assuredly find “ample scope and verge enough” to +gratify its most exalted anticipations. We have seen +the admirable, yet at the same time delicate contrivances +by which the functions of the eyes are performed. +It cannot fail to have occurred to us, that a +machine so beautiful and complete is liable to derangement +and improper treatment by the wayward and the +ignorant. If it is desirable that a person possessed of +a well-constructed watch should understand its general +action, and know what treatment it should have to +keep it in sound and underanged order, still more +essential is it that every individual should possess a +clear and familiar knowledge of the nature of vision, +and understand the requirements of the eyes. I cannot +forbear indulging a sanguine hope that the circulation +of this little manual will open the eyes of its readers to +the simple facts of the case, and animate them to +think and judge for themselves, instead of giving a +ready ear to the marvellous and ridiculous tales, which, +though, like the sailor’s tough yarn, so often told that the +cheat believes them himself, are nevertheless utterly +devoid of truth.</p> +<br> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> In the month of August, 1838, the solicitor to the Duke of +Wellington waited upon Sir Frederick Roe, at Bow-street, in reference +to the use which had been made of his grace’s name by +“The London Equitable Loan Company.” A gentleman, who +was desirous of purchasing shares in the company, seeing the Duke +of Wellington mentioned as patron, and that the account of the +company was kept with the Bank of England, wrote to the Duke +to ascertain if it were true that he was connected with the concern? +The duke never had consented to become a patron, but, on the +contrary, when asked to do so, answered that he was so situated +that he could not comply with their request. On receiving the +communication the duke wrote to Sir F. Roe, to see what could be +done to guard the public against any transaction which might be +entered into in consequence of the use made of his name; and in +answer to a letter written by him to the Bank of England, he was +informed “that no such company was known there, nor had +they any account of the London Equitable Loan Company.” The +publicity given to this manœuvre has no doubt saved many a +family from enthralment and destitution.</p> + +</div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span></p> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</h2> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“The subject is of universal importance, since every man, +woman, and child in the empire will probably require optical +assistance.”—<span class="smcap">Abbott.</span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="no-indent"><span class="smcap">The</span> eyes, when in a sound and healthy state, instinctively +adjust themselves at a distance of twelve inches +from a book or paper, when they are observing the +same. This distance is found to be most natural and +agreeable; for when we extend it to sixteen, twenty, or +thirty inches, the chrystalline lens is stimulated to keep +a distinct and clear perception, until, as the distance +increases, the object becomes less and less perceptible. +When we are compelled to extend this natural distance, +experience difficulty in reading small characters, or find +it necessary to get more light on what we are observing, +we may safely conclude that artificial assistance is +needed, and that, judiciously applied, the tendency to +decay will be mildly arrested.</p> + +<p>The design of spectacles is to supply the loss of +power which is experienced by the eyes at different +periods of life, and arising from various causes. These +productions of art are constructed with a close observance +to, and act upon, the same principles as those by +which the process of vision is regulated.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p> + +<p>Spectacles ought not to do more than maintain or +preserve to us the capability of seeing at the natural +distance. This is, in fact, all they are intended to +effect. When the chrystalline lens of the eye, losing +its convexity, fails to converge the rays of light, and +bring them to their natural focus on the retina, an +artificial lens, of suitable convexity, supplies to it this +capability, and compensates for its gradual diminution +of capacity. Thus lenses for assisting the sight are +fashioned upon the optical principles so apparent in the +mechanism of the eye itself, which, it will be observed, +is neither round nor flat, but of that nicely moulded +convexity which is indispensable for the performance of +its functions. If lenses were either spheres or planes +they likewise would be ineffective for the purpose +proposed.</p> + +<p>There is not any material in existence beside pebble +and glass, which is calculated for spectacle purposes. +The pretended “improvements,” “pellucid lenses,” +“refractive transparencies,” “patent amber,” “chrystal +preservers,” &c., are new-fangled terms, coined to entrap +the uninitiated.<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>Convex lenses are produced by a series of operations +through which a glass or pebble passes, as shaping out +from the rough piece, affixing them to the block or<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span> +frame on which they are worked, grinding their surfaces +to the form and focus required, in brass or iron tools of +the curvature or radius corresponding. Thus to produce +a glass or pebble of any given focal length, we +use a tool which is a portion of a sphere or globe of +four, five, ten, or any other given radius, or half its diameter. +For spectacles usually required, the focus of the +pebble or glass, thus fashioned, varies from sixty inches +down to five inches. The focus of a convex or magnifying +glass is ascertained very readily, thus: hold the +lens near to a white surface, as a sheet of writing +paper, pinned to the side of the apartment opposite to +the window; shift the lens gently backwards and forwards, +until the objects before it, as the window frames, +flower pots, or the Venetian blinds, are seen inverted +upon the paper, clearly and distinctly measure the distance +from the paper to the lens, and this distance is the +focus: or, by placing a candle at the distance of twelve +feet from the paper, and measuring, as before, when the +reflected image of the flame is shown most accurately on +the paper, we again have the focus denoted. The one +method is as much practised as the other; though, in +ordering a lens of a given focus, I would recommend a +person always to state the method by which he has +determined the focus; whether by the sun, or candlelight, +which will prevent any mistake arising from the +disparity between the two plans pursued.</p> + +<p>Concave lenses are made upon the same principle, and +pass through similar processes. They are designated +by numbers, thus: a concave lens, worked in a tool of +four-inch radius, is termed No. 12; five-inch, No. 10; +ten-inch, No. 6. &c.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span></p> + +<p>To determine the radius or focus of a concave lens, +apply to its surface a convex lens of the same focus, +and holding the two together as one glass, between the +thumb and finger, at some distance before the eye, give +the hand a gentle motion to and fro, and if the objects +looked at through the lenses now in contact appear +fixed, equal, and of their natural size, then is the focus +of the one correspondent to that of the other; but if +the convex lens is not of the same focal length as the +concave to which it is thus applied, then all objects +looked upon will appear to shake and have a tremulous +motion.</p> + +<p>Another method of ascertaining whether one concave +lens is of the same number, and worked in tools of the +same radius as another, is to hold one in each hand, +placing their edges against each other, with their centres +in a parallel line; now withdraw ten or twelve feet from +the window, and observe the top and bottom bars of a +square of glass: if they appear equal and uniform in all +their parts, parallel to each other, and agreeing with the +other squares in the window, then are they of the same +radius; but if they do not match, the bars will appear +disjointed, and higher or lower in one square than in the +other. The trial box of sights will be found very useful +in making these experiments.</p> + +<p>Brazil pebbles, or crystallized quartz, are imported to +this country in rough blocks; these are cut or slit, by +the aid of pulverized diamond, into slabs or pieces, of +the diameter required. Those pieces in which bubbles, +waves, or blemishes appear, are thrown aside by the +optician who is tenacious of his fair fame, as their imperfections +become more apparent in every after-stage of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span> +their progress; and when polished, centred, and shaped +for the spectacle-frame, they are really improper to be used +at all; nevertheless, the needy, or dishonest, rather than +lose a fraction of their gains, often persist in working up +such imperfect material, and harping upon their being +pebble—real pebble—palm them off upon the uninitiated +as genuine articles. Pebbles have the following important +advantages: they are of equal density, and +exceedingly hard, firm, and clear; their surfaces are not +liable to become misty or scratched (which circumstance +alone often compels a change of glasses): they are of a +pure, cool nature, and shew this contrast to glass (which +is, on the contrary, produced by the action of artificial +heat) in the touch of the finger or tongue to their +surfaces.<a id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> They are, in consequence of these properties, +calculated to suit the sight for a longer period than +glass; but they need not be thrown aside, when, from +the indications already referred to, we find an increase of +magnifying power is required, as they can be re-worked +readily enough to meet the requirement of the eyes, and +at an expense scarcely more than a new pair of glasses, +or about one-third of their original cost. The directions +for ascertaining the focus of concave or convex pebbles, +are the same as described for concave or convex glasses.</p> + +<p>This consideration should weigh with those who are +apt to be misled by the pretensions of the unprincipled; +for pebbles have, in common with many other crystals,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span> +a double refracting property, which, if the pebble is cut +carelessly, exhibits itself by painfully affecting the vision; +two objects, instead of one, are seen, causing a confused +and agitating sense of indistinctness, which, in proportion +to the exertion of the eye to overcome it, is the more +tiresome and distressing. Such faulty and blemished +articles, technically called <em>wasters</em>, are refused by the +optician of any real respectability and character, but are +eagerly bought up by those venders, whose object is to +purchase what costs them the least money, alike ignorant +of, and indifferent to, any other consideration.</p> + +<p>Pebbles, therefore, like all the precious stones, which, +in fact, are crystals, cannot be properly cut or sliced +except in a parallel direction to their natural faces.</p> + +<p>Periscopic or meniscus lenses were introduced in the +year 1770, and revived at a later period by Dr. Wollaston. +Their properties were investigated by many scientific +persons, and again candidly examined by Mr. W. Jones; +yet, notwithstanding the oblivion to which they were +consigned by the universal consent of practical opticians, +they are still foisted on the public, under various disguises, +and embellished with sundry new appellations. +They are concave on one side, and convex on the other, +the inner and outer curve differing, in order to produce a +focus. When placed in the spectacle-frame, their convex +surface is always from the eye; this necessarily exposes +their centres to be rubbed and scratched. The +halo, or aberration of light, is greater in lenses of this +form than in any other. This can be easily proved by +placing a double convex, and a periscopic lens, each of +the same diameter and focus, say one-and-a-half inch diameter, +and three or four inch focus, edgeways together.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span> +Let the image of a lighted candle be thrown against a +white wall or paper, in a dark situation, through the +two lenses, and it will be conspicuously seen that the +periscopic lens exhibits this dazzling indistinctness, +while in the double convex lens it is scarcely perceptible.</p> + +<p>Parallel or flat surface lenses are produced from tools +perfectly level, and without any curvature. For spectacle +purposes their only use is as shades or shields for the +eye, to protect it from the effects of bright and dazzling +objects, dust, and wind. They are, however, indispensable +in the construction of sextants, artificial horizons, +and other mathematical instruments.</p> + +<p>Spectacles for travelling by rail-road, on the old +beaten path, or by vessels, are usually fitted with parallel +glasses, unless the wearer requires focal power as well +as a screen, in which case they are of the concave or +convex figure, before explained. Almost every combination +of light and shade has been used for this class +of spectacles; violet, grey, blue, green, crape, wove +wire, &c.; but some sensitive and tender eyes failed to +receive the relief expected from any of these, and +opticians have been repeatedly baffled in their attempts +to produce a shade of glass congenial to the requirements +of the eye under such circumstances. I have +made extensive use of the new neutral tint, or twilight +tinge glass, and find it most agreeable to the eye while +employing it, and when removed, it leaves the vision +undisturbed by the flickering and confused halo so much +complained of after wearing other coloured glasses. +The cause of this superiority is clearly seen when we +remember that, after taking off a pair of green glass<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span> +spectacles, every object appears of a red colour, while, +upon the removal of blue colours, an orange or yellow +mantle seems to rest on all which meets the view.