Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-11-30
BLINDNESS OF BABIES.

One half Of all the BLINDNESS Is pre-
eentab1e. One-tenth OF all the prevent
able blindness is due to babies sore
eyes. Stephenson describes babies sore
eyes as IAN inflammatory disease OF the
conjunctiva usually appearing within
the first few days of life and generally
due to micro-organiSimS."
These terms may be too technical.
Let US state 1t again in simpler Ian
suage. Within two days after the birth
OF the baby some matter is noticed in
the corner Of the eyes. Within an hour
or w 1t will be noticed that the eyes
are red and yellow pus is oozing from
between the lids. A little later the eye
lids are noticed to be puffed. If a little
OF this pus be placed under a micro
scope 1T will be seen that the suppura-
ton is due to pus germs.
The more frequent IN germs causing
babies sore eyes are %gonococci, chain
cocci, and pneumonia cocci.
Babies sore eyes is preventable. is
contagious, is durable if treatment is
started early. If treatment is delayed
q single day it may be found that the
sight is gone, since the disease ans a
very rapid n violent ourse
Some mothers think that babies sore
eyes are due to the light or to cold.
Some even think that it is due to the
conJure put on the baby by some evil
person. The first GROUP of mothers
laugh at the ignorance and superstition
OF the second group, but without justice
since their opinion Is no nearer the
truth than that of those at whom they
laugh.
| Babies sore eyes are am infection and
are due to pus cocci getting into the eye
during birth, at the time of birth, or
soon after. T~hirty-siX years ago a Ger
mar hospital surgeon, by name Creole,
noted that one-tenth of the babies born
i'm hie rrrif 1----1~-~1 ~ ----
eyes. he commenced the policy of drop
ping a 2 per cent solution of nitrate Of
silver into the eyes of each baby as
soon as 1t had had its bath. In six years
the babies sore eyes rate in his hos
pltal dropped from one in 8 to one in
400.
The result of this experiment was a
new policy in caring for the eyes of a
newly born babe. Immediately after
birth the baby is given his oath and
his eyes are treated. Each eye is wiped
with a piece of absorbant cotton dipped
In a saturated solution of boric acid
(boiled water will do as we'll as boric
acid solution). A separate pledget OF
cotton is used for each eye. The cot
ton is not put back into the solution
after touching the eye. Next the eye
lids are gently separated with the fin
gers n one drop or two drops of 1
per cent solution of nitrate of silver is
opp INTO each eye. INlS Is done
only once. 1t is done not to cure sore
eyes but to prevent eyes from becoming
sore.
If the eyes begin to %suppurate the
doctor must be sent for without delay.
The sight cannot be saved unless treat
ment is begun at once.
Essentially the above facts are taken
from an illustrated pamphlet On Saw
ing The Sight Of Babies" issued by the
national committee for the prevention
Of blindness. This committee, located
at $50 East TWenty-second street, New
York, has issued a series of six PAM
phlets or preventable blindness. They
will give n pamphlet to any person
sending a stamped addressed envelope.
The pamphlets can be bought for a
few cents Zach.