The morning call., 1893-10-12
WHY PEOPLE GROW BLIND.

The application of bacteriology to dis
eases of the eye is attracting considerable
attention at the East and in Europe. 1t
appears that from 25 to 40 per cent of the
cases OF blindness in this country are due
to the malignant action of minute mi
crobe which physicians call coccus.
This microbe, which is sometimes de-
scribed as a plant and sometimes as an
insect, quite often appears on the con-
junctiva or mucous membrane of the eye
few days or hours after the birth of an
infant II let alone it propagates rapidly,
overspreads the eyeball and destroys the
organ by shutting off its supply of nutri-
ment. When 1t has reached this stage the
disease-then called ophthalmia-is incur
able, and its victims are Classed as blind
from birth. But if the cOccus is resolutey
attacked when it first makes its appear
anee it is extirpated without difficulty. and
a patient who, but for medical treatment
would have become hopelessly blind, re-
tains his sight.
The body of eminent and public-spirited
men who see to it that the Legislature OF
the State of New York keeps pace with
the march OF science lately secured the
passage of an act which requires midwives,
under severe penalties. TO report every
case of inflamed eyes or reddish eruption
over the eyelids of newborn children.
Such cases are treated by physicians in the
employ of the Board of Health, and 1t
rarely happens that the treatment fails to
exterminate the parasite. 1t is, of course.
more economical for the city to employ
physicians to preserve the eyesight of the
children of the poor than TO support them
afterward in blind asylums.
The eye is subject TO variety of dis
eases which have thus far not been traced
10 bacterial origin. Such are the various
forms OF cODlunctivtis, cataract, etc.
The ophtbalmia so prevalent in Egypt and
India, and which Is known as purulent oph-
thalmia, is still treated by the astringents
which. for aught we know, were used
under the Pharaohs. This is caused by
the admission of malignant matter into
the eye, and it is rare that both eyes are
saved when the disease has set in. By be-
nefcent disposition of providence its raw
ages are generally arrested when the sight
of one eye has been destroyed. so that the
Egyptians have sometimes been known as
the one-eyed people. That form of oph-
thalmia is not common in this country.
The enemy we have TO contend with is
the coccus.
1t would be good idea for other States
to follow the example of New York and to
endeayor to extlrpate the most fruitful
cause of blindness. There are in this
country about $4,000 blind persons, most of
whom are cared for in blind asylums or in
other benevolent Institutions; there are
less than hundred in this State, thirty
being about the average number of patients
at Berkeley. But even this number in
wolves serious diminution of the poten-
tial force of the community. Under the
stimulus Of the humane tendencies Of the
age in which we live much has been done
to ameliorate the condition of the blind.
They have been taught to read; they
have been educated in music; the depri-
vation Of the most valuable of the senses
has often appeared to sharpen their wits.
But still blind person is an Object of
pity; usefulness is not altogether beyond
his reach, but it is only attained by phen-
omeual and almost miraculous good for
tune. There is something pathetic in the
fact that the best occupation which has
been found for the blind people at Berke-
ley is broommaking.
AS general rule people do not treat
their eyes fairly. They overtax them and
then wonder that they fail in their duty.
Few eyes can stand the strain of working
by artificial light; still fewer can perform
their functions in semi-obscurlty. When
in old age the eyesight begins to fail people
resort TO glasses, which repair the def
cheney. But glasses are an artificial stimu-
liant which is apt to be followed by reac-
tion. They should not be used except in
cases of necessity. Many man has gone
blind from wearing powerful spectacles IN
season and out OF season.