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172 PATHOLOGY OF THE HARD TISSUES OF THE TEETH.

MANAGEMENT OF LIGHT AND CARE OF THE EYES.
The management of light is one of the essential things in
operating. The light should always fall fairly on the field of
operation and this should be the brighest light in the room. In
localities in which the weather is generally fair, the office is best
arranged if direct sunlight does not enter ; but in some localities
where there is much cloudy weather and many dark days, posi-
tions with the greatest amount of light will be preferable. Then
on bright days the light can be modified by window shades. Very
much may be done for the comfort of the eyes in the choice and
arrangement of the wall decorations of the office and still pre-
serve a tasteful color selection. The principal wall colors should
never be bright. Neither should there be any form of glaze on
the walls that will reflect light. The worst possible arrangement
for a dental office would be a full white shining wall. All of the
ground colors should be mild and subdued in tone. If bright
colors are desired, they should be confined to a very small amount
of surface in order that they may not affect in any marked degree
the general tone of light in the room. Still, it is essential that
the light in the operating-room be cheerful and that practically
all parts of the room be reasonably well lighted. But it should
not be brightly lighted.
The operating chair should generally be lighted by a single
window. This should be low enough, when possible, to admit
horizontal rays of light when needed, or as nearly that as prac-
ticable. A long window from which a high light may be obtained
is also desirable but less important than the low and medium
range of light. If more light should be desirable for the room,
it is best that it be from a window in the same wall some distance
away on the right side of the chair. The shade for this should
be so arranged that this source of light can be conveniently
closed. In certain positions at the chair such a light will be very
undesirable. The operating window should be furnished with a
shade, or two shades, by which light can be had from any part
of the window at will, shutting off any part not wanted for the
particular operation. The single window shade that may be run
down from the top and close any part of the window below,
obtaining the light entirely from above the shade, or by running
it up and obtaining all the light from below, is generally suffi-