</p> + +<p>It is of consequence that all such glasses should be +really parallel, otherwise a broken and disjointed appearance +will be given to objects, the rays of light being +abruptly dispersed instead of being transmitted through +the transparent medium to the eye, in their natural +direction. I have always discountenanced the use of +wire, gauze, crape, and muslin substitutes for glass, +because, in my opinion, it is a fallacy to assert that they +are cooler and more agreeable to the eye. There is abundant +space for the circulation of air in the region of the +eye if the spectacle-frame adapts itself pleasantly to the +wearer’s face; while the eye and common sense may +answer together, that to look on things around us, a +transparent medium is preferable to a hazy and indistinct +one. We do not choose bars and gratings, or coarse +curtains, in preference to glass, for the windows of +apartments; but if the light is sometimes too intense, +we place a shade to soften its dazzling effects. Such +precisely is the reason why tinted glass spectacles, for +defending the eyes from rain, dust, and wind, are recommended.</p> + +<p>Lenses worked by machinery are produced in greater +quantities, within a given time, than those worked by +hand. They are passed through the different stages of +grinding and polishing without having the keen eye of +the workman carefully watching their progress, and +adjusting the inequalities in their surfaces or edges, +which will always appear more or less in the course of +working.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span></p> + +<p>The price at which competition demands those lenses +shall be rendered, operates against the wearer of spectacles; +for the producer cannot afford to throw aside such +as are faulty, and the wholesale agent and retail dispenser +cannot expect to have, at the low price charged, +lenses which will bear a critical examination; and thus +all which can possibly be used are thrust into frames of +one kind or other, from the common iron or horn sold +by the poor hawkers at sixpence, eightpence, and +one shilling per pair, to the more expensive frames; +while many faulty glasses, after being dubbed with some +ear-tickling appellation, and imbibing extraordinary +“light-modifying and refractive virtues,” by passing +into the hands of the hawker of a higher class, are +palmed upon the unfortunate spectacle-purchasers who +are simple enough to give credence to the wondrous +tale.</p> + +<p>Women and children are chiefly employed to cut +and edge those cheap glasses to the spectacle-frames; +and who can expect they should do them better for the +price? And if one glass should be unequally thick, like +a wedge, while its companion in the same spectacles is +miserably thin; or if the centres, instead of being equidistant +from all parts of the rim are nipped into a +corner; how <em>can</em> you feel surprised when you consider +that for them to earn a living, it is necessary they should +finish several dozen pairs per day, and therefore, expedition, +rather than excellence, is the point at which they +aim? In many departments, where machinery has +supplanted manual labour, the work produced is of a +superior character, and will bear more critical examination; +but the contrary is the fact in the case of machine-worked<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span> +optical glasses, and is more especially apparent +in such as are intended for microscopic and achromatic +purposes. It cannot be denied that, for all such uses, +lenses worked by hand, with the ordinary care of a skilful +workman, as much excel those produced by machinery, +as the accurate and scientific touch of the artist +eclipses the random splash of the plasterer.</p> + +<p>The trial box, or frame of sights, ranging from the +slightest focal power down to the deepest, is a very +useful apparatus, both for the optician and his patient. +It consists of eight or nine spectacle-fronts, clamped +together at one end by a rivet, on which they are yet +free to move. The focus of each pair is stamped on the +front. They are enclosed by a pair of lids, which forms +a handle, to be held by the hand, while one front after +another is placed before the eyes, to determine what +focus yields the desired assistance. This being ascertained, +and having noted down the power we find to +suit most naturally, as explained when treating of convex +lenses, page <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, we have only to determine what style +of mounting we prefer, and whether we will have +glasses or pebbles, for the optician to suit us at once +with lenses adapted to the sight, and mountings fitting +pleasantly to the head. If an interview with the optician +is impracticable, it will be ensuring greater accuracy, to +mention the exact distance, measured as a straight line +from the centre of the pupil of one eye to that of the +other; and if the nose, on the bridge between the eyes, +is flat or prominent, broad or narrow, since spectacles, +suiting the sight most accurately, are frequently an +annoyance, rather than an assistance, to the wearer, +from these particulars being unheeded.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span></p> + +<p>Two trial boxes comprise the range of convex sight, +one for young persons, and those who require spectacles +for the first, second, or third time; the other for those +eyes which have been long accustomed to spectacles, or +from some constitutional or sudden cause, need those of +strong magnifying power. The third box contains concave +lenses, ranging from No. 1 to 12, which are the +sights chiefly wanted, although, in extraordinary cases, +No. 13, 14, and even 20, have been required.</p> + +<p>Although, throughout this treatise, I have endeavoured +to convince my readers that they may and ought +mainly to determine for themselves, yet I would recommend +a visit to the optician, where it is practicable, in +preference to a description of the case; for the same +reason that the best written statement of a patient’s +malady, sent to a physician, does not afford him that +familiar acquaintance with the case which an interview +of a few minutes would supply.</p> +<br> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">[2]</a> The manufacture of glass was known very early, but glass +perfectly transparent and colourless was reckoned so valuable, that +Nero is said to have given a sum equal to £25 for two moderate +sized colourless drinking glasses.—<cite>Starke’s Oriental Letters.</cite></p> + +<p>Glass for optical uses is heavy, homogeneous, free from streaks +and veins. More expensive chemical substances are employed in +its manufacture than are used in making common glass.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3" class="label">[3]</a> Pebbles, again, are proved by grinding the edges briskly on a +moderately smooth file, or porous stone; they will resist the action +of these, and emit sparkles of light as the velocity of the friction is +increased, while glasses, on the contrary, yield, and are ground +without difficulty.</p> + +</div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span></p> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</h2> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“Every day’s observation shews how far some men may be carried +from the most evident and obvious truths, to support a new hypothesis, +which has no foundation either in nature or reason; but truth +will ever control and prevail over error, though supported with all +the powers of rhetoric and novelty.”—<span class="smcap">B. Martin.</span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="no-indent"><span class="smcap">Where</span> distance, or any other cause, prevents our having +access to persons who are competent to suit us properly +with spectacles, great care should be exercised to choose +those which cause the print of a newspaper, or the +ordinary types of a book, to appear of their natural and +proper size, while they are viewed at the distance most +agreeable for reading, viz., twelve inches from the eye. +It is evidently better to “try spectacles” on such +ordinary printing as they will be generally exercised +upon, than to test them by the very small print with +which persons frequently provide themselves. To decipher +this, a greater power is demanded than is requisite +for usual reading, writing, and needlework, which are +the purposes for which we require them, and not for +microscopic observation, nor for distant views.</p> + +<p>The eyes in which no malformation or disease exists, +but which simply partake of constitutional decay, or, +from too continued application to sedentary and studious<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span> +pursuits, are beginning to feel a want of assistance, should +have spectacles of sixty-inch focus, which is an exceedingly +slight magnifying power; and if these are found +to be insufficient to afford an agreeable and natural +perception (not an enlarged or magnified image of the +letters of a book, &c., held in the hand at the distance +of twelve or fourteen inches from the eye), then apply +those of the next power, viz., forty-eight inches’ focus. +If these again are unequal to supply the loss of power +or incapacity of the eye to converge the light to a point +at the instant it reaches the retina, then lenses of thirty-six +inches focus are to be had recourse to; and when +these fail to afford agreeable vision, thirty, twenty-eight, +twenty-four, twenty, must be progressively adopted, +thus gradually descending the scale until the eyes +receive such compensation for their progressive decay +and loss of power, as spectacles carefully suited to the +sight are capable so effectually to supply.</p> + +<p>The period at which the sight begins to fail does not +at all depend on age, but varies in different persons +according to the formation of the eyes, the treatment +they have received, and the constitutional capability; +therefore, the age of the person requiring spectacles +gives but a vague general idea to the optician as to what +is required, unless other particulars are stated; such as +whether glasses have been used before; the distance at +which writing and printing is seen pleasantly without +assistance, the focus of those last used, or sending even +but a broken piece of the same.</p> + +<p>“The proper selection of spectacles for imperfect +vision is a point of much deeper importance than is +generally believed. An <em>oculist</em> who is only acquainted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span> +with the diseases of the human eye, without possessing +any knowledge of it as an optical instrument, is often +led professionally to recommend glasses when they +ought not to be used, or to fix on focal lengths entirely +unfit for the purpose to which they are applied, and the +<em>mere vender</em> of spectacles and lenses is still more frequently +in the habit of proffering such counsel.”—<span class="smcap">Brewster.</span></p> + +<p>The near-sighted, or those who require concave +spectacles should use those of the slightest power; +No. 0, or No. 1, will generally be sufficient at first, +but this, by the aid of the trial box, can readily be +determined by the wearer himself. There is such an +immense benefit experienced by the short-sighted from +spectacles which suit their sight, that to argue for their +adoption of them would be quite superfluous. Without +spectacles they are excluded from observing beautiful +landscapes, recognizing individuals, or viewing to advantage +any of the crowd of interesting objects around +them; but by adopting them they are placed on a par +with the long-sighted in such circumstances, while the +sharp and microscopic character of their sight <em>without</em> +spectacles, gives them many advantages over those possessing +ordinary vision.</p> + +<p>The short, or near-sighted eyes, have the cornea, and +often the crystalline lens, more convex or arched out +than in long-sighted eyes. This formation causes the +rays to converge to a focus before they reach the retina, +but by the application of a concave lens the difficulty is +corrected, and the rays are carried on to their proper +point for giving a perfect representation on the retina.</p> + +<p>This character of sight is very frequent, and is more<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span> +particularly remarkable among those whose mode of life +restricts them to crowded cities, sedentary employments, +and confined situations. Those whose infantine and +youthful years have been passed in the country, or where +the eyes have had a free range of view, not circumscribed +by the walls of the nursery, or limited to the +observation of objects near at hand, rarely require concave +spectacles.<a id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> + +<p>The spectacle-frames next demand our attention, as +our utmost care in judiciously selecting lenses of the +proper focus for our sight will be neutralized if the frame +or mounting in which they are placed does not apply +comfortably to the head, leaving the lenses they carry +fair and parallel before the eyes. If the front of a pair of +spectacles is too short for the wearer’s face, he will look +upon the edge of the lens, and a portion of the exterior +rim of the frame; if they are too long his eye will meet +the opposite edge and inner curve of the rim.