The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-08-03
Conservation Of Eyesight
BY CAROLINE c. VAN SLARcoM
OF the New York Association for the Blind.

One quarter Of the blind children in
the blind schools OF this country are
unnecessarily sightless. They are
doomed to lifelong darkness because
heir eyes were not properly washed
and treated at the time OF their birth
mere is no excuse for such negligence
Ihls blight OF unnecessary blindness
may be prevented through supplanting
ignorance or causes by knowledge, neg
lect or eye diseases by treatment OF
tnem. and by needing the wisdom of
the old saying that IAN ounce of pre-
Ventlon Is worth a pound OF cure"
Ihese measures may seem UtOpian,
but the proof that they are practicable
is that since the public has realized
that much blindness may be prevented
the interest in this appealing work has
swept, wave-like, over practically all
civilized countries, the approach to re-
form being made through publicity
which paves the way for desired legis-
lation.
Since more unnecessary blindness Is
due to ophthalmia neonatorum. or
babies sore eyes" than to any other
cause, and since the prophylaxis for
this disease Is so simple and inexpen-
sive as to make the occurrence OF a
single case disgrace to an enlightened
people, the efforts thus far to prevent
tirely toward the elimination OF this
disease alone. The first step was to
learn just what was the exact nature
Of the problem.
1t was discovered that ophthalmia
neonatorum, or inflammation of the
eyes OF the new born" cold in the
eyes, etc, is a definite infection, due
to any one Of several organisms, but
most frequently to gonocoecus, enter
Ing the infants eyes during or soon after
birth; and that this disease will not
get well Of itself" but develops with
all the rapidity OF any other virulent
Infection, causing liberation Of the
cornea and subsequent blindness, I'M
less skillful medical treatment be in
sututed early, since the disease works
its obstruction In a very few days.
Professor Crede, of Leipsic, found
Ia aoout 10 per cent of the infants
born onder his observation suffered
from opthalmia neonatorum, and Sid
ney Stephenson claims that one-third
OF the blindness of the world Is cue TO
this disease. Figures from the schools
for the blind i'm this and other coun-
tries today still substantiate this claim
II is impossible, therefore, to estimate
the value of Professor Crede's discov-
cry in 1881, that the installation OF a
drop OF q per cent solution Of silver
nitrate into the eyes OF the newborn
would prevent opthalmia neonatorum.
Although Professor Crede made this
Invaluable contribution to human
knowledge nearly 80 years ago, the
public is but just beginning to apply
1t effectively. Since children are con-
stantly going blind from ophthalmia
neonatorum In every country, II is evil
sent that this simple prophylactic
treatment Is not universally employed
Human beings are being deprived Of a
precious birthright because Of ignor-
ance or neglect or both.
The task then Is to enlighten more
and more people as to the seriousness
and preventability of this disease, SO
that doctors and midwlves will find
themselves in disrepute IL blindness or