The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-08


he said, sit is in an alarming condI-
lion. a poison has attacked the eye
that is very likely TO cost the child its
sight. The poison in that pus ls the
most virulenr in the world. 1t at
tacks first the cornea of the eye, the
CLASSY part that covers the eye and
admits the light. The poison first in
vades that part of the eye because it
is a part that is not nourished with
blood. and has no innate power of re-
cuperation- The ends of the blood
vessels are found at the joining of the
cornea to the eye. and invisible lynn
pathic vessels traverse the cornea-
Hence, that part of the eyes has no
power to rebuild by its own effort and
cast off infection. The poison spreads
from the cornea to the lids, and finally
deeper into the ey-. When the cornea
is destroyed, it is practically impos-
slble to replace it, though efforts have
been made to mend it by grating the
same part from the eye of some ami
NAL. But those efforts are never en-
tirely- successful, for the reason that
the blood is necessary for the grating
process.
Whenever a child with infected
eyes, opens the lids, the puS pourS
out. The cure for this trouble is a
treatment by nitrate of silver. There
Is strong prejudice against the use
OF this remedy, and have had moth
ers tell me that no one would ever be
6
children That is the moment for the
doctor to pack his kit and get out I
nave sometimes stayed to try to per
suade the mother, out of pity for her
and the child, and then l am blamed
II the sight of the eyes is lost Great
care must be exercised in administer
ing the treatment, and if it is proper
~ given, it is harmless, and absolute
~ the only cure known. and the only
thing taht is reasonably sure of pre-
? SzeaF-x no Ia sis
of child The poisons that enter the
eyes of children are of various kinds.
some more dangerous than others. but
all should have immediate and careful
attention.
Bathing and Dressing.
The second part of the baby hour
was taken by Miss Edith Lacey. head
of the Public Health Nursing associa-
ton, who gave demonstration and
/ lecture on bathing and dressing
babies. She spoke especially of the
fallacy of the old theory of heavy and
numerous garments for babies.
DIR. Jesse Cook made concise
rather technical address on Pre-
natal Care" He spoke of diet, cloth
ing and medical attention. and some
OF the dangers to be watched for. The
diet he said, should be simple, with
a large proportion of foods with fl
DrouS materials, such as spinach. cab
bage, etc. The clothing should be
suspended from the shoulders, and
proper supports worn
At the close of each lecture, oppor-
tunity was given for the asking of
questions A good deal was said. fol-
lowing DR.. Magee's lecture about the
passage of law through the Kansas
legislature on the treatment of babies
eyes Some of the club women failed
in an effort to have a law passed at
the last session. This failure put Kan
seac
IN the Union that have no law for the
protection of infancy from the danger
or blindness DR.. Magee recommend
ed that a committee from the IegisIa-
ture be invited to visit the school for
the blind in Kansas City, Kan. and
learn the situation as it really exists.
Baby Day at PeIIetier's.
Tuesday was Baby Day. At the
Pelletier store. A second Baby Day
VIII be held at that store on Friday Of
this week The mothers and babies
are invited to the PeIletier party Fri
I day afternoon, and great number of
them attended yesterdays festivities
Cake and ice cream was served 10 me
children in the tea room from , to .
o'clock presents of toy balloons -vere
given to the little tots. The play
room, which is fitted up with iaerrT-
So-round, grocery shop, a Elide, a
swing, and other playground equip
ment, was open to the children ard a
supervisor was on hand to see that
each child had a turn at the toys The
baby department also was open to IN
! spectton by the mothers, who were
given an opportunity to see the baby
garments that are the product of the
latest scientific thought in the direc-
ton of proper clothing for children.
These new baby clothes do not have
the yards Of lace and embroidery and
tucking that used to be the accepted
way of swathing helpless children. The
clothing is light in weight, plain il de-
sign. and substantial in material The
ba by shoes and barefoot sandals have
none of the stiff leather and numerous
buttons that used to wear mothers and
nurses to nervous wreckage.
/ The PellatierS also have a booth at
the auditorium, that is handsomely
decorated and stocked with the con-
veniences and necessities for baby
culture
Judged 40 Babies.
Dr. Lydia DeVilbiss has returned
from Lawrence, where she attended
one days program of the baby week
celebration. She was one of COM
mittee that judged forty babies en-
tered in the baby contest This was
one of the best organized baby exami-
nations" DR.. DeViIbiss said, that has
ever been conducted in Kansas.
Those in charge were: DIR. J. Mai
smith, physical director of the State
| university; the Rev. Mr.. Stauffer, for
merly a member of the state 1egisIa-
ture. and Mrs. j. E. Stubs, a Law
renee woman of prominence Thz
women of Lawrence served refresh
ments to their guests after the juGg-
ing contest.
As one of the results of the interest
in public health created by the observ-
ance of baby week, the Capper trophy
has been offered as an award to the