</p> + +<p>Spectacle-frames are fashioned to suit the variety of +formation in different individuals, and therefore such +should be applied as adapt themselves pleasantly to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span> +temples, across the forehead and before the eyes. The +pupil of the eye should, when looking at an object +directly before it, see through the centre of the spectacle-eye, +so that if the whole of the glass, except the small +centre, were painted black, the rays of light would pass +through it without distortion of the pupil. The bridge +or nose-part of the spectacle-frame should be arched +out, made like the crank of a lathe, or perfectly parallel +with the knuckles of the sides, according to the formation +of the wearer’s nose, otherwise the spectacles sit +awkwardly on the face too far from or too near to the +eye-lashes, with their centres too high or too low for the +natural exercise of sight. Trifling as these particulars +may seem, they cannot be neglected with impunity. +Where these defects are unattended to, the eye is tortured +by straining to overcome the difficulty, and striving +to accommodate itself to them, instead of their being +shaped to meet its requirements. Some old-fashioned +spectacles have short side-pieces, which press most unpleasantly +on one point of the temples, and when closed +scratch and rub the lenses. Others have very cumbrous +and heavy sides, with double lift or common hinge-joints. +These also scratch the lenses when folded up, +and can only be worn with any degree of comfort when +the head is uncovered. Decidedly the best constructed +spectacle-frames are those which, without being clumsy, +have enough strength to admit of the sides being extended +the full width of the face without bending the +front, with single sides rather longer than their front for +ladies’ use, and with turnpin sides (an extending joint, +turning on a pivot,) for gentlemen.</p> + +<p>The material of which they are composed should be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span> +either gold, silver, or enamelled blue steel. Tortoiseshell, +also, when well made, is very light and pleasant to +wear, particularly for ladies. There is no advantage in +large size, or round-eye spectacles, to compensate for +their clumsy appearance and great weight; we get a +sufficient expanse of observation with the oval-shape +glasses without harassing the eye with an excess of +light, which the large glasses admit.</p> + +<p>Solid blue steel mountings are a decided improvement, +and are invaluable for persons who constantly require +spectacles. They are wrought from a plate of steel, and +shaped as light and uniform as any other town-made +elastic blue-steel spectacles, with the advantage of being +more durable, and eventually less expensive; for as they +have no soldering in their composition, it is scarcely +possible to break them, and therefore they rarely want +repairing. Blue steel spectacles, in consequence of their +being so much in request, are coarsely imitated, and vast +numbers are sold by the pretended cheap shops, at +apparently low prices which the wearer will find to +be immensely beyond their real value. There are +thirteen different qualities of the spectacles termed blue +steel. The chief part are country made, and roughly +put together, some being all iron, others having iron +fronts and steel sides; others again bear a tolerably +close resemblance to the best town-made articles, and +unless the two are compared together, are likely to +deceive a casual observer.<a id="FNanchor_5" href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span></p> + +<p>The fine elastic blue steel, of the best quality, are +exceedingly light, highly polished, and beautifully enamelled. +They will retain their appearance for two or +three years, when carefully used; and they can be +restored to their original appearance at any time for a +few shillings’ expense.</p> + +<p>The anti-pressure spectacles are made of gold, silver, +or the elastic steel. They are not adapted for ladies’ +use, but for gentlemen have been much in demand, as +they obviate the necessity of opening and closing a second +joint or lengthening piece, and do not press or annoy +the nose or temples, but by an equal tenacity preserve +their proper position before the eyes.</p> + +<p>Single eye-glasses, though very convenient for occasional +use, are not to be compared with spectacles for +the agreeable and natural assistance they give to vision. +The eye should not be dependent on them for continuous +assistance. Those who persist in using them should do +so as little as possible; but the wiser course is to discard +them entirely, and adopt the double eye-glasses where it +would be tedious to apply spectacles of the usual kind.</p> + +<p>That the vision is more natural and perfect when both +eyes are employed than when one glass only is used, +must be self-evident, as the axis of each glass, placed as +they should be in the spectacles, coincides with the axis +of each eye, and the rays of light are thus equally +refracted to the eye. Again, the eyes have a most +acute and sensitive sympathy with each other, and when +a single eye-glass is constantly used they are unnaturally +exercised, and prevented from acting in concert. One +eye (generally the right eye) has the glass perpetually +applied to it; and very frequently, in consequence of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span> +this pernicious practice, becomes of a different focus to +the other. Mr. George Adams informs us that he did +not recollect an instance of a short-sighted person who +had occasion to increase the focus of his concaves if he +began by wearing spectacles, but that the cases were +frequent, where a single eye-glass had been used, in +which the persons had frequently required a change of +glasses.</p> + +<p>The prices of spectacles are diversified and fluctuating, +like all other manufactures, so that to publish a list of +prices would only tend to mislead and deceive my +readers. For instance, the price of a pair of pebbles, +used formerly to be one guinea extra to the charge for +glasses; they are now reduced to half that sum. A +pair of pebbles, of the concave or of the periscopic +figure, were at the same time charged twenty-five +shillings. These have been reduced in the same proportion. +And it cannot be too universally known, that a +person can have a pair of good convex glasses fitted into +his spectacles, and correctly suited to his sight, at from +one shilling and sixpence to two shillings per pair, by +any respectable optician. The poorest person may be +defended against the tender mercies of the spectacle +speculators; for he really can obtain a better article for +his money, both in quality and suitableness to his sight, +of the respectable optician, and, upon an average, at <em>a +less cost</em> than the cheat contrives, by dint of manœuvring, +to extract from him. Good lenses, in plain frames, or, +in other words, a good pair of spectacles, may be had, +correctly suited to the sight, for two shillings and sixpence. +Who then, knowing this, would suffer his +sight to be tampered with? Truly, those who would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span> +stickle for a shilling in the price of such valuable and +essential instruments</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Deserve not the comfort they shed o’er the soul.”</div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="no-indent">Yet, at the same time, there is no reason why those +exorbitant charges should be submitted to, which are +often paid without hesitation by the delighted purchaser, +when a pair of spectacles appears to suit his sight.</p> + +<p>The love of the marvellous, and the insane thirst for +novelties, are strikingly displayed in many inquirers for +spectacles. The honest, straight-forward, and disinterested +counsel of the established tradesman, is looked +upon with scowling suspicion; but the preposterous and +shallow pretensions of the empiric, decked with all the +paraphernalia of fudge and falsehood, are listened to +with eager curiosity. If the writer looked to self-interest +as his guiding star, his course would be to preserve +silence on these subjects; since it needs not to be +demonstrated, that the practice and the profit of the +regular practitioner are increased by the patched-up and +mangled cases, which are, as it were, provided for him, +over and above the number who <em>legitimately require</em> the +exercise of his skill. But he despises such mercenary +calculations, and contends that “The happiness of mankind +at large is a principle that ought to be followed out +by all individuals at every personal cost, and against +every kind of opposition.”—<cite>Medical Examiner.</cite></p> +<br> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_4" href="#FNanchor_4" class="label">[4]</a> In Russia the person having short sight is seated in a chair for +several hours daily, with the head placed in a natural position for +reading, but prevented from pressing forward. The page is at first +placed at the short distance at which the eyes have been accustomed +to observe; but this distance is gradually extended, until the +humours of the eyes, constantly exercised in endeavouring to accommodate +their powers to the gently increased demand upon them, +at length acquire the capability of observing at the usual distance.</p> + +<p>It is undoubtedly the fact that this character of sight may be +acquired; many instances could be adduced of watchmakers and +others, whose employments are of a sedentary or studious character, +becoming short-sighted.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_5" href="#FNanchor_5" class="label">[5]</a> It will be perceived that it is the workmanship and nice finish +of the best town-made spectacle-frames which necessarily increases +the price. Thus, a single pound of pig iron, which costs one penny, +can be manufactured into watch-springs of the value of £240.</p> + +</div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span></p> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</h2> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Allured by hope of plunder, and intent<br> +By force to rob, by fraud to circumvent,”—<span class="smcap">Æneis.</span><br> +</p> +</div> + +<p class="no-indent"><span class="smcap">I shall</span> give a few instances of the manner in which +advertising adventurers rack their ingenuity to dress up +their announcements in the most catching and attractive +style; and, failing to find language sufficiently striking +and pointed to arrest attention, scruple not to manufacture +terms and apply similies, which, however preposterous +and absurd they are seen to be when examined, +yet answer their purpose of mystifying the public, and +inducing a purchase of the vaunted articles.</p> + +<p>We have only to glance at the columns of our newspapers, +and the covers of periodical publications, for +illustrations of the extent to which the system of +scheming, falsehood, and trickery, termed puffing, is carried. +In one specious and lofty-toned announcement we +are told that the most splendid discovery of the present +age is now admitted, by the most unquestionable (?) testimonials, +to be “Grindstone Snuff,” which is warranted +to cure gutta serena, cataract, and all other diseases of +the eyes, while a single pinch scares away headache and +nervousness! Another startles the weatherwise by his +impudent pretension to be the <em>only</em> maker of barometers +and thermometers in London; whereas, if the real truth<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span> +were disclosed, it would be found that his connexion with +the trade consisted in some such occupation as engraving +the index plates of the instrument for his employers, +who surely have the greater right to be considered real +makers. Balsams, cough drops, rheumatism and gout +dispersers, pills, cerates, syrups, shaving soaps, cornplasters, +and heal-alls—all boast of the wondrous cures +effected, and testimonials received. The long list of +essences and decoctions, from vinegar to honey, also +have the names of distinguished gentlemen of the +faculty, the royal family, nobility, clergy, and gentry, +appended as bearing testimony to their surprising virtues. +“Highgate’s universal irresistible Ointment” we +are informed, is an invaluable specific for all disorders.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“But who shall decide when doctors disagree?”</div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="no-indent">A counter address denounces the same individual as an +<em>uncertificated impostor</em>, who has no testimonials of his +own, but has filched extracts from the only real original +certificates and testimonials of “Monsieur Holabolo’s +genuine Panacea,” which alone is a radical cure for all +internal and external complaints. Another ointment +puffer, whose nostrum is warranted to cure the plague +and cholera, among other evils, occupies two columns of +a newspaper with cures said to be effected by it; and +these are flanked with no less than seventy-six names +of surgeons and oculists, who, among others, testify to +its monstrous virtues!!<a id="FNanchor_6" href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span></p> + +<p>Now in all these quack advertisements, we find the +names, titles, and residences of the professional gentlemen +correctly given, which, possibly may be of some +consideration. Indeed, I know it is to some few an +advantage not to be overlooked, as their names are thus +kept before the public eye free of expense to them, and +they are, although indirectly, as effectually puffed into +notice as the quack himself. Without charging the +respectable and high-minded members of the profession +with entering into a compact, and designedly lending +the sanction of their name and office to these abominable +schemes of imposition, and granting full force to the +apologies they offer as to its “being customary;” “that +the profession generally do it;” “that to interfere would +be expensive and troublesome;” and that “it is the +fault of the public, who suffer themselves to be deluded +by such shallow artifices,” I conceive it to be the bounden +duty of every man of honour, when those tricksters +employ his name without his sanction or authority, to +adopt measures to disabuse that very large section of +society, who attach full credit to statements appearing +under such auspices.