The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-03-06
HOSPITALS cuRs TRAcHoMA.

| The establishing of small trachoma
hospitals In localities where this con-
| tag1ous disease Of the eyes is preva-
lent presents the best solution of the
trachoma problem, according to the
statement contained in the annual
report of the surgeon general of the
United States public health service.
The service now has five trachoma
hospitals in the three states of Ken
lucky, Virginia and West virginia.
and so great has been the number of
applicants for treatment that wait
ing list has been established. In the
past fiscal year $4,000 cases Of ira
choma have been treated, the larger
proportion of which were cured,
while those in which a cure was not
effected have been greatly improved
and rendered harmless to their asso-
ciates. The great majority Of these
trachoma patients were people who
lived In remote sections far removed
from medical assistance, and who,
but for the hospital care and treat
ment provided would have remained
victims of the disease practically the
remainder of their lives.
when it is considered" the report
of the service states, that thousands
Of persons suffering with trachoma,
otherwise remain untreated. it is real
lied how far-reaching results have
been obtained through these trachoma
hospitals and the other public health
work done in this connection. 1t
would be impossible to estimate with
any degree Of accuracy the number of
people who have been saved from
contracting this communicable dis
ease by thus removing these thou
sands of foci of Infection
In addition to treating persons with
the disease the hospitals have been
used for educational work Doctors
and nurses have visited the homes of
the patients and have explained how
to prevent the development and re-
currence Of the disease. One thou
visits were made during the lear in
Kentucky alone. 1T has taken some
time" the report continues, ITO edu-
cate the people afflicted with this
disease to the Importance of cleanH-
ness and the use Of simple hygienic
measures in their daily life That
results have been obtained is evil
denced by the noticeably better OBJ
servance of hygienic precautions by
those among whom the work has
been done.
In addition to the hospital work,
surveys were made in sixteen coun-
ties in Kentucky, especially among
school children. Eighteen thousand
and sixteen people were examined, Z
percent being found to have ira
choma. Similar inspections in certain
localities Of Arizona, Alabama and
Florida resulted in finding the disease
present in from three to six children
out Of every hundred. Periodic exam
nation of school children for the dis
ease and the exclusion Of the afflicted
from the public schools, are two Of
the recommendations the public
health service lays emphasis upon.
One Of the special features Of the
trachoma work was the giving of leo
lures and clinics before medical So
cieties in various counties where ira
choma hospitals could not be estab-
lished. Patients were operated upon
in the presence of physicians and the
most modern methods of treatment
demonstrated. Throughout, the pur-
pose has been to stimulate local in
terest in taking up the campaign to
eradicate trachoma