Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-02-24
HOSPITALS CURB TRACHOMA

The establishing of small trachoma
hospitals in locations where this con-
tagious disease of the eyes is prevail
ent 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
hospitals in the three states of Ken
lucky, Virginia and West Virginia, and
so great has been the number of ap-
plicants for treatment that a waiting
LIST has been established. In the past
fiscal year 1900 cases of trachoma
have been treated, the larger proper
ton of which were cured, while those
in which a cure was not affected have
been greatly improved and rendered
harmless to their associates. The
great majority of these trachoma pat
tents were people who lived in remote
sections far removed from medical as
sistance, 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, that thousands
of persons suffering with trachoma, a
dangerous contagious disease, would
otherwise remain untreated, it is re-
allied how far-reaching results have
been obtained through these trachma
hospitals and the other public health
work done in this connection. It 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
lection"
In addition to treating persons with
the diseose 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 recur-
renee of the disease. One thousand
three hundred and eight such visits
were made during the year in Ken
lucky alone. at has taken some time. "
the report continues, ito educate the
people afflicted with this disease to the
Importance of cleanliness and the use
OF simple hygienic measures in their
daily life" That results have been
obtained is evidenced by the noticeobly
better observnce of hygienic precau-
tons by those among whom the work
has been done.
In addition to the hospital work,
surveys were made in Is counties in
kentucky, especially among school
children. Eighteen thousand and six
teen people were examined, Z per cent
being found to have trachoma. Similar
inspections in certain localities of Ari.
zona. Alabama and Florida resulted ia
finding teh disease present in from
three to six children out of every hun.
dred Periodic examination of school
children for the disease and the ex-
ciusion of the afflicted from the public
schools, are two of the recommends
tons the Public Health Service laws
emphasis upon.
One of the special features of the
trachoma work was the giving OF
lectures 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 de-
monstrated, Throughout, the purpos
has been to stimulate local interest in
taking up the campaign to eradicte
trachoma.