</p> + +<p>But it is with spectacle advertisers that we are more +immediately concerned, and it is therefore essential to +convince every individual of ordinary capacity, that he +can, by the exercise of common sense, and the moderate<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span> +use of his reasoning faculties, safely and judiciously +determine for himself, when spectacles are required, and +what powers and qualities they should possess; either +when the eyes first require restorative aid, or at any +subsequent period of life.</p> + +<p>Amber spectacles have been bepraised and forced into +notice as much as any of these quack specifics. I +consider that the apathy and indifference manifested +by those who know the statements put forth to be a +tissue of falsehoods, are extremely reprehensible. No +wonder that thousands have been tricked and trifled with +when such novel and plausible pretensions have remained +unchallenged, and those who know them to be hollow +and deceitful artifices have suffered them to remain +unexposed. Amber is so soft that a proper degree of +polish cannot be given to it to make it suitable for spectacles. +The streaks, specks, veins, and irregularities in +it may be detected by the most casual observer. Glass +and pebbles assimilate closely to the composition of the +eye itself, but amber only imitates its diseased and +decayed appearance. When the powers of the eye +begin to decline, the crystalline humour becomes somewhat +yellow, and as the decay proceeds this tinge +increases.<a id="FNanchor_7" href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> Amber is strongly charged with electricity;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span> +it has an affinity for oil, grease, and human perspiration; +“and it was from amber that the electrical fluid was first +obtained.”<a id="FNanchor_8" href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> + +<p>Since writing the above, I have received, by the +medium of the twopenny post, a printed circular, headed, +“<em>Amber Spectacles.</em>—M——having experienced from +the use of amber spectacles that which is expressed by +the following eminent gentlemen, considers it to be his +duty to caution the public against the use of them:— +“Amber is a soft substance, and it is impossible to +form it into a perfect lens, and a lens improperly constructed +would prove most injurious to vision. Amber, +in a moderate heat, becomes sticky; and by cleaning it +in a short time, the polish wears off. It is also easily +scratched, and soon loses the little transparency it possesses. +Glue, as to substance and colour, is quite equal +to it; and although purchasers pay an enormous price +for amber spectacles, yet they incur a great risk of +materially injuring their vision.”<a id="FNanchor_9" href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p> + +<p>If there even were any merit or superiority in amber +spectacles, be it observed, that the persons who prate +about <em>their</em> discovery, are not the parties who originated +or introduced the article. I have in my possession +several which were first brought to this country, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span> +sold by a Prussian mechanic, long before he came in +contact with individuals, who took a shameful advantage +of his forlorn situation, and, after deluding him with +specious promises, reduced him to their own terms. +The poor man found remonstrances to be unavailing; +and as he knew that redress was both uncertain and +expensive, he refrained from farther interference, sighing +as he said,—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“My poverty and not my will consents.”</div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Cautions respecting amber spectacles have frequently +appeared in the daily newspapers. On the 17th of +<span class="smcap">April</span>, 1838, the “<cite>Sun</cite>” contained a long advertisement, +lauding their extraordinary virtues. In the same page, +followed an exposé of the puff; and in another part of +the paper was the following paragraph, made to appear +as the editor’s remarks:—</p> + +<p>“An advertisement appeared in our paper of the 9th +instant, calling into question the merits of patent amber +spectacles, which have been so highly recommended for +the preservative and assisting qualities for defective +vision, by men of high character and professional reputation. +The names of Messrs. Dollond and Curtis +being used, it is right that the public should be apprised +of the ascertained fact, that it owes its insertion, not to +the knowledge of those gentlemen, but to the personal +pique of interested individuals.”</p> + +<p>Persons who are somewhat acquainted with the manner +in which such paragraphs are got up, well know what +importance is to be attached to them; the uninitiated, +however, are led to suppose that Messrs. Dollond and +Curtis were not of the opinions expressed, but that some +of the trade, jealous of the advertisers’ “high character,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span> +had maliciously questioned the “superior refractive property,” +“light modifying,” “cool,” and “soothing” +attributes of the admirable amber. But what ought we +to think of the professional and literary characters who +countenance the system of fraud and delusion practised +by puffing advertisers. We might in charity suppose +that the signatures of those eminent persons were surreptitiously +obtained; and in that case, the straight-forward +course they ought to adopt, should be publicly to +disavow all connection with the cheats. But if they +really hold the opinions attributed to them, we are bound +to declare that, opposed as such idle notions are to truth +and common sense, their presumption is ridiculous in +publishing opinions on a subject of which they are grossly +ignorant—ay, grossly ignorant! however capable and +popular they may be in their own professions. Indeed +many names of able and skilful surgeons are enumerated +in the list of patrons and testimonial writers, who +would smile at the effrontery of self-dubbed opticians, +and the credulity of the public, conscious that they had +no pretensions to any superior acquaintance with the +subject. The ingenious and talented Dr. Neill Arnott +remarks, in his “Elements of Physics,”—“Will it be +believed that <em>there are medical men</em> who neither understand +mechanics nor hydraulics, nor pneumatics, nor +optics, nor acoustics, beyond the merest routine; and +that systems of medical education are put forth at this +day, which do not even mention the department of +physics or natural philosophy;”</p> + +<p>But a general diffusion of knowledge is changing the +condition of society, and elevating the human character. +At first we almost tremble at our own boldness, in +demanding proofs of the capability of our teachers; but +the mind, gathering power, and unfolding its strength, +with every opportunity for its manifestation, insists on +having positive proofs, rather than vague pretensions, and +demands solid information, instead of empty nothingness, +however gorgeously arrayed, or pompously introduced.</p> +<br> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_6" href="#FNanchor_6" class="label">[6]</a> As for operators on the teeth, they have multiplied exceedingly +in the land. Their successful career is a <em>biting</em> satire on the +credulity of their supporters.</p> + +<p><em>American Quackery.</em>—The cost for advertising quack medicines +in the United States, annually, is estimated at 200,000 dollars. A +peck of pills per day is considered necessary for Boston, and half a +bushel for New York. On an average, only one in twenty-five who +take them is actually sick; and the proportion of those dispensing +with some necessary of life to purchase nostrums, which do them a +positive injury, is in the ratio of eighty-seven to every one hundred +throughout the country.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_7" href="#FNanchor_7" class="label">[7]</a> Dr. Petit found the crystalline in the eye of a man eighty years +of age so yellow as to resemble amber.</p> + +<p>“When exposed to heat it becomes soft, swells, bubbles up, is +apt to take fire, and burns with a yellowish flame.”—<cite>Heron’s +Chemistry.</cite></p> + +<p>“It gives out electricity by friction. It is an indurated vegetable +juice, and not produced by the laws of crystallization, but by the +same causes which influence the mechanical condition of gum +arabic, and other resinous substances. Insects are often found +embedded in it.”—<cite>Parkes’s Chemistry.</cite></p> + +<p>It is a fact, that to silence such objections, a great improvement +in amber, very pure and costly, was announced; this was nothing +more nor less than yellow plate-glass, the same as is used in +stained-glass windows. I have several specimens of these “superlative +patent amber” in my possession.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_8" href="#FNanchor_8" class="label">[8]</a> Dr. Neill Arnott.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_9" href="#FNanchor_9" class="label">[9]</a> Dollond—Curtis.</p> + +</div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span></p> +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</h2> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“Nothing extenuate or set down aught in malice.”—<span class="smcap">Shakspeare.</span></p> +</div> + +<p class="no-indent"><span class="smcap">Some</span> instances which have come under my own cognizance +will illustrate the way in which gross imposition +is practised, and the public morals materially injured, +by weakening confidence in those who are, from their +education and rank, looked to as guides and preceptors, +and causing the mind to turn with indignation from the +needy, but debased and grovelling creatures, who resort +to any means, however infamous, to effect their selfish +purposes.</p> + +<p>A military gentleman, of Stonehouse, was waited upon +by a renowned optical quack, who, the moment he +entered the parlour, exclaimed, “Goot Got, Sar! vy, +you are a’goin plind; the sight is leaving your left +eye! If you don’t immejartly take to my improved +classes I vill not answer for the konserkences; kataract +will grow on it in a month!” The gentleman, taken by +surprise, tried on some of the <em>preservers</em>, and finally +purchased two pairs of hand-folding spectacles, for which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span> +he paid four pounds. Some time after, they were more +particularly inspected, and proved to be common glass, +instead of pebbles, as was represented, and of much +stronger focus than the eyes required. The full London +retail charge for <em>such</em> articles is 10<em>s.</em> per pair.</p> + +<p>In the same town the same <em>distinguished</em> individual +forced his way into the study of a reverend gentleman, +and alarmed him by a similar prognostication. A pair +of the “clarified crystals, ground by a peculiar process,” +were purchased, price fifteen shillings. Afterwards, +upon finding that one eye was irritated, and derived no +assistance from the spectacles, the gentleman called upon +the optician who had always previously supplied him, +and was convinced of the trick which had been put upon +him. They were common machine-worked glasses, each +of a different focus, and neither of them suitable to his +sight. Their proper price, sold in their proper place +(viz., by hawkers, in the streets,) is one shilling per +pair!</p> + +<p>A gentleman of Norwich, struck with the advantages +promised by some extraordinary spectacles, paid two +guineas for a pair of blue steel, with blue glasses, which +were warranted pebbles,<a id="FNanchor_10" href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> and had the additional vexation +to be severely censured by several friends, who +complained that the fellow had fixed them with similar +trash by representing that he (the gentleman) had said, +“After you leave mine, do you go down past the +Norfolk Hotel, and say I bid you to call on Mr. and +Mrs. ——, to sell them spectacles such as I have +bought.” This, of course, was a manœuvre of the cheat +himself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span></p> + +<p>A gentleman, of Tavistock, purchased a pair of silver +spectacles, declared to be very fine pebbles, price thirty-five +shillings; they were merely glass; and as he +required a glass in an old pair of spectacles, the pompous +hawker offered to <em>oblige</em> him by putting one of his +“clarified lenses” to match the focus: for this he +charged five shillings and sixpence. It was two inches +different in focal length to the original glass! which +would have been properly matched, by any resident +optician, for one shilling!</p> + +<p>One of the hawking tribe called at the residence of +Major C——, near Hereford, and represented that +M——, Esq., had ordered, on the previous day, two +pairs of spectacles, and desired him to call upon his +friend, the major, to suit him also. In this case the +attack was parried; and, spite of the hawker’s vehement +declaration, that the eyes were in a terrible state, he was +dismissed, “to call again to-morrow.” Thus the major +preserved his eyes, and saved his money. In the evening +he saw his friend, and inquired if he had sent a fellow +to his house with spectacles? “No,” was the reply, +“but you sent him to <em>me</em>; for he came this afternoon, +saying you had bought two pairs, and wished me to +have some of the same kind; therefore, I bought two +pairs, and paid him the price he said <em>you</em> gave, viz., three +pounds, ten shillings, though at first he wanted four +guineas!”</p> + +<p>A naval captain, residing at Monmouth, showed me a +pair of silver spectacles with six-inch focus glasses, very +jagged and splintered at the edges, worth at most twelve +shillings, for which he had given one of the tribe of impostors<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span> +two guineas, and a pair of tortoiseshell (which +<em>did</em> suit his sight) into the bargain.