The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-03-04
Public Health Service.

The establishing of small trachoma
hospitals in localities where this con-
tagious disease of the eyes is prevalent
presents the best solution of the
trachoma problem, according to the
statement contained IN the annual re-
port of the Surgeon General of the
United States Public Health Service.
The Service now has five trachoma hos
pitfalls in the three states of Kentucky,
Virginia and West Virginia, and so
great has been the number of appi-
cants for treatment that waiting list
has been established. In the past fiscal
year II, 600 cases of trachoma have been
treated, the larger proportion of which
were cured, while those in which cure
was not effected have been greatly i'm
proved and rendered harmless to their
associates. 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 treatment
provided would have remained victims
of the disease practically the remainder
of their lives.
when it is considered, the report
of the Service states, chat thousands
of persons suffering with trachoma,
dangerous contagious disease, would
otherwise remain untreated, it is re
allied 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 de-
gree of accuracy the number of people
who have been saved from contracting
this communicable disease by thus re
moving these thousands of foci of in
fection.'
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 recurrence
of the disease. One thousand three
hundred and eight such visits were
made during the year in Kentucky
alone SIT has taken some time the
report continues, ''to educate the peo-
pie afflicted with this disease to the i'm
portance of cleanliness and the use of
simple hygienic measures in their daily
life" That results have been obtained
is evidenced by the noticeably better
observance of hygienie precautions by
those among whom the work has been
done.
In addition to the hospital work. sur
veys were made in sixteen counties in
Kentucky, especially among school
children. Eighteen thousand and six
teen people were examined, seven per
cent being found to have trachoma.
Similar inspections in certain localities
of Arizona, Alabama, and Florida re-
suited in finding the disease present in
from three to six children out of every
hundred. Periodic examination of
school children for the disease and the
exclusion of the afflicted from the pub
lie schools, are two of the recommends I
tons the Public Health Service lays
npon.
One of the special features of the
trachoma work was the giving of lee
lures and clinics before medical soci-
cites in various counties where trachoma
hospitals could not. be established. /
Patients were opeFated upon IN the
presence of physicians and the most
modern methods of treatment demon
Throughout, the purpose has
been to stimulate local interest in TAX
ing up the campaign to eradicate
trachoma.