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By W. H. Bates, M.D.

The failure of the muscles of the eyes to function normally under the
conditions of civilization is not an isolated phenomenon. As Diana
Watts, in her remarkable book, 'The Renaissance of the Greek
Ideal' (Frederick A. Stokes Company, New York), points out, the entire
muscular system of modern civilized peoples works under such a
condition of jar and strain that all muscular labor is accomplished
with a maximum of effort. So far, indeed, have we drifted from our
normal physical possibilities that the positions of the ancient
statues seem impossible to us, and we have been forced to attribute
many descriptions of the feats of heroes in the Iliad and Odyssey to
poetic license. Mrs. Watts, by reproducing the positions of these
statues, and doing other things that are beyond the power of even the
strongest gymnast and dancers trained under present methods, has
fairly established her claim to have discovered the secret of Greek
physical supremacy.

Greek athletics, according to Mrs. Watts, was very far from being a
matter of mere muscle development. Its aim was to produce a condition
in which all the muscles worked harmoniously together and responded
instantly to the mind's desire, thus securing a maximum of activity
with a minimum expenditure of energy.

The secret she found to be very simple. It consists in such a perfect
balancing of the body that whether it is at rest or in motion its
centre of gravity is always kept exactly over its base. This perfect
equilibrium involves in turn a condition of the muscles in which they
are transformed from a dead weight to a living force. In this
condition there is said to be a complete connection of all the muscles
with the center of gravity; independent motions and independent
reactions are eliminated, and a combined force is instantly brought to
bear upon whatever work is required. The spine is perfectly straight,
the waist muscles firm, and the weight, in the standing posture, is
supported upon the balls of the feet. Extraordinary precision and
beauty of movement results, and all sense of fatigue is said to be
abolished.

To attain this equilibrium in its perfection requires much study and
practice, but it can be approximated simply by keeping the spine
straight and the weight over the balls of the feet, or upon the
thighs, if seated. By this means a large degree of relaxation is often
obtained, and the effect upon the eyesight has, in several cases, been
most marked.

A patient suffering from retinitis pigmentosa found that when he
straightened his spine, in walking or sitting, his field at once
became normal, remaining so as long as the erect position was
maintained. His field had already improved considerably by other
methods, but was still very far from normal. In the evening the
position had the further effect of relieving his night blindness.

Another patient who had been under treatment for some time for a high
degree of myopia without having become able to read the bottom line of
the test card, read it for the first time when her body was in the
position described. She was able, moreover, the maintain the position
for a considerable length of time, whereas ordinarily she was
extremely restless, and could not remain still for more than a moment.
A third patient, who could not rest her eyes by closing them or by
palming, was relieved at once by this means, as was shown, not only by
her own feelings, but by the expression of her face.

Sleeping with a straight spine has also been found to be a very
effective method of improving the vision and relieving fatigue. The
patient with retinitis pigmentosa whose case has just been referred
to, suffered continual relapses in the morning. No matter how well he
saw in the afternoon, or in the evening, he would wake up unable to
distinguish the big C and with his memory so impaired that it would
take him the whole morning to get it back. After sleeping on his back,
with his lower limbs completely extended and his arms lying straight
by his sides, he was able to see the fifty line at ten feet when he
woke and his memory was much better than usual at that time. Further
improvement resulted from further sleeping in this posture. The
patient with myopia had been in the habit of waking up tired after ten
or twelve hours' sleep. One night she shared her bed with a guest, and
in order not to disturb the latter she tried to keep her body
straight. Although she had staid up until a very late hour talking,
she awoke feeling perfectly refreshed. Another myopic patient who had
been at a standstill for six months, gained two lines after sleeping
on his back for one night.

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Better Eyesight
A monthly magazine devoted to the prevention and cure of imperfect
sight without glasses
Copyright, 1920, by the Central Fixation Publishing Company
Editor—W. H. Bates, M.D.
Publisher—Central Fixation Publishing Co.
$2.00 per year, 20 cents per copy
342 West 42nd Street, New York, N. Y.
Vol. II - June, 1920 - No. 6
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