<a id="FNanchor_11" href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></p> + +<p>A lady at Belfast was attracted by the showy advertisement +of an itinerant optician, and called upon him, +“between the hours of ten and six,” for the purpose of +purchasing a pair of spectacles. The first thing he did, +after staring at her, and impudently declaring that her +eyes were being ruined, was to snatch her spectacles +from her face, and put a pair of his own in their place. +“There, Matam! they are the spattacles for your +eyes, those you have peen vearing vill pring on kataract.” +“I see pretty well in these,” said the lady, “but my own +suit about as well, I think.” “Oh dear no, it’s quite a +mistake, your own are retched; put them on—isn’t +there a differench now, Matam?” “Yes, there is,” said +the lady, (who had too much penetration for the pedlar) +“they require cleaning after having been held in +your hot hand all this time;” and taking up a washleather<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span> +she wiped the glasses, and, replacing them, bade +adieu to the <em>testimonialed</em> optician.</p> + +<p>A lady, who was visiting for a few weeks at Margate, +was startled one morning, by a big, blustering, shewily-dressed +man, who, after knocking at the street door, +pushed past the servant, and rapping loudly at the parlour +door opened it without waiting for any reply. +“Goot morning, Matam, I am the optician to the royal +family; your friend, Lady W——, terives so much goot +from my pellucit lenses, she peggd me to call and suit +you.” Before all this had been uttered he had taken a +package from a confederate, dressed as a livery servant, +who accompanied him, and covered the table with his +stock. “Your eyes are in a most alarming state Matam, +this pair of cold spattacles will suit you.” +“Really,” said the lady; “how came Lady W—— to +suppose I wanted spectacles? I have never worn any at +any time in my life.” “No, that’s the vary reason your +sight is leaving you; your eyes are vary pad.” “What +is the price of this pair?” inquired the lady. “Three +guineas” was the answer. The price was paid; and +after punishing her eyes for a few days, the lady met +with a scientific friend who convinced her that they were +totally unfit and improper for her, her eyes being in excellent +order, and not requiring spectacles at all!</p> + +<p>A gentleman, visiting at Canterbury, in 1834, was induced +through the representations of the same notorious +cheat to purchase a pair of spectacles, which were warranted +to dissipate the cataract forming in his eye; the +price paid was five pounds. As he was lamenting the +terrible state in which he was informed his eyes certainly +were (although, strange to say, he was quite unconscious<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span> +of it) another pair was placed upon his nose, which, he +was told he ought to wear as a change, in case the eyes +were pained by the efforts of the first pair to dissipate +the cataract. Another five pound note was handed over +to the hawker, who began to grow quite pathetic; and +artfully alluding to the services of the gentleman during +the war, and expatiating upon a few circumstances with +which he had made himself acquainted in a chat with one +of the gossips at the public house where he lodged, he +pretended to lament the necessity for the gentleman +staying within doors. “What, may I not take a walk +or ride as usual? I can’t endure being cooped up within +doors.” “There’s danger in your going out,” said the +pedlar, “except your eyes are guarded with green Refractive +Preservers.” “Oh, bless me,” said the gentleman, +“that’s very serious; then you really think I +ought to have another pair for walking and riding, eh?” +“Oh certainly, by all means; nothing else can save +your eyes, unless you confine yourself within doors.” +“What’s the price of such a pair of preservers?” “Six +guineas, Sir; but as you have bought the others you shall +have them for five pounds.” “Why, dear me, I shall +be ruined in buying spectacles, and yet I never felt that I +wanted them before.” “That’s just the vay, ven the eyes +are a’going blind it comes on all at once, my tear Sir.”</p> + +<p>By this transaction the pedlar actually pocketed three +five pound notes. In less than a week afterwards the +first two pair were sent to me to have the yellow coloured +glasses exchanged for white lenses of four degrees less +magnifying power; the price at which the whole three +pairs could have been purchased elsewhere would be +forty-five shillings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span></p> + +<p>It will scarcely be credited that the individuals who +thus practise on the public are grossly ignorant; and +were it not that the anxiety of the purchasers to possess +something extraordinary renders them liable to imposition +and allays suspicion, such shallow pretensions never +would pass undetected.</p> + +<p>One of the tribe, who, until lately, practised the art +and mystery of his forefathers as a dealer in old clothes, +suddenly changed his <em>profession</em>, and, calculating the +chances to be two to one in his favour, ventured, neck +or nothing, to blazon himself forth as an experienced, +scientific, and practical optician. A book, bearing his +name as its author, and sundry special appointments, +obtained by dint of the most brazen assurance and persevering +importunity, were ostentatiously paraded before +the wondering eyes of her majesty’s liege subjects. The +public are stultified, and the eminent individual himself, +is almost astonished that the scheme should take, and +like the “Fly preserved in amber, wonders how the +d—— he came there.”</p> + +<p>There are artists in his locality who can give many +<em>graphic</em> illustrations of the disregard to truth, violation of +friendship, and cunning perversion of facts, of which this +individual has been guilty, and yet no one has a greater +array of eminent names and testimonials to show—many +signatures of really clever men having been obtained by +some means or other. Surely there is much piquancy +and truth in the Spanish proverb: “those who know +most are oftenest cheated.”</p> +<br> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_10" href="#FNanchor_10" class="label">[10]</a> Pebbles, it is scarcely necessary to say, are colourless.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_11" href="#FNanchor_11" class="label">[11]</a> This gentleman stormed most lustily when made aware of the +trick which had been practised upon him, and threatened legal exposure +to the “professional optician.” But this course is seldom +resorted to, the dupes recollecting that, while they publish the +swindler’s villainy, they give us but an indifferent idea of their own +discernment, beside the uncertainty and incongruity ever attendant +upon Law, thus quaintly sketched by Bentham;—“If a man give +you a black eye, you make him pay for it, but if he put your eye out, +you get nothing; and whatever is taken from him goes nominally +to the queen—really to John Stokes or Jack Nokes who have no +concern at all in the matter. If a man kill your pig, you get the +value of it, but if he kill your wife or your child, you get nothing—if +any thing is got out of him it goes to a stranger, as before. A +man sets your house on fire, if by misfortune, you receive amends, +if through malice, you receive nothing.”</p> + +</div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span></p> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</h2> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“See, arm’d with great authority, they come,<br> +And with great names and numbers strike us dumb;<br> +Reason and common sense to names must fall,<br> +And strength of argument’s no strength at all.”—<span class="smcap">Dodsley.</span><br> +</p> +</div> + +<p class="no-indent"><span class="smcap">I will</span> now produce a few specimens of Puffing Advertisements, +which will show how sounding words are +senselessly strung together to give an air of importance +to their originators, and leave my readers to judge for +themselves how far the public ought to be influenced by +them. The orthography (?) of these puffs is, in every way +worthy of the authors of them. They are given <em>pure</em>.</p> + + +<p class="center no-indent">PUFF, No. 1.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="center no-indent">Improved Eye Preservers, patronized by the Faculty of the Eye +Infirmaries for Cataract, and other improved glasses.</p> + +<p>Mr. —— optician to the Queen,<a id="FNanchor_12" href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> Her Royal Highness the +Duchess of Kent, &c. sole Inventor of Optical Glasses, ground +and shaded on the Exact<a id="FNanchor_13" href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> Principle. Mr. —— has been for +twenty-five years a manufacturer, who has devoted his study with +time to bring this branch to perfection. Mr. —— has been earnestly +solicited to pay a short visit for a limited period. He has +the honour to announce his arrival from the London, Bristol, and +Edinburgh Optical Establishments.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span></p> + +<p>Spectacles for far and near distances, for those who have a full +eye, ground in a peculiar manner.</p> + +<p>Sight is often abused by inexperienced persons taking upon themselves +the impracticable task of assisting it.</p> + +<p>The Improved Spectacles, and other glasses, made by Mr. —— +on the authority of professional gentlemen, are the very best ever +invented; they have gone through a different process, which clarifies +and makes them the greatest improvement ever heard of by +candle light or dull day.</p> + +<p>Mr. —— can tell by the physiology and figure of the eye when +to give the greatest assistance. His glasses are of a refractive +quality; so constructed as to effect the greatest relief; manufactured +by machinery of a new construction, and by a peculiar way. +Turbid glasses destroy the cornea and iris of the eye, and harbingers +all ocular diseases.</p> + +<p>*** A book will be given for the use of the Improved Spectacles +and advice for all diseases.</p> + +<p>Sight is injured by buying Spectacles of Shops, or other <em>chance</em> +places of sale, totally unacquainted with vision.</p> + +<p>Ladies and Gentlemen whose eyes are weak will, by using these +extraordinary Spectacles for two or three hours a week, find their +matchless qualities, as they are ground in a peculiar way.</p> + +<p class="center no-indent"> +Mr. —— will call with a large Assortment.<br> + +<span class="smcap">LICENSED HAWKER, NO. ——</span><br> + +⁂ This Circular will be called for.<br> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center no-indent">PUFF, No. 2.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="center no-indent">The sight of the aged assisted by the Improved Spectacles, upon +unerring principles.</p> + +<p>Persons have been going round copying Mr. ——’s Bill, who is +the only real original manufacturer of them?<a id="FNanchor_14" href="#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> it has been the cause +of many persons nearly losing their sight, Mr. —— has had fifteen +years practice on the eye: there is such a monstrous difference in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span> +these improved glasses, that one pair will serve a person his whole +life. The sight of the aged assisted, the weak strengthened, and +the perfect improved, by Mr. ——’s improved spectacles.</p> + +<p>Spectacles for those who have a full eye; the glasses are ground +in a peculiar manner. Blindness has took place from the ignorance +of persons wearing the glasses in common use, owing to the glasses +<em>drawing</em> the eyes. These glasses are highly recommended by professional +gentlemen, who view them to be the greatest improvement +ever known; they have gone through a different process, which +clarifies them, and makes them the greatest improvement by +candle light or dull day, qualifying you to see the greatest length +of time at one sitting; those persons whose eyes are weak, by using +a pair of those extraordinary preservers for two or three hours will +find they are ground in a peculiar manner.</p> + +<p>A treatise will be given for the use of the Improved glasses, with +advice gratis for all diseases of the eye. Mr. —— flatters himself +he can perform the most difficult cures in the sight with the greatest +ease; there is no complaint of the eye but he is acquainted with. +Mr. —— cautions the public against a person who is selling Spectacles +which pretend to be his.</p> + +<p>Mr. —— will call with a large Assortment of Improved glasses, +which will give satisfaction.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap" style="padding-right: 1em">LICENSED HAWKER.</span><br> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span></p> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center no-indent">PUFF, No. 3.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>Caution against a person taking the name of Messrs. ——, the +professional opticians: and imposing upon ladies and gentlemen in +selling shameful spectacles, as Messrs. —— improved, and charging +forty shillings, while Messrs. —— only charges for the same twenty +shillings, or, with pebbles, only fifteen shillings.</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">PERMANENT RELIEF</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">for all disorders effecting the eyes, and cases of dimness. Were +it necessary,</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">A HOST OF CASES</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">might be named by which persons, distinguished, have, by their +improved scientific and successful using of their</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">IMPROVED GLASSES</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">been much benefitted. The honourable patronage noticed at the +head of this article, and their hourly increasing patronage, are proofs +of their great skill and talent for</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">ALL DISORDERS OF THE SIGHT.