New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-24
opHrHALMIA N TIE SCHOOLS.
LITTLE CAUSE FOR AIARM-ExAMINING CaiLnRE'
IN INSTITUTION

IN INSTITUTIONS.
TIE Board of Aldermen last fall asked the iieaIth
DEPARTMENT to investigate ruinOr that Ophtnau'Id
had become prevalent IN some OF the puDlc schoos,
and an examination of pupils III all the primary ana
Grammar schools below HOuSiOn-St. ShOMeti ttdO
Thn r;in,or was uufOuuded 1t was ascertalned that
the prompt exclusion of all pupils VINO shoW""
symptoms or any contagious diseases prevented Il
spread OF ophthalmia III such schools heGeI'y
the New Ork Academy OF Medicine dccl9ed 10
invest gate reports that o. hthamla had spread 10 an
alarming extent in private schools ana IN asy iulhS
and public institutions Where cn,iuren tcd
together in large numbers. y committee 9Ppoiiulci
To make the Investigation consisted OIlEulally Vi
Dr. {. K. Agucw ptOlcsSor oil diseases OF Tue en-
and eve in the College OF physicians and SURGEONS;
Or Richard II. Derby, surgeon OF tue New oik
Eye and Ear lntrm1Iyi ana DTS T.. > pull ~
Webster, G.. NJ. Smith. and A.. Jac"hl. Inc CO.
0pcrati0n of other associations having beeh ASKED
for The committee increased by the appointment
OF Or. John J. Milhau, OF the state boaia Oh
Charities Arthur g. SedgThlGki 81 'I Gerry of
the Society for the Prevention OF Crueily 10
Children; and James tailatln, OF me society LOT
the Improvement of the Condition OF the POOR Dr
Derby was made chairman Of the committee, ana
il was decided to begin examinations IN various
srbools and asvlums before the close Of the year
The Board of Health asked 10 appoint members
Of the committee SANITARY inspectors without pay,
in order that the committeeman might nave
authority to enter private SCHOOLS. Such request
could not he granted under the law. but me B04Id
instructed DR.. MOeau Morris. rhicl inspector Oh INC
fISt sanitary division, aud Inspectors ENlHs
Stilwcl and liuchan 10 assist the committee as lar
About week ago the work Of investigation was
begun At the outset the working members oil the
committee found that the work would he long an Il
tedious if the examinations were to he thoIon4h
enough to serve rs the basis Tor satisfactory
repor.. 1t was expected also that report i",th
he useful as a of procuring proper leSIsl'i N
thls winter. Tho field OF inquiry was Injured 10
private and public aSylums and residential schoG'
in the city Dr. AQuew who has been active III inc
work of investigation, SAID yesterday that me
examinations had not advanced lar enough 10
show how mach ophthalmia is pres sent In any
institution. Enough cases have been found,
however to prove that energetic action r. needed TO
stop the advance OF the di-ca~c. mere Is no
cause for alarm he added. bat ibrre !, lo,oh 10"
the utmost vigilance and hard OH on the part oi
managers of institutions. We nave l"uhV te
managers courteous and and anxious 10 ASSIST Us III
tue work" ,.e .!.
ElIriIgc r. Gerry sand that the chief point
dcvelopcd by the Invc,tigat on thus lar was me
danger of admitting children to schools ana
aSvlums without proper medical eN"i"in"iioh. \
single case of ophtLalmia IN such an INSTITUTION
would cause spread Of the disease by means 81
wash basins and towels ~ common uSe. III 'urh
institutions also tue regular medical examinations
were not thorough enough. Tho Lr-N'"tui C
probably Will DE asked 10 pass biz Tor Tie
correction OF such evils.