The evening world., 1894-07-31
EYE PLAGUE RAGING.
Discovered BY Evening World"
Doctor in the Seventh Ward.
Supposed 10 Have Sprung from the
Grand Street Bath.
Health Board Takes Prompt and
Vigorous Action.

The Board of Health was notified this
afternoon OF the sudden outbreak in
the Seventh Ward OF a "iruien, conta-
gious disease.
Immediately upon receiving the re,or.
Dr. DotN, chief vi the Bureau of CON.
tagious Diseases; Sanitary Superin,en-
ueht III ROBERTS. and corps OF in
spectors from the medical starr started
out TO make an investigation and to
close forthwith the source from which
1t Is supposed the disease eminated.
The disease is known as "purulent
ophthalmia.' Two years ago the Board
or Health was called upon to combat
sudden and widespread outbreak in
the downtown districts, and II was many
weeks and by the very hardest work
and severest methods that the disease
was wiped out.
The disease. In simple terms, is an In
flammation of the eyes. with discharge
OF virulent pus. Often times the afflicted
one becomes blind. and even after re-
covery 1t Is considered very rare ex-
ception by the medical profession II
neither eye is permanently affected.
In three tenement houses In Monroe
street, no less than twenty cases were
found this morning. Just to what ex-
tent the disease has spread and how
many are actually afflicted is not
known, nor will it be for three or four
days. If the house to house canvass
proposed by DR.. Doty Is completed by
that time. 1t is feared. however, that
there are at least 100 cases in Monroe
street alone. and nprhanS Of
others In the tenement houses In the
vicinity of lower Grand street.
But thanks to the efficiency and watch
fulness Of DIR Henry Freeman. 20 Jeffer-
son street. member OF "The Evening
Worlds Corps of Free Doctors for the
Sick Babies. the spread OF the disease
Will be checked at least. and the pa
TENTS already afflicted given proper med
ical attention.
1t was Or. Freeman who made the
startling discovery while on his mission
of mercy in the squalid tenements this
morning. administering to the relief of
As soon az he had satisfied himself that
| the disease had spread nearly all over
the ward, and that the consequences
were were certain TO be appalling unless
made to check It, he fastened to DR..
Doty and told him of the situation.
In the tenement-house, 242 Monroe
street, Or: fieeman found twelve cases.
| children ranging from two to sixteen
years. There were other cases in the
same houses which the doctor did not
see Some, of the patients presented a
most rerulsive appearance and theii
suffering Is described by the doctor AS
something to excite the greatest conf
passion.
The eyes of the children were terribly
swollen and there was continuous dis
charge. Every attempt to wink the eye
| brought fresh discharge and caused
severe pain
he found. stated that they had been r
the habit of going there for plunge
daily.
The disease two years ago was spreat
by the polluted waters of public bath
which was closed by the Board o
Health. So DR. Treeman's conjecture IL
this instance is probably correct. At al
street will be temporarily closed.
The disease begins, DR.. Doty says
with itching, as If the eyes were full o
sand. The, eyeballs become lnfamet
sation Is fever'sh at the beginning. bu
soon there comes profuse discharge o
matte, and as soon as the Inflammation
increases, the eyes become closed. be
cause Of the weakened condition OF tn,
muscles of the eyelids and the accumu
lation of pus.
| The Inflammation after three or fou
days becomes so severe that the pu
presses against the eyeballs and often
times destroys the sight. 1t scarcel!
ever fails to impair the sight perina
nently.
Under the most favorable condition
and with the best OF treatment pa
tient rarely RECEIVERS within month
They are kept in dark room witt
their eyes bandaged
The most common remedy and the on
which has given the best satisfaction
an astrinGent of alum, nitrate or sliVe
and wash OF boric acid.
There ~ no question in DR.. Freeman
mind that the disease owes Its origin an
}. spread to the Grand street bath. n
believes that the water Is polluted D.
the discharge Of some sewer near D.
or else from some other source.
The children, especially those OF IN
trneme nt- house classes. to whom the
ere usually a blessing, patronize IN
public baths as ofte1 rs the care
/ takers viii permit. They often wip
; their faces, when they wipe them at al
on the same rag. and through that me
dium quickly contract the disease:
IL also very probable that they contrac
the disease from the water or the pau
l.ut the most OF .he cases come trof
contact at home. where. as at presen
Whole families are afflicted.
: owing to the absence or Presider
Wilson. n meeting of the Board {
Health was not called TO immediatei
adopt plans to combat the contaRioi
but effective measures we're taken .