</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">They have the honour to be professionally consulted by the chief +families in the empire. Imperfect sight can only be handled properly +by those who by deep study have a talent for</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">THE ORGANS OF SIGHT.</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">Many people injure their sight by buying improper spectacles, +whereas it is</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">THE ESPECIAL OBJECT</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">of Messrs. —— to rest the claim of patronage on those numerous +persons of the first quality.</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">THE NOBILITY AND GENTRY</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">May be suited with Spherical Pellucid Glasses, of every class, +according to their exalted rank.</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">THE MERCANTILE AND LABOURING CLASSES</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">may have their daily toil sweetened by these improved glasses; +administered, in cases of distress, on terms accommodating to their +situations in society.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap" style="padding-right: 1em">Licensed Hawker, No. ——, A.</span><br> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span></p> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center no-indent">PUFF, No. 4.</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">For a short time only.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>Mr. ——, Optician to their Royal Highnesses the Prince and +Princess of ——, King and Queen of ——, has the honour to +inform the nobility and visitors of ——, he has arrived from the +London Royal Eye Infirmary, for a short time only. A reference +to the distinguished patronage he boasts, will convince the public +he possesses great skill in the Optic Line, and is without a parallel +when such organs as the eyes is liable to evils from common glass +and pebbles, one being no better than the other! It is his imperative +wish to guard the public against them; therefore, he announces +his stay will be for a short period.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap" style="padding-right: 1em">Licensed Hawker, No. ——, B.</span><br> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center no-indent">PUFF, No. 5.</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">MAY BE CONSULTED,</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="no-indent">Mynheer ——, Practical and Professional Optician, Surgeon-Oculist +and Surgeon-Dentist, announces his arrival. In all recent +or chronic weakness, a perfect cure is his far-famed Keysell Spectacles, +which have the density and translucency of a diamond, and +refractive preserving powers, being composed from rare crystals, +produced from the Carpathian Rocks, so highly recommended by +the faculty. Mynheer M —— being based upon the greatest perfection +which the dento-chirurgical art can be carried, can renovate +all decay by his succedaneum, which all the faculty of the continental +cities recommend. In two seconds it removes pain, and lasts +many years.</p> + +<p>But it is to the Keysell Spectacles and Terrence Teeth that he +would <em>draw the eyes</em> of his friends to: they are fixed in the mouth +so that it is impossible to remove them without wires. They increase +the beauty by their elegant matchlessness.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap" style="padding-right: 1em">Licensed Hawker, No. ——</span><br> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span></p> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center no-indent">PUFF, No. 6.</p> + +<p class="center no-indent"><span class="smcap">POSITIVELY FOR THIS WEEK ONLY.</span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>Messrs. —— have succeeded, after fifteen years’ professional +practice, and devoting their whole lives to the optic line, in bringing +out a wonderful translucency for the organs of sight, coupled +with a conductor for deafness. This wonderful discovery brings +faulty hearing to perfection. They are so arranged and combined +with scientific principles, with the long practice of the inventors, +that they will allow such an extent of relief that will quite astonish +every beholder.</p> + +<p>They are anxious not to be confounded. There are other people +who pretend to the skill of Messrs. ——, therefore the public are +liable to be imposed upon. Inferior spectacles can be had of persons +calling themselves opticians, but Messrs. —— think it is +scarcely necessary to state, that their improved Translucency for +Spectacles, and Conductors for Deafness, are manufactured under +their own eyes, upon spherical principles.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap" style="padding-right: 1em">Licensed Hawkers, No. ——</span><br> +</p> + +<p>One of the Firm may be professionally consulted from 10 to 6.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center no-indent">PUFF, No. 7.</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>Mr. ——, Professional Optician, patronized by the faculty of +London, Brighton, Bath, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Paris.</p> + +<p>Spectacles ground and shaded on the exact principle of truth, by +Mr. ——, the celebrated Optician from the London Optical Establishment, +established for a number of years.</p> + +<p>Mr. ——, in consequence of the flattering encouragement he +received from the first families, he has established himself here for a +short time. He has made the study of vision his own, and can +remedy any organic defect, neglect, disease, or imperfection. Many +individuals of rank and royalty acknowledge the immense improvement. +Mr. —— will send a treatise, explaining every thing in the +line, to every house, and will attend himself with a splendid quantity +of improved glasses.</p> + +<p>As several persons travel through the country in his name, he +begs the public to look at his patronage at the top of his circular.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span> +He is the sole Inventor of the Improved glasses. They have gone +through an elaborate process, they are therefore clarified and pellucid. +They throw a clearer light, and more brilliant than any +others.</p> + +<p class="center no-indent"> +⁂ At home from 2 till 6.</p> +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap" style="padding-right: 1em">Licensed Hawker, No. ——</span><br> +</p> + +<p class="center no-indent"><em>Please to observe the brass plate in the window.</em></p> +</div> +<br> + +<p>How often, too, accompanying such advertisements +as the preceding, do we find paragraphs, in the laudatory +style, to some such effect as the following (see also +page <a href="#Page_44">44</a>). It requires but little penetration to arrive at +a conclusion as to who are the authors of them.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p><span class="smcap">Puff Paragraph</span>, No. 1.—We again call the attention of our +readers to Mr. —— and his valuable assortment of Spectacles. +They are manufactured with extraordinary care, and constructed +upon the strictest scientific principles. M. —— has for a long +period past devoted his attention exclusively to that important branch +of optics—the human eye;—and the proficiency he has attained of +the complicated structure of that noble organ has enabled him to +adapt glasses to every degree of defective vision. But the highest +panegyric which can be pronounced upon the skill of this artist, is +the unprecedented number of applications which have been made +to him.</p> + +<p>Our readers will observe, that his stay is restricted to a few days.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p><span class="smcap">Puff Paragraph</span>, No. 2.—We have more than once had occasion +to allude to the surreptitious conduct of individuals, who are +eager to profit by the established reputation of our resident opticians, +Messrs. ——, who are about making arrangements for +visiting all the neighbouring towns, making this place their permanent +residence.<a id="FNanchor_15" href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a></p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span></p> + +<p>The “Messrs. ——,” the “resident,” the “distinguished,” +decamped at the expiration of three weeks.</p> +<br> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_12" href="#FNanchor_12" class="label">[12]</a> The royal arms appear at the head of this elegant announcement. +(Query) Ought not the proper authorities to prohibit such +vile use being made of the name of royalty.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_13" href="#FNanchor_13" class="label">[13]</a> Query—<em>Exaction</em> principle.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_14" href="#FNanchor_14" class="label">[14]</a> Were those individuals really <em>manufacturers</em>, they would not +require a Licence to vend their articles. See Act of Parliament, +50 Geo. III. cap. 41, sec. 23. enacts: “Provided always, and it +is hereby enacted, that nothing in this Act shall extend to prohibit +any person or persons from selling any printed papers, licensed by +authority, or any fish, fruit, or victuals; nor to hinder the <em>real +worker or workers, or maker or makers</em> of any goods, wares, or +manufactures of Great Britain, or his, her, or their children, apprentices, +or known agents or servants usually residing with such real +workers or makers only, from carrying abroad or exposing to sale, +and selling by retail or otherwise, any of the said goods, wares, or +manufactures of his, her, or their own making in any mart, market, +or fair, and in every city, borough, town corporate, and market +town. Nor any tinkers, coopers, glaziers, plumbers, harness makers, +or other persons usually trading in mending kettles, tubs, +household goods, or harness whatsoever, from going about and carrying +with him, or them, proper materials for mending the same.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_15" href="#FNanchor_15" class="label">[15]</a> It is gratifying, however, to find that many editors of +newspapers repudiate the iniquitous system, perceiving that +their readers might justly look upon them as participators in the +fraud.</p> + +<p>One of the puffing, <em>professional</em> licensed hawkers entered the +office of the Reading newspaper, and with the authoritative air of +an Alexander, desired that his announcement should appear in the +front column, and the <em>usual</em> laudatory paragraph in another part of +the paper. He was informed that his advertisement could be inserted, +but that the proprietors had determined never to admit such +insidious clap-trap notices, which, while they injured the resident +tradesman, and were looked upon as the <em>bona fide</em> opinions of the +editor, generally referred to matters of which he could not honestly +express a favourable opinion. The pedlar stood aghast! “What,” +said he, “not put in a paragraph? Why, I’d sooner pay for a +good paragraph than care about the advertisement at all.”</p> + +<p>His <em>professional</em> visit was of unusually short duration, finding it +impossible to bribe the press to trumpet forth his praise.</p> + +</div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span></p> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</h2> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“It is a strange thing to behold what gross errors and extreme +absurdities men do commit for want of a friend to tell them of the +same! The help of good counsel is that which setteth business +straight.”—<span class="smcap">Bacon.</span></p> +</div> + +<p class="no-indent"><span class="smcap">I have</span>, for many years, visited nearly every town in +the kingdom, on commercial pursuits, at intervals of six +months; and wherever I have met with the brazen +advertisers alluded to, I have issued public notices, +and inserted counter-advertisements, to put my friends +and the public on their guard against such egregious +imposition. Such a step, spiritedly carried out, has uniformly +proved successful, and the notable pretenders +have decamped from Bath to Norwich, from Brighton to +Carlisle, sometimes assuming other names, or changing +the initial letters; as S. and E., who had been vapouring +away at Norwich, suddenly flitted to Margate, and +there announced themselves as C. and B., the celebrated +opticians from the Royal Eye Infirmaries, &c. &c. For +low cunning and unprincipled trickery, such adventurers +as I have described, stand unrivalled. Upon several +occasions they have echoed my cautions, and copied, +word for word, remarks levelled at themselves; hoping +thus to shield themselves from detection, and confuse +the public in identifying them; as the pick-pocket, when<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span> +the hue and cry is raised of stop-thief, joins in the +shout, in order to allay suspicion.</p> + +<p>It is in the provincial towns that such persons are +most successful; the game is seldom played in the +metropolis with so much effect; and although some of +the tribe have been lately launching forth dashing advertisements +in the London papers, it is understood +to be with the design of attracting country customers, +and overwhelming their dupes with an idea of their +<em>professional</em> importance, rather than with the expectation +of effecting sales in London.</p> + +<p>When they sally forth to “fleece the natives,” who +would think of questioning the abilities of such renowned +opticians, armed with testimonials, credentials, and +certificates! <em>so</em> recommended by the newspapers, and +patronized by such eminent practitioners?!!</p> + +<p>The fair trader would defend himself at the same +time that he unmasked imposture, and protected his +customers, if, when his neighbourhood is infested by +such mountebanks, he advertised the simple truth. He +would assuredly find</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“That those base slaves, ’ere yet the fight be done, pack up.”</div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>A few extracts from the advertisements I have inserted +in the London and provincial journals may be +useful as specimens.