These expeditious conditions were obtained in the army tests, by (1) avoiding wherever possible the necessity of composition on the part of the person taking the test, and reducing the amount of writing to a minimum, and (2) by making up the test so that it could be scored with a specially prepared stencil.

For example, the test mentioned in a previous chapter on common sense contained three questions similar to the following:

Why ought every man to be educated? Because:

Wilson was a teacher

It makes him more useful

It is expensive

A cross in the second square is all that is required for the answer. No writing whatever is necessary. The marking was done by the use of a stencil consisting of a sheet of transparent celluloid. On this the correct answers were marked with India ink, in such a position that when placed over the examination paper, the answer corresponded with the space where it should appear. If it appeared in the correct square the answer was marked as correct; if not,

as an error.

Tests should be so graded from the simple to the complex that the least intelligent applicants can answer some of the questions in the beginning; the questions henceforth should grow increasingly difficult until only the very highest intelligence can make a perfect score. Such a score, if made, should be an indication that the person making it had developed in a high degree the capacity which it was designed to show.

PRIMARY TEST FOR ALL OFFICE WORK

As all office work is accomplished with the aid of the eyes, it follows that eyesight is the primary and the most fundamental physical quality required, and should therefore be definitely tested first. If defects in vision are found,

it should be made a condition of employment that they must be corrected if possible. There is no reason, of course, why this expense should not be borne by the employee, but some companies arrange that proper glasses can be fitted for their employees at low cost, many oculists being willing to make special terms for this purpose.

The following test, prepared and issued by the Eyesight Conservation Council, can be given without the aid of experts

EYE TESTS IN INDUSTRY

The "tests" recommended for detecting defects of vision are very simple. No complicated apparatus is required and no technical knowledge on the part of the person making the tests is needed. All that is necessary is to follow carefully the instructions here given.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Before undertaking the tests the person who is to conduct them should have read over this entire test and become thoroughly familiar with the instructions.

2. The "Vision Test Chart" (Figure 60), the "Near Test Card" (Figure 61) and a yardstick are all the equipment required.

3. A supply of "Employees' Eye Test Record" cards (see Figure 62) should be available. The full advantage will not be realized unless records are kept.

4. It is not necessary to provide a special room in which to make the tests. Any office or room with one dimension slightly

more than 20 feet will be suitable.

5. It is preferable that the tests be conducted privately, as greater cooperation is secured and confidence can be better established.

6. The "Eye Test Line" should be indicated on the floor at a distance of 20 feet from the wall on which the chart for the distance test is hung.

NOTE: There are two separate tests to be made:

(a) Distance test for visual acuity which is made at the standard distance of 20 feet, by using the large Vision Test Chart, and

(b) Near test which is made at a distance equal to the working distance, and which therefore varies with different individuals. The small Near Test Card is used.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR TESTING VISUAL ACUITY

1. Types of Acuteness of Vision:

The conditions revealed by the test and observations may be

VISION CHART

INSTRUCTIONS FOR TESTING VISUAL AQUITY

8

=10

grouped as follows:

(a) Normal acuteness of vision
(normal vision)

(b) Normal acuteness of vision
accompanied by eyestrain
(usually "far-sightedness")
(c) Diminished acuteness of vi-
sion (usually "near-sighted-
ness")

2. Method:

By use of the "Vision Chart" (see Figure 60).

(1) Exposure of Chart:

Charts should never be exposed except during examination, as some people may memorize the order of the letters. If practicable, it is better to examine each employee privately. (2) Light:

Tests should be made in good daylight, and not on cloudy days. If good daylight is not available, artificial light properly shaded may be used. The chart should be hung on a level with the subject's eyes where it has the best illumination from the side. The person being examined should not face the light source. Do not allow chart to be covered by glass when in use, as light may be reflected or letters distorted thereby. (3) Testing Distance:

Figure 60:

Distance eye-test

The subject should stand, or may sit in a chair placed at the "Eye Test Line"- -20 feet (6 meters) from the chart -and directly in front of it.

(4) Testing:

Each eye should be tested separately, starting with the right eye, the other being completely covered with a card or slip of stiff paper so as not to press upon the eyeball. This is important, as pressure might induce an incorrect answer. The subject should start at the top of the chart, and should read down from left to right.

The degree of visual acuity is determined by the smallest letters that can be deciphered by each eye separately, 20 feet from the chart. The fraction to the right of the last line successfully read should be recorded as indicating the proportion of normal vision.

To illustrate:

NEAR TEST CARD

COPYRIGHT 1923

BY

THE EYESIGHT CONSERVATION COUNCIL
OF AMERICA

TIMES BUILDING, NEW YORK CITY

Figure 61: Near eye-test

If, with the right eye
(the other covered),
all the letters in line
Number 10 can be
read without error,
the right eye has normal vision (10/10). If the left eye is
tested (the right eye covered) and found to see not better
than the letters on line Number 5, the left eye has 5/10
vision, as indicated by the figures to the right of that line.
of letters. The record would be as follows:

3. Illustrations of Types of Acuteness of Vision—(a), (b), and (c):

A record 10/10 (without symptoms of eyestrain) indicates normal acuteness of vision (type (a)).

A record of even 10/10, if accompanied by symptoms of eye

strain such as habitual headache, and unnatural weariness after work, bloodshot eyes, crusty lids, and so forth, is abnormal. Such evidence of eyestrain is designed by the symbol "S" and record should be as follows:

This indicates normal acuteness of vision plus eyestrain (type (b)).

The detection of eyestrain symptoms depends upon careful observation and inquiry and not upon the use of the vision chart alone.

A record of less than 10/10 in one or both eyes, that is, 8/10, 6/10, 5/10, 4/10, and so forth, indicates diminished acuteness of vision (type (c)).

Always record each eye separately; even though vision is equal. NOTE: The large figure at the right of each line serves a double purpose. It affords a convenient way of referring to a particular line and also serves as a numerator for expressing vision in tenths. To illustrate: Line Number I would indicate 1/10 vision, line Number 6, 6/10 vision, line Number 8, 8/10 vision, line Number 10, 10/10 vision, and so on.

If the person making the examination suspects that the subject is memorizing the letters, he should have the subject read them from right to left, or he may easily check up the findings by having the subject call the letters as indicated by the examiner pointing to them out of their usual sequence.