Arizona republican., 1909-06-27
TO TREAT
TRACHOMA
Government Has Undertaken
Systematic Campaign
GOOD HOSPITAL FACILITIES
Have Been Established at
Phoenix Indian School
With Specialists in
Charge-No Danger to
Visitors at the School.

] Goodman, superintendent OF the 1 iipt-
nix Indian School, in the latest issue
of the Native American. fully describes
the situation of the local school in
respect of trachoma, the dreaded eye
disease, and tells of the measures I'M
dertaken for its eradication:
In view Of the passage Of the special
act OF. congress appropriating $4,000
ito enable the commissioner of Indian
affairs to investigate, treat and pre-
vent the spread of the disease Of ira
choma among the Indians" and the
circular letters on this subject that
have been sent out by the Indian Of
flee, and especially in view of the
visit of the commissioner of Indian af
fairs himself to this school in May,
the people in the service. as well as
many other persons. win be interested
to know what is being done in the di-
rcCtion indicated.
An investigation as to the preva-
lence Of trachoma among the Indians
was begun last fall by the medical de-
partment of this school under the di-
rection of DR. d. W. White. who had
had large experience with this disease
at Ellis Island and other places, and
the same is being continued on a wider
scale by the medical supervisor of the
Indian service. The disease was soon
seen to be very widespread. being
found to exist in every state of the
Indian country, and on almost, If not
quite, every Indian reservation heard
from. Congress was at once appealed
to by the Indian office with the result
Of the appropriation above mentioned
for starting the campaign for the
eradication of the disease.
While trachoma is infectious and
not readily or quickly cured, and while
blindness and other serious results
frequently come from its continued
neglect. it is also an insidious affec-
ton. often working a long time before
it is suspected or before the vision is
seriously impaired. It is found to
flourish in the north as well as in the
south: i'm high attitudes as well as in
low: and in moist climates as well aS
in dry. 1t is possible that the irrita
ton to the ewes caused by the hot
dusty and arid climate makes the
! southwest a more fertile soil for its
spread, but it is also probable that the
most fruitful element in its dissent
| life generally. The best preventive is
absolute cleanliness. including the sim
/ pie rules laid down for the prevention
/ Of tuberculosis. such as sleeping one
! in a bed on porches or in well venti-
/ lated dormitories. using individual
/ towels and handkerchiefs. eating
! wholesome food. bathing frequently.
| etc. The ewes should never be rubbed
with the hands unless the latter have
! been washed with soap and clean va
| ter Immediately before. These are the
essential practices. Flies are a fire.
| quent source of contag ion, especially
| on the reservation.
Since the first systematic investiga-
ton of the prevalence of trachoma
among the Indians was made at the
Phoenix Indian school. the government
/ very properly decided to start the
work of fighting and graduating it
! here A special hospital has been
provided and thoroughly equipped for
! the treatment of the c-eS, and the
services have been engaged of a lead
ing eve specialist, DR. Ancil Martin Of
| Phoenix. who has entire charge of this
work DR. Martin has as his assist
Harrison. well known in the service,
will he added to the force July LIST.
In all cases Of trachoma where an OPP
| Grafton is needed-and the hest prac-
tice seems to require it i'm most cases
! it is done by means Of expression
! with roller forceps. The operation is
simple. when performed bv an expert.
and is done without much pain by the
local use Of cocaine. d general anaes-
thetic being rarely required Many
cases have already been operated
! upon: most of them are out of the
hospital in two or three days. although
they report for treatment frequently
for several weeks and are kept under
observation for a year or more before
being pronounced cured. DR. Harrison
will also give special attention to otlf-
er eye troubles. so that all pupils need
ing glasses or treatment for any kind
/ of eye defects can get expert attention
at the Phoenix school
While it will be comparatively easy
, to dispose of all the cases of trachoma
now at this or at any other school if
they are regularly treated and kept
under periodical observation. the main
efforts will have to be directed toward
cleaning up the original sources Of
infection of Indians. namely, the res
ervations. Although this school is
prepared to treat and care for all the
Indian cases that may be sent here.
provided they remain subject to the
orders of the physician. it is probable
that almost all cases of adult Indians
can better be reached in their homes
than elsewhere. Therefore the plan Of
the commissioner for conducting this
! campaign includes the idea of max
ing this a training school for the bet
ter preparation of physicians and
nurses for working with trachoma in