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“Spectacle swindlers are now practising deceptions upon the +public to an unparalleled extent! They are principally wandering +tribes of licensed hawkers, who change their names, or shift their +residences, as occasion requires; copy the language of honest men, +and puff off, as their own inventions, the very articles, which, without +a shade of difference, have been regularly made and sold for +above two hundred years. To accomplish their designs of fleecing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span> +the public, they resort to the most pompous and extravagant eulogiums +on the peculiar virtues of their ‘Saxon Crystals!’ ‘Patent +Preservers!’ ‘Tinted Amber!’ and ‘Light Refractors!’ ridiculous +terms, which <em>they have</em> invented, and which, embellished with a +long list of distinguished names, are calculated to entrap, and impose +upon the uninitiated.</p> + +<p>“Spectacle wearers, beware! those tricksters, with all their lofty +pretensions, are ignorant quacks. Their charges for the trash they +foist upon you, are beyond all precedent, enormous!</p> + +<p>“The flagrant impositions daily practised on Spectacle wearers, +by hawkers and ignorant pretenders, imperatively demand exposure. +The boasting charlatans are certainly indebted to the silence +of practical opticians for their successful career, since persons requiring +optical aid eagerly listen to whoever promises most. To +those who have been victimized not another word is necessary to +direct their choice, but experience calls on all who need optical remedies +to profit by advice, and procure such important scientific +instruments only of the known working optician or his resident +agent, and thereby insure every advantage—better quality, lower +charges, a liberal trial, and an exchange if not approved of.”</p> +</div> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>“The patronage such individuals quote has never been +bestowed, or has been surreptitiously obtained. Mr. C. +has documents from celebrated oculists stating this fact +most unequivocally, and authorizing him to give publicity +thereto. He has the gratification of knowing that +his efforts to expose such fraudulent delusions, to defend +the fair trader, and to protect the public, have been properly +appreciated by the reflecting and intelligent, who +perceive the impropriety of countenancing persons who +resort to falsehood, misrepresentation, and dishonest +artifices; and allow the superior claim of the respectable +resident shopkeeper, whose charges are fair, whose desire +and interest it obviously must be to supply the article<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span> +which will suit and to make any exchange or alteration if +required.</p> + +<p>“Beware of the tricksters who blazon forth their pretended +discoveries, in terms which, however absurd and +ridiculous, nevertheless catch the attention; and combined +with an array of great names, unbounded assurance, +and various manœuvring devices, enable them to foist +their worthless wares upon purchasers at the most exorbitant +prices.</p> + +<p>“Such charlatans are the pests of science, and speculators +on the credulity of society.</p> + +<p>“Mr. C. feels assured that his friends, and the public +generally, will remark the necessity there is for some +one, practically acquainted with the science of optics, to +come forward and state the real facts of the case, at a +time when bombast and chicanery, supported by the +most shameless falsehoods, are put forth by itinerant +hawkers and pedlars—the pretended discoverers of a superior +method of constructing glasses for spectacles. +He is anxious to expose such deceptions, and to protect +the Spectacle wearer from the gross frauds and impositions +continually practised in the sale of Spectacles at +enormous prices, although made of the cheapest material, +and in the most inferior manner.</p> + +<p>“Such Spectacles are productive of endless annoyance +to the wearer; and, instead of rendering any assistance +are instruments of torture, producing the most serious +consequences to the sight, owing to their imperfect construction +and the misapplication of their powers to the +purposes required.</p> + +<p>“Persons requiring Spectacles are earnestly recommended +to seek advice and assistance from opticians or<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span> +their agents, of known respectability and experience, who +are capable of judging what kind of lenses are necessary +in each particular case: and to avoid those charlatans +whose ignorance of optics is only equalled by their impudence, +in obtruding themselves into houses, and +alarming the occupiers by declaring that they perceive +serious defects in their eyes, the formation of cataract, +incipient blindness, &c., in order to give an exalted idea +of the value of the remedies they offer.”</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>“T. H., Watch and Clock maker, agent to Cox, optician +of London, begs to caution his friends against the +impositions of itinerant hawkers, who boast of exalted +patronage, wonderful discoveries, and superior skill in +optics, professing to suit the sight by merely examining +‘the figure of the eye.’ Such individuals frequently +enter into respectable houses, and terrify ladies and gentlemen +by declaring that they perceive serious defects in +their eyes, and, of course, that nothing can avert the +evil but their wonderful Spectacles; sometimes pretending +that their only motive in calling is from their wish +to relieve mankind from the chances of losing their sight, +and to enable them to see as well at fourscore years of +age as at twenty, while their main object is to fill their +pockets at the expense of those who have fallen into +their snare.</p> + +<p>“The fallacy of their statements may always be ascertained +by the parties taking medical opinion of known +value, and consulting a respectable optician.</p> + +<p>“It cannot be too generally known that the best glass<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span> +lenses, constructed on the most accurate principles, +suited to the purposes of vision, and worked by hand, +can be had of all respectable opticians, at from one shilling +and sixpence to three shillings per pair, shewing +that there can be no occasion for persons, who require a +change of glasses in their spectacles, to pay a guinea or +thirty shillings, and give up their old pebbles or glasses +into the bargain.</p> + +<p>“A trick was practised at Brighton, during the season +of 1834, which shews that those certificated gentry do +not hesitate at trifles.</p> + +<p>“Two Jews, licensed hawkers, inserted glowing advertisements +in the Brighton newspapers, couched in their +usual bombastic style, but naming <em>one gentleman</em> only as +having taken up his residence at Brighton, and stating +that he would wait upon the nobility and gentry with a +splendid stock of his <em>wonderful</em> and <em>improved</em> Spectacles.</p> + +<p>“A man called at the houses of the gentry, made +many sales at the usual swindling prices, and disarmed +all suspicions by inviting the purchasers to call at his +residence, and make any exchange they pleased. In +some cases, where the price was objected to, or the parties +were taken by surprise, not having suspected that +they wanted Spectacles until this <em>experienced professional +optician</em> told them they did, they were, notwithstanding +imposed upon, ‘for,’ said he, ‘to prove that I am anxious +to preserve your sight, which is rapidly leaving you, and +cataract is growing in your eyes, these Spectacles, which +are five pounds per pair, I will leave you at half-price, +and you may pay me the balance at any time.’ This +offer appeared so very liberal that it succeeded in several +instances, and, it is scarcely necessary to say, left to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span> +hawker forty shillings profit, five pounds being only +mentioned to get more easily the smaller sum.</p> + +<p>“But the most profitable part of the scheme is yet to +be told. Those who purchased soon found that something +was wrong—the patent preservers gave great uneasiness +to the eyes, which, suffused with tears, seemed to grieve +at the simplicity and credulity of their owners. The +residence of Mr. —— was besieged with complaining +purchasers, who, when their turn arrived, were ushered +into the presence of the other of the partners, and as the +person who had sold them the Spectacles promised to +make any exchange they required, they asked for a pair +which would suit their sight, or a return of the money +paid. The man they now saw looked at them, and +asked, ‘Am I the person who sold you the spectacles?’ +‘Why, no,’ was the reply, ‘I cannot say you were the +gentleman, but he was uncommonly like you, and he +told me he would exchange the Spectacles if they did +not suit.’</p> + +<p>“‘Then you had better find him and compel him to +do so, for the trash he has sold you will destroy your +eyes and ruin your sight. He is an impostor; I know +nothing of him.’ ‘Bless me,’ said the disappointed +purchaser, ‘what a scandalous shame! what would +you advise me to do now, Sir?’</p> + +<p>“‘Why, <em>my</em> Spectacles are produced after twenty years +of deep study and research, and manufactured, under my +own eyes, upon improved principles, yet I only ask fifty +shillings per pair; but I am sorry for you and though +those you have bought are vile rubbish, I will take them +in exchange, and thirty-five shillings for my Patent +Tinted Crystals, which are the only Spectacles proper<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span> +for the eyes.’ Thus the reader will perceive a double +imposition was effected. A., after performing his part +in the scheme of deception, kept out of the way until B. +had completed the fleecing of the nobility, gentry, and +public, and in a few weeks the <em>resident</em> opticians were on +their way to other places, chuckling at their success, +and inventing fresh plans of operation.”</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Page after page has been pirated from the works of +eminent authors, and palmed upon the public as their +own composition; consequently, though the advice may +be excellent, the parties from whom it appears to emanate +are vile plagiarists, whose <em>practice</em> is quite uninfluenced +thereby. When imposture disguises itself in +such a plausible form the difficulty of detection is increased, +therefore our best security against deception is +to transact business with men of known reputation. +The resident tradesman has a character for fair and +honourable dealing to maintain. He can be appealed to +if any exchange or alteration is requisite, and the spirit +of fair competition, now abroad, is the best security +against overcharge from him; while the itinerant vender +and pompous advertiser has to repay himself for such +forced and expensive means of getting custom by exacting +great prices, pushing off coarse and inferior goods, +and practising any dishonest trick rather than not effect +a sale of his wares. It may be said, with great truth, +“his articles are not cried up because they are things +that ought to be desired, but they are desired because +they are generally cried up.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span></p> + +<p>The Liverpool Mercury of Friday, Sep. 15th, 1834, has +some remarks on this subject, which, as they are important +and appropriate to our purpose, I transcribe:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“We beg to caution our readers against the arts of all those who +profess to supply the public with superior Spectacles; we have been +for many years connected with the business, and we can assure the +public that the Spectacle glasses sold by the advertising eye quacks +are precisely the same as those provided by any respectable optician, +the only difference being in the price. The charlatan varies his +charge according to the gullibility of his dupes; sometimes he puts +up with double the proper and regular price, but more frequently he +exacts three or four times more than a regular and honest optician +charges. We recollect a once famous optical quack, in London, +who made a large fortune by cheating the public. He advertised +<em>his</em> superior glasses, which he assured the public were all ground to +the true parabolic curve by his own hand, and for each of these +glasses he charged four shillings, whilst the working optician who +lived a few doors from him, and who furnished him with all his +glasses, could only get nine pence for the very article for which the +puffing eye doctor charged four shillings. As we knew both the +parties we pledge ourselves to the fact, and, in conclusion, we advise +the public to have nothing to do with quacks, whether they be +scientific quacks, who are plentiful enough, or other quacks, who +swindle people out of their health and cash at the same time.”</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Who will, for him, may boast of sense,<br> +His better guard is impudence.”<br> +</p> +</div> + +<p class="no-indent"><span class="smcap">In</span> the early part of the present year I addressed letters +to several gentlemen who figure in the list of patrons to +the advertising Spectacle quacks, and enclosed a copy of +the advertisements in which their names had appeared +as giving unqualified approval to the trickster’s <em>invention</em>.</p> + +<p>From the specimens I have given of such advertisements +it is unnecessary to give a verbatim copy again +here; and as the truths which this correspondence elicits +apply to one and all of the puffing tribe, I have omitted +the names of the individuals particularly alluded to, my +object being to expose a <em>system</em> of villainy, and not to +denounce <em>one</em> or <em>two</em> rapacious creatures, while the rest +of the clique escape detection.