The herald., 1893-10-22
WHY PEOPLE 60 BLIND.
THESE WRETCHED BACTERIA AND
THEIR EFFECTS.
The Coccus Microbe and It's Deadly
Work on the Membranes of the
Eye-Some Interesting
Facts.

San Francisco Call: The application
OF bacteriology to diseases of the eye is
attracting considerable attention at the
east and in Europe. IL appears that
from 25 to 40 psr cent of the cases OF
blindness in this country are due to the
malignant action OF a minute microbe
which physicians call a coccus. This
microbe, which is sometimes described
as plant and sometimes as an insect,
quite often appears on the conjunctiva
or mucous membrane OF the eye few
days or hours after the birth of an in
fant. II let alone 1t prepagates rapidly,
overspreads the eyeball and destroys
the organ by shutting off its supply OF
nutriment. When 1t has reached this
stage, the disease-then called ophthal-
mia-is incurable, and its victims are
claseed as blind from birth. But if the
coccus is resoutely attacked when it
first makes its appearance it is extir-
pated without difficulty, and a patient
who, but for medical treatment, would
have become hopelessly blind, retains
his sight.
The body of eminent and public spir-
tied men who see to it that the legislx-
ture of the state of New York keeps
pace with the march of science, lately
secured the passage of an act which re-
quires 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 it rarely hap
pens that the treatment fails to exter-
inmate 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 afterwards in blind asylums.
The eye is subject to variety OF dis
cases which have thus far not been
traced to bacterial origin.
Such are the various forms of conjunc-
tivitis, cataract, etc. The opthalmia go
prevalent in Egypt and India, and
which is known az purulent opthalmia,
is treated by the astringents which. for
aught we know, were used by the Phs-
raohs. This is caueed by the admission
OF malignant matter into the eye, and 1t
is rare that both eyes ere saved after it
has set in. By benefcient disposition
of providence its ravages are generally
arrested when the sight of one eye has
been destroyed, go that the Egyptians
have sometimes been known as the one
eyed people. That form of opthalmis
ia not common in this country. The
enemy we have to contend with is the
coccue.
1t would be good idea for other states
to follow the example of New York and
to endeavor to extirpste the mcst fruit
fui cause OF blindness. There are in
this country about $4,000 blind persons,
most of whom are cared for in blind
asyums or in other benevolent institu-
tions there are less than 100 in this etate,
80 being about the average number of
patients at Berkeley. But even this
number involves a serious diminution of
the potential force of the community.
Under the stimulus of the humane ten
dencies 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 de.
privation OF the most valuable OF the
senses has often appeared to sharpen
their wits. But still blind person is
an object of pity; usefulness ia not alto
gether beyond his reach, but it is only
attained by phenomenal and almost
miraculous good fortune. There is
something pathetic in the fact that the
best occupation which has been found
for the blind people at Berkeley is
broom making.
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 eami.
obscurity. When in old age the eye
sight begins to fail people resort to
glasses, which repair the deficiency.
But glasses are an artificial stimulant
which is apt to be followed by reaction.
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.