Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1909-01-14


fants, and also upon the health officer,
and liking penalty for neglect there
Of"
D7. Dixon declared today "thst II the
provisions Of this law are carried out
there is reason to hope that one-third
OF the cases of blindness which so
greatly diulinishes the productive
value OF the individual and too often
renders him q burden on society may
be prevented"
Letter to Physicians.
To ten thousand physicians through
out Pennsylvania Health Commission
or Dixon is sending the following let.
ter:
''You are probably aware OF the fact
tnat the American Medical association
ct its last annual meeting autnori1ed
the issue OF the report OF the commit
tee on oDhthalmia neonat forum. which
foTCib1y called attention to the fact
that very large percentage of the
cases OF blindness which the state Is
called upon 10 support is caused by
tdat disease, and urged the necessity
for organized and concerted EFFORT on
the part of the profession in al OF the
stEtGa Of tag Union 10 diminish this
evil. That this appeal is most timely is
sufficiently indicated by = recent re-
port from the Pennsylvania School for
the Blind, which shows that in the
past eight years more than cne-thi~d
Of the persons admitted to that insti-
tuition have owed their affection TO
this cause.
This department has, therefore,
thought 1t desirable to revive law
which has for many years lain dor
m&nt cn cur statute books, and a copy
Of which is herewith enclosed.
"Inc much, however, as ] doubt the
wisdom of entrusting the treatment Of
SO delicate an organ as the eye TO un-
skilled hands, have appended TO the
iaw irstruati0na making it the duty
O. the health Cfleer TO urge those in
charge to secure tire services of phy-
sician at the earliest possible moment
after the discovery Of the disease, and
have suggested s harmless cleansing
soluti to bo used untj' rrch time as
the physician uif arrive and Initiate
tins ectlve tEeGtmeat for w.fch Tie
nitrate of silver or some c'Aar silver
salt will probably be doe,ica no2t e.
fectiya. May I hope for yugr assist
anco N carrying 0ut this p'an for dl.
mi.isaing fertile cau@e Of misery
and disability"
Instructions to Health CIiccYs.
The state department of health has
sent to each of it's 730 township health
officers full instructions as to their
duty under the law. These instructions
are rs follows
'.iD order to carry out the provisions
Of the above law 1t becomes your duty
to scuuaint yourself with the names
and addresses of all midwives and
nurses residing or practicing in your
district, and to place copy of the law
III the hands OF each, instructing her
as to its requirements
Immediately on receiving notihca
tion from q midwife or nurse of the
occurrence OF case of red or swollen
eyes 70 a young infant you will inform
thc attending physician Of ths fact
and sill place In the hands Of the mid
wife or nurse the accompanying In
structions. explaining that she is to
follow them only until physician az
rives to take charge OF the case II no
physician has been employed. you will
urge upon the family the necessity for
obt'ining one, as otherwise the child
NAV become permanently blind"
Here is the prescription given foi
treating iufamed eyes in newborn In
fants until the physician arrives:
ITO one pint Of boiled water add tive
tcasp poonfuis of boric acid and half 2
teaspoonful OF table salt and keep GOV
cred In Jar which has been boiled
With o perfectly clean cloth or a wed
of absorbent cotton bathe the lids with
this solution and drop few drops In
the eye three times day"
State Health Commissioner Dixor
7 "a also requested the departments
medical inspector IN every county /,
the state to assist the health officers
in the discharge Of the duty assigned
them letter has also been writer
to the secretary OF every city. borough