Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-08-14
MANY CHILDREN
AFFLICTED WITH
AN EYE DISEASE
DR.. ELLIS SAYS TRACHOMA Is PREV
ALENT AMONG LARGE PER-
CENTAGE OF YOUTH.
Is HIGHLY INFECTIOUS AlLMENT OF
EVE AND OFTEN CAUSES
BLINDNESS.

University of Texas. Aug. 1l-That
trachoma is very prevalent among the
infants Of this country. j. the assertion
IF DIR. A. {. Ellis. director of the ex-
tension department of the University Of
Texas. The prevalence of this disease
has been disclosed by the statistics now
compiled from data gathered at the va
rious better baby contests which have
been held during the past year under
the auspices of the extension depart
mcnt in all parts of the State except
in the far west. Concerning the seri
BUSINESS of the disease. DIR. Ellis says
that il is "A highly infectious ailment of
the eye. attacking the membrane cover
Ing of the eve ball and the lining of the
inner side of the lid.
In acute states" saws Dr. Ellis. 1T
gives of a discharge. II il 80 serious a
disease that immigrants with II are MT
allowed to enter the United States. The
health service of the United States gov
ernmen reJn,rts hat 90 per cent of the
eases of blindness in communities where
trachoma is epidemic is due To- this ma
lady. The same authority also asserts
that about 10 per cent Of the untreated
cases result in blindness"
Points Where Disease is Found.
Upon being asked 10 specify ccmmu
mites in Texas where the disease -
prevalent. DIR. Ellis stated that h. had
no information from any Nmmunity
except those wherein the department
had held better babies contests and hid
consequently had the opport tuity II
making expert examination of hundreds
of children.
= do not take the communities I
mention ~ being any worse of in this
regard than other communities. Th'
records show that i'm the town of Rcltnn
where 100 children were examined ~
were found to have well developed eases
"f trachoma: in Indiana Gap. a village
~ miles from the railroad. II ont of -
children examined had advanced eases
of trachoma. One child he'd al.c,dv ~
liberated condition Of the eve-hall aud
the eyes of many were discharginC. II J.
altogether probable that over the entire
section from Bolton TO Indian Cap. 4
distance of eighty miles. there j. a gen
eral diffusion of this dreadful disease.
Examination further east at Navasota
showed that ; children out Of - were
suffering with trachoma: AT Whartn N.
81 out Of La were similarly affected !.
at Center Point. I out of - showed in
lection. Now these children were not.
as one might suppose. from ieonrant
families. but were from the most intclli
gent and prosperous families Of tn"
communities"
State Should Arouse TO Danger.
DIR. Ellis believes that the state
ShnulI no arnpcaI A.. Tho ..,,, I,r,,
Of the disease and that steps should be
taken immedi ltelv Ia arrest it.
"A few months ago he saws the PEG
ple were startled bv the announcement
of the presence Of foot and mouth dis
Gas among cattle i'm the stock yards.
National and state governments I'M
meliately went Ia work aud The hest
trained specialists Of the world were
assembled Ia devise means of erldicat
ing this expensive disease. Over six
million dollars have already been tx
pended tn stamp ont the infection. In
trachoma. which the University inves
~ticators have found 10 bc widely seat
tered over the State. We have 4 disease
bearing far More directly upon the hap
piness If ithe citizens han does the
foot and mouth disease. What are We
stifL W uo d''ui ~. ild' nhild - fdS-
ily dis overed and it il not especially
diffirult 81 eradicate. Are We going II
act like intelligent humans. or are We
gcing to sit back with our heads hid
i'm the sand like ostrichcs until thou
sands IT children are blind and crippled
for lif" and then spend vast sums If mon
ey dividing more pos'r houses aud blind
a>vlumS t. care for them"
Urg,s Cities to Cooperate.
Tho EX'cI ION department Of the
University urges the cooperation If all
r~atrotic citizens in ar,uSing the people
# the state to the menace of this dread
full disease. the prevalence Of which its
Investigations have disclosed. 1t j.
the purpose of the division If human
conservation bureau in extension depart
ment 10 investigate and reJprt abSo
'rtely without prejudice all Of the con
ditions affecting the welfare Of children
~ Texas. After this is lone it is the
'inty If the citizens to remedy condi
ions that are not desirable. The func-
ION Of this department is II furnish
information: not To undertake either to
-