In its true sense, color-blindness is always congenital, often hereditary.  This condition of abnormal vision is totally incurable.  A person may be color-blind and not know it until the defect is accidentally revealed.  The common form of defective color-vision is the inability to distinguish between red and green.  As green lights mean safety, and red lights danger, on railroads, on shipboard, and elsewhere, it becomes of paramount importance that no one who is color-blind should be employed in such service.  Various tests are now required by statute law in many states to be used for the detection of such defects of vision among employees in certain occupations.

338.  School Life and the Eyesight.  The eyes of children need more care than those of adults, because their eyes are still in the course of development.  The eyes, like any other organ which is yet to attain its full growth, require more care in their use than one which has already reached its full size.  They are peculiarly liable to be affected by improper or defective light.  Hence the care of the eyes during school life is a matter of the most practical importance.

In no matter of health can the teacher do a more distinct service than in looking after the eyesight of the pupils.  Children suffering from defective vision are sometimes punished by teachers for supposed stupidity.  Such pupils, as well as the deaf, are peculiarly sensitive to their defects.  Every schoolroom should have plenty of light; it should come from either side or the rear, and should be regulated with suitable shades and curtains.

Pupils should not be allowed to form the bad habit of reading with the book held close to the eyes.  The long search on maps for obscure names printed in letters of bad and trying type should be discouraged.  Straining the eyes in trying to read from slates and blackboards, in the last hour of the afternoon session, or in cloudy weather, may do a lifelong injury to the eyesight.  Avoid the use, so far as possible, especially in a defective light, of text-books which are printed on battered type and worn plates.

The seat and desk of each scholar should be carefully arranged to suit the eyesight, as well as the bones and muscles.  Special pains should be taken with the near-sighted pupils, and those who return to school after an attack of scarlet fever, measles, or diphtheria.

Experiment 156. To test color-blindness. On no account is the person being tested to be asked to name a color.  In a large class of students one is pretty sure to find some who are more or less color-blind.  The common defects are for red and green.

Place worsteds on a white background in a good light.  Select, as a test color, a skein of light green color, such as would be obtained by mixing a pure green with white.  Ask the examinee to select and pick out from the heap all those skeins which appear to him