The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-06-02
MISTAKES COLD
FOR TRACHOMA
Federal Doctor Needlessly
Alarmed Until Specialist
Assures Him of His Error
FEARS DREAD DISEASE
Wild Rumor Starts From a
Harmless Ailment That
Visits Quarantine MedicO

Immigration Inspector David J. Grifiths
announced yesterday that one of the
American Japanese interpreters in the
service Of the immigration Bureau and
two OF the Federal quarantine surgeons
had contracted trachoma~ while in the
discharge of their duty. The surgeons say
Griffiths is dreaming and that the only
foundation for such statement Is that
such a disease exists and that DR.. Drew
had a cold In his eyes. which at first so
affected them that the man~of medicine
feared he might have fallen victim to the
dread disease.
Aliens suffering from trachoma are not
permitted to land in the United States
and many victims have been deported on
this account. In some cases the deported
foreigner has protested. but no appeal
has been allowed from the Federal doc
tors diagnosis. From Doctor Drews ex-
perience, however. 1t would seem that
trachoma does not wear a particularly
legible label.
When his eyes began to trouble him
some weeks ago Drew concluded, after
submitting the ailing lids to the inspec-
ton Of the other Federal DOCTORS that he
had contracted trachoma. He withdrew
from active work and underwent course
Of heroic treatment. A few days ago he
consulted a specialist who told me-"
said Or. Drew yesterday, you are bark
iflS up the WRONG tree uOn worry,
there's no trachoma and no sign of 1t on
your eyelids.'
DR.. Drew, not having deported himself
cheered up, threw away the strong as
tringents with which he had been treat
ing his supposed trachoma, and returned
to duty. The case of the trachoma at
ficted interpreter has not been reported to
the quarantine doctors. who. In view of
Drew's experience, place little faith in
Griff1ths diagnosis.
The Federal doctors declare, however,
that the danger of infection from tracho-
ma is very real and they take strict pre-
cautions to avoid 1t. Four or five of the
officers on the Pacific Mail liner Korea
are said to be afflicted with the disease,
contracted, the doctors say. from victims
among the passengers. The sufferer from
the disease rubs his ailing eye. He may
then. with the hand that did the rubbing.
grasp the hand rail leading from one deck
to another, transferring a few germs to
the rail. The next hand to grab the rail
gathers UP the germs and their transfer
from hand to eye Is only a matter of
time.
Trachoma is a disease of the eyelid.
1t is a germ disease. 1t can be cured,
say the Federal doctors. If taken in time.
If allowed to become chronic 1t is almost
incurable and leads eventually to total
blindness. 1t causes little discomfort and
may exist for years before the victim is
aware of its presence. 1t may have be-
come chronic before he finds it out. and
every wink Of the eye may be dragging
a disease-scarred lid across the eyeball
and slowly but surely inf1icting scratches
which. in time, will destroy the lens and
leave the victim In, hopeless darkness.
One out of every five of the italian fisher
men at this port Is said to be afflicted by
the disease. In New York city Its preva-
1ence among school children has caused
great alarm. and at every port in the
country Federal doctors are maintaining
a strict lookout for trachoma. which
fourishes freely in lands where the sun
shines brightest.