</p> + +<p>Therefore, although many of the remarks in these +pages may seem to have only a local or particular reference, +they are applicable to the whole tribe of <em>locusts</em>, +and describe the species too definitely to admit of mistake. +The characters sketched are not caricatures, but, +unfortunately for the eyes of her majesty’s lieges, really +exist <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">in propriâ personâ</i>.</p> + +<p>Feeling assured that the Duke of Wellington would +rejoice to see an exposure of such tricksters, I forwarded<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span> +to him a copy of Spectacle Secrets, and the following +acknowledgment was promptly returned:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +<span style="padding-right: 1em"><em>Walmer Castle</em>, <em>Nov. 11, 1838</em>.</span><br> +</p> + +<p>The Duke of Wellington presents his compliments to Mr. Cox, +and has received his letter and the work referred to: he is much +obliged to Mr. Cox for the communication.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center no-indent">Copy of a Letter to <span class="smcap">Frederick Tyrell, Esq.</span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—The advertisement enclosed frequently appears in the +daily and weekly newspapers, to which, as your name is attached, +I beg to direct your attention, and solicit an answer to the following +questions at your earliest convenience.</p> + +<p>1st.—Have you proved the superior efficacy of the Spectacles, +(as stated in the advertisement), and consider they merit your unqualified +approbation?</p> + +<p>2nd.—Will you oblige me by stating what peculiar advantages +you consider them to possess over the usual Spectacles, manufactured +by the London opticians?</p> + +<p>3rd.—Does your approval extend to all the Spectacles sold by the +advertiser, or to those which he designates Amber Spectacles only?</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="padding-right: 4em">I remain, Sir, yours obediently,</span><br> +<span class="smcap">George Cox</span>.<br> +</p> + +<p>To Frederick Tyrell, Esq.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="center no-indent">Mr. <span class="smcap">Tyrell’s</span> Reply.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +<em>17, New Bridge Street, Blackfriars.</em><br> +<em>January 29th, 1838.</em><br> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—In reply to your letter respecting Mr. —— I have to state, +First, That I am not acquainted with any institution which is designated +“The Royal Eye Infirmary,” to which he states that he is +optician. The Royal Ophthalmic Hospital, in Moorfields, is sometimes +so called, but Mr. —— is not optician to that institution.</p> + +<p>Secondly, That Mr. —— has not any permission from me to +make use of my name in advertisements, as approving of any glass, +spectacles, or other articles he may either manufacture or sell.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span> +And thirdly, That I do <em>not</em> consider his glasses to be in any respect +superior to those manufactured by other persons in the trade.</p> + +<p>You are at liberty to make use of this communication in any +way you deem proper to counteract Mr. ——’s advertisements.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="padding-right: 2em">I remain yours respectfully,</span><br> +<span class="smcap">Frederick Tyrell</span>.<br> +</p> + +<p>To Mr. George Cox.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<p>J. Hodson, Esq., consulting Oculist to the Eye Infirmary, +Birmingham, resolved upon coming to London +to give me his disclaimer, rather than incur any chance +of misrepresentation from an unjustifiable use being +made of his signature, he being an entire stranger to me +before I addressed him upon this subject.</p> + +<p>He authorizes me to state that Mr. —— has no authority +or right whatever to make use of his name. +About four years since a man came to his surgery, and +introducing himself as the inventor of roseate tint preservers +and amber spectacles, showed him a pair in silver +frames, and, expatiating upon their wonderful properties, +mentioned the names of several leading surgeons and +oculists who had inserted their signatures in a book +which he handed to Mr. Hodson, who, without suspecting +the design of the knave, added his to the list, +for the same reason, he said, that folks do so at a watering +place, a library, or as having visited or seen some +particular exhibition—in fact, because it was customary +to do so. Four or five days afterwards the same individual +called again, apparently in great haste, and requested +Mr. H. to lend him two sovereigns, as he had +immediate occasion for that sum. He produced a pair +of amber spectacles, and said, “I will leave these as security +until I return the money.” Mr. H. began now +to suspect the fellow, and guessed it to be very unlikely<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span> +that he would trouble himself to redeem the Spectacles +(worth about twelve shillings) if he succeeded in raising +two pounds upon them; he therefore referred him to a +pawnbroker in the neighbourhood, whose business it was +to enter into such arrangements, which were, clearly +quite foreign to his, Mr. H.’s practice.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hodson has ever since regretted having (though +inadvertently) given his signature, which, as the reader +will perceive, is solicited as a mere matter of form, and +is then made the most unwarrantable use of, involving +the parties in many dilemmas, and exposing them to the +ridicule and reprehension of every intelligent observer.</p> + +<p>The fact is, if one signature of an eminent person +can be procured by dint of false representation or +plausible pretence, the rest follow as a matter of +course; thus Mr. Hodson signed his name, seeing that +some of the “heads of colleges” were there inscribed. +Mr. Soden, of Bath, gave his signature because Mr. +Ledsam had given his; and Mr. Ledsam signed because +Mr. Hodson had done so.</p> + +<p>Mr. Alexander, Oculist to the Royal Family, was +waited upon by one of the crafty crew, whose object +was to get his signature at all hazards. The fellow +fawned and entreated, but was sternly resisted by Mr. A. +who showed him the door, and declared, if he presumed +to make use of his name, in his quack advertisements, +he would set a solicitor to work immediately.</p> + +<p class="center no-indent">Copy of a Letter from <span class="smcap">Robert Keate</span>, Esq., Surgeon in Ordinary +to Her Majesty.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +<em>Albemarle Street,</em> <em>July 17, 1838</em>.<br> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—Although I do not consider myself bound to reply to the +questions put to me by you, being in utter ignorance of the use<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span> +which you propose to make of my answer; yet I can have no +hesitation in saying that I think Mr. —— has been guilty of an +unpardonable liberty in publishing my name, without my sanction, +and more especially in appending it to the document (a copy of +which you sent to me), and to which I have never affixed my +signature. I was requested to look at M ——’s amber spectacles, +and I saw no others; and looking through them on a day when the +sun shone brightly, they appeared to me to soften the light more than +crystal or pebbles; and seeing the names of many eminent surgeons +and oculists attached to various certificates, I wrote and signed what +I have stated above, and I believe no more; namely, that the amber +spectacles seemed to <em>soften the light</em> more than the pebbles.<a id="FNanchor_16" href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> +I am not aware of having seen any other sort; and certainly I have +not ventured to sign my <em>approval</em> of these, or of any others.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="padding-right: 2em">I am, Sir, your obedient servant,</span><br> +<span class="smcap">Robert Keate</span>.<br> +</p> + +<p>To Mr. George Cox.</p> +</div> + +<p>I could give the disclaimers of other gentlemen who +have been trepanned into giving their signatures, which +are afterwards so pompously paraded by the testimonialed +and certificated adventurers; but these will suffice +to illustrate the working of the system.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“A wise physician, skill’d our wounds to heal,</div> + <div class="verse indent1">Is more than armies to the public weal.”—<span class="smcap">Pope.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>I cannot but feel gratified, that this correspondence, +while it has substantiated my arguments, affords an +opportunity for those gentlemen to explain the real truth<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span> +of the matter, and to exonerate themselves from the +contaminating connexion, which appeared to place their +reputation for that “quality called honesty” in jeopardy.</p> + +<p>I have received several impromptu effusions from +humorous correspondents in different parts of the kingdom, +where I have been and unmasked the impositions +of spectacle cheats. One says—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“They <em>make</em> not spectacles, you say;</div> + <div class="verse indent2">With that I can’t agree,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Both wife and I have worn their trash,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Now spectacles are we.”—<span class="smcap">Quiz.</span></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="no-indent">Another—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“A celebrated chemist has ascertained, by very accurate analysis, +that there is enough brass in the countenances of the spectacle men +of Duke’s Place and Petticoat Lane to make spectacle-frames for all +the spinsters in the neighbourhood.”—<span class="smcap">Satirist.</span></p> +</div> + +<p>I have, of course, laid myself open to the furious and +vindictive hostility of those quacks, whose nefarious +practices are exposed, and whose career will be checked +in proportion as this treatise is circulated and dispassionately +perused. But, secure of the approbation of +all my readers who will avail themselves of the information +contained in these pages, I may conclude with +satisfaction, since</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Friends I have made whom envy must commend,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And not one foe whom I would wish a friend.</div> + </div> +</div> +</div> +<br> + +<p class="center no-indent"><span class="smcap">THE END.</span></p> +<br> +<br> + +<p class="center no-indent fs70">R. COTTLE, PRINTER, BASINGSTOKE.</p> +<br> +<br> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_16" href="#FNanchor_16" class="label">[16]</a> When the eyes are distressed and overwhelmed with light, <em>any</em> +shade or screen is viewed with satisfaction. Coloured glasses +“soften the light” more naturally, and present to the eye equal and +parallel surfaces: parasols, veils, and even opaque substances, may +thus be said to shield the eye, and “modify bright and strong light,” +but it would be as ridiculous to consider these as fit mediums for the +ordinary purposes of vision, as it is to select amber for the purpose.</p> + +</div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter transnote"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_Notes">Transcriber’s Notes</h2> + +<ul> +<li>pg 43 Changed: and the eminent individval himself<br> +<span style="padding-left: 2em">to: and the eminent individual himself</span></li> + +<li>pg 45 Changed: ground in a pecular manner<br> +<span style="padding-left: 2em">to: ground in a peculiar manner</span></li> + +<li>pg 45 Changed: the only real original manufacter of them<br> +<span style="padding-left: 2em">to: the only real original manufacturer of them</span></li> + +<li>pg 49 Changed: received from the first familes<br> +<span style="padding-left: 2em">to: received from the first families</span></li> + +<li>pg 60 Changed: charge according to the gullibilty of his dupes<br> +<span style="padding-left: 2em">to: charge according to the gullibility of his dupes</span></li> + +<li>pg 61 Changed: being to expose a system of villany<br> +<span style="padding-left: 2em">to: being to expose a system of villainy</span></li> + +<li>pg 62 Changed: The Royal Opthalmic Hospital, in Moorfields<br> +<span style="padding-left: 2em">to: The Royal Ophthalmic Hospital, in Moorfields</span></li> + +<li>New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.</li> +</ul> +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75415 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/75415-h/images/cover.jpg b/75415-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..efabaaa --- /dev/null +++ b/75415-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/75415-h/images/no1.jpg b/75415-h/images/no1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d5b467e --- /dev/null +++ b/75415-h/images/no1.jpg diff --git a/75415-h/images/no2.jpg b/75415-h/images/no2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b81ed0 --- /dev/null +++ b/75415-h/images/no2.jpg diff --git a/75415-h/images/no3.jpg b/75415-h/images/no3.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8b472b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/75415-h/images/no3.jpg diff --git a/75415-h/images/no4.jpg b/75415-h/images/no4.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a52d49c --- /dev/null +++ b/75415-h/images/no4.jpg diff --git a/75415-h/images/no5.jpg b/75415-h/images/no5.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..eeecb48 --- /dev/null +++ b/75415-h/images/no5.jpg diff --git a/75415-h/images/no6.jpg b/75415-h/images/no6.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fb48b58 --- /dev/null +++ b/75415-h/images/no6.jpg diff --git a/75415-h/images/no7.jpg b/75415-h/images/no7.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..953bba2 --- /dev/null +++ b/75415-h/images/no7.jpg diff --git a/75415-h/images/no8.jpg b/75415-h/images/no8.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a760456 --- /dev/null +++ b/75415-h/images/no8.jpg |
