The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-12-31

ance In carrying out this plan for di-
minishing a fertile cause of misery
and disability"
instructions 10 Health officers.
The state department of health has
sent to each of It's 73O township health
officers full instructions as to their
duty under the law. These instructions
are as follows:
"ln order to carry out the provisions
of the above law 1t becomes your duty
to acquaint yourself with the names
and addresses of all midwives and
nurses residing or practicing in your
district, and to place a copy OF the law
in the hands OF each. instructing her
as to its requirements.
Immediately on receiving notifica.
tion from a midwife or nurse of the
occurrence of case of red or swollen
eyes in a young infant you will inform
the attending physician of the fact
and will place in the hands Of the mid.
wife or nurse the accompanying in.
structions, explaining that she is to
follow them only until a physician ar.
rives to take charge of the case II no
physician has been employed. you will
urge upon the family the necessity for
obtaining one as otherwise the child
may become permanently blind"
Here is the prescription given for
treating innamed eyes in newborn in.
fants until the physician arrives:
ITO one pint,of boiled water add two
teaspoonfuls Of boric acid and half
teaspoonful Of table salt and keep COW
cred in a jar which has been boiled.
With n perfectly clean cloth or wal
Of absorbent cotton bathe the lids with
this solution and drop a few drops in
the eye three times a day"
State Health Commissioner Dixon
has also requested the departments
medical inspector in every county in
the state to assist the health officers
in the discharge of the duty assigned
them. A letter has also been written
to the secretary of every city, borough
and first class township board of
health in Pennsylvania calling their
attention to thc law and urging that
these boards adopt such measures as
will lead to It's early enforcement in
the municipality under the local
boards jurisdiction. The wording of
the act of June 26, 1895, is as follows:
The Law
whereas, Statistics compiled in this
country and Europe demonstrate that
fully 25 per centum of the blind owo
t.eiy anict.on to an Inflammation OF
the ccnjunct.ve appearing a few days
after birth and
Whereas. Experience has proved
that the Inflammation can be cured
and the eyesight saved in the majority
of cases if treatment be instituted at
an early state of the disease; and
Whereas, Destruction of the eyes
and blindness are usually the result Of
delay of treatment.
Section /. Be it enacted, etc. That
cNould one or both eyes of an Infant
| become inflamed or swollen or red
dened at any time within two weeks
after birth 1t shall be the duty Of the
midwife or nurse. or other person hav-
ing the care of such infant, to report
| in writing, within six hours after the
discovery thereof, to the health officer
or legally qualified practitioner OF the
city, town or district in which the
mother of the child resides. the fact
that such Inflammation or swelling or
redness exists.
Section 2. That 1t shall be the duty
of said health officer, Immediately
upon receipt OF said written report, To
notify the parents or the person hav-
ing charge of said infant OF the danger
to the eye or eyes OF said infant by
reason OF said condition from neglect
OF proper treatment OF the same. and
he shall also enclose to them direc-
tions for the proper treatment thereof.
Section 3. Every health officer shall
furnish copy Of this act to each per-
son who Is known TO him to act as
midwife or nurse in the city or town
for which such health officer is ap-
pointed, and the secretary OF state
shall cause sufficient number OF
copies Of this act to be printed and
supply the same to such health officers
on application.
Section 4. Any failure to comply
with the provisions Of this act shall
be punishable by fine not to exceed
5000, or imprisonment not to exceed
thirty days. or both.