Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-04-15
Prevention or Incurable Maladics.

Preventive hygiene has largely to dc
with diminishing the number of the af.
ilictcd classes for whom asylums and
various forms of retreat are provided.
1t, therefore, is valuable direction for
charity to show itself in, and has i'm.
portant relations to finance and polite.
al economy. We desire to call public
attention especially to these sad classes
of invalids, a large proportion of which
owe their maladies to the neglect OF
proper preventive measures. Spasm,
in one form or another, is largely the
cause of various forms of mental aber-
ration OF incapacity. The history of
many case of epilepsy or of mental
insufliciency is simply this; A child,
either from improper food, from ex.
posture to undue heat, or from some
form of sickness, has one or more
spasms. At first there is great alarm
and medical aid Is summoned. Too
frequently, after the recovery, and
after the cessation OF the direct exciting
cause, the system is left too mobile,
and tends, as if by mere habit, or from
disturbed nervous action, after q time
to repeat the spasm. 1t is sadly won
derful to see how, after two or three
rcpetitions and quick recoveries, the
case ceases TO be treated under skilled
advice. This and that remedy is tried
until, too frequently, that intensity OF
habit or organic change ensues which
insurcs lifelong incapacity, shading of
into paralysis, dementia, or other forms
of defect. The early treatment of such
cases is now so well understood, and
the Importance of medication for at
least two years after an attack now so
well established, that it is believed that
large proportion of the cases are cur
able ii only under medical oversight.
This does not mean frequent visits OF
large expense, but a system of skilled
care. Let no parent or friend neglect
any such child in its earlier attacks.
Next. Very many diseases of the
ear result from some form OF throat
trouble, from enlargement of the glands
or as a sequel of scarlet fever. The
records of deaf mute institutions show
that comparatively few are born with
malformed or incompetent auditory
apparatus, but disease in some form OF
other arrests the sensc-power. For
this reason, in all throat troubles of
serious nature, the physician should
satisfy himself that the Eustackian tube
leading from the throat to the middle
ear is in good order. After, or during
scarlet fever, tho hearing should be
watched with care, and the frat evil
dences of impairment be met with what
is now recognized treatment. So
long as active and decided inRamma.
ton has not attacked the middle ear, or
even when not at the start destructive,
if the outer connection of the throat and
ear arc kept at its best, and local and
constitutional means employed. the
hearing Is still left intact. Then, even
when the hearing is partially lost, the
persistence OF proper training and
teaching. in young life, saves many
deaf person from becoming mute.
While much is now being done in teach
ing in institutions, too often much time
has been lost while the hearing was be.
coming less.
But It is, perhaps, rs to contagious
diseases of the eyes that we need to be
most Of all on the alert. In some notes
on contagious diseases OF the eyes in
schools and asylums, furnished to the
New York State Board of Health, DE.
Agnew says: Diseases of the con iuno-
ton and cornca are largely the cause Of
prevailing blindness; aud yet they be-
long in great degree to the class of
preventable diseases. The fact that
they do fall into this class gives to the
sanitarian and to the Legislators q
special opportunity ard advantage for
inquiry, advice aud legal enactment, to
limit or prevent their prevalence"
Speaking of school of dependent
children, in one of the counties OF New
York. he says ''that he found half of
the inmates with purulcnt opthalmia.
Several cases of blindness occurred
among the scholars and their attend
ants, i've children having lost both
eyes, and seventeen children having lost
each an eye." In a school the writer
visited, Just outside of London, he saw
similar record. Catarrhal diseases of
the eyes or granular lids may be COM
municated by one case to whole
school. Tbs use of the same towel or a
little of the virus on handkerchief or
the fingers may thus pass IL from one
to another. The disease also originates
in schools sometimes from overcrowd-
ing and poor food. But single cases
also occur; and blindness or impair.
ment of vision is far moro common
| from this cause than most people
know. In all public institutions for
children, each new conner should DO ex.
amned before joining the general mass,
and where n case is found thorough iso-
lation is necessary. 1t is all important
that everything connected with the
wash-room be thoroughly clearly. Even
children should, a. rule, be provided
with thcr own towels and be respon'
siblc for their care. Never more than
now were sound eyes needed for all the
industries and study of human life; and
we must not mperil the sight or fill oui
institutions with incurables even al.
though the education OF the mute and
| of the blind La n GRAND charity.=N y