The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-10-29
TRACHOMA
BREAKS OUT
It's Appearance in City
Schools CompeIs
Action.

II A special meeting of the Board of
Health was called yesterday afternoon
by DR.. Cooper, the acting president,
to consider an outbreak of trachoma
in the city schools. Many cases have
lately occurred among adults. but when
Sixty cases in the schools We're reported
TDr. Cooper, in the absence of Pres
| ident Pinkham, felt it was time to take
action.
There were present, of the Board, Dr..
Cooper, Attorney General L. Andrews,
Mark P. Robinson and F. c. Smith.
members; DR.. ]. S. B. Pratt. executive
OFFICER, and C. Charloek, secretary. A
| T. Atkinson. Superintendent of Public
instruction, and DR.. w. L. Moore at
tended in consultation.
The nature of the disease, an eye
E. malady introduced from Japan. was ex-
planned by the medical gentlemen pres
ent. 1t is highly contagious oUt not
| infectious. The virus may be conveyed
to the eyes by the hands after touch
ing anything that may have been han
died by an infected subject. Persons
handling packages of merchandise ON
the wharyes or in warehouses ought to
be very strict about washing their
hands. When trachoma is around the
habit of rubbing the eyes every time
f1I+ II
be religiously avoided. Towels used in
common where people work must be
Stunned, and even in the cleanliest
homes every individual should avoid
wiping the hands with a towel used by
another, for the infection may enter
household without wslrning.
Mr.. Atkinson was opposed to any
closing OF the schools, believing it
would only promote contagion to re-
lease children to play about the water
front. Whatever the Board of Haaith
ordered in precautionary measures. the
Department of Education would faith
fully observe. Mr.. Atkinson agreed
with others present that there was no
occasion for any alarm such as was
raised about the visitation of dengue
fever some years ago.
DR.. Cooper thought a medical <xnspec-
tor for the schools should be provided.
Considerable discussion was held over
the money question, there being no
emergency fund available.
Mr. Andrews made a motion that pre-
vailed. to have a committee appointed
to employ physician.
Mentioning that the president would
return from Hilo today, the acting pres
ident appointed President Pinkhaln.
Attorney General Andrews and himself
CDR. Cooper as committee TO report
back at next meeting.
Dr. Cooper handed the Advertiser re-
porter at the meeting the following |
pathological description of the disease
for the public information:
TRACHoMA- GRANULAR con-
JUNCTIVITIS.
A contagious disease of the eyelids |
that may in severe cases, extend to the |
cornea (gIobe of the eye). 1t is first |
characterized by follicles or sago-iike
elevations of the palpebral conjunctives |
and later by friction produces pannus. |
a vascularization of the cornea, due
to irritation of trachoma granulations; |
the cdrnea normally being non vascu- |
lar. The disease is believed 10 be due |
to specific diploeoccus.
In the first stage are pain. itching /
and burning of the lids, lacrimation. /
photophobia (fear of lighD and asthe- |
nopia (weakness # visual powers). /
Later on there Is dimness of vision /
which increases in the third stage I
There are also annoying symptoms
caused by inverted lashes.
Poorly nourished and scroAulous per-
sons are said to be most frequently af-
fected. Unhygienfc habits and con-
tagion in crowded districts are marked |
features in the production of the dis
ease. Trachoma is rare in mountainous
districts and increases towards the low
lands.
A.