New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-02-09
Town Topics

conducted in this city might be made
a basis for efficient folloW-up work by
the local health department. IN Ger
tam infectious diseases found in reg
1strants, both in the interest of pub
TIC health and the indlVlduaI affected.
Inns is particularly true Oh those IN
fictitious diseases which permit the
sufferer to continue his work. A
case in point was met with by The
doctors of the second district board
last Sunday when they examined a
man suffering from trachoma. Or
course this man was rejected, but il
would seem as though the board of
health ought to follow up the case
and restrict the victims activities in
order to prevent the case injecting
others, and incidentally to see that
the man receives proper treatment
TrachOma, or Granular lids as it is
known, is chronic Inflammation af-
fecting first the eyelid and then the
eye. There is a good history of the
disease among tho Egyptians 1900
years &. c.. Il causes a great deal
OF suffering and often leads to blind
ness owing to the inflammati ruin
ing the sight. The disease is highly
infectious and is communicated by
the patients eye discharges being
conveyed to well eyes by means Of
towels and by fingers which have
been in contact with some object con-
tanlinated by the discharges.
Because of its serious results, the
emigration authorities deport every
alien who arrives affected with the
disease. Notwithstanding this. a few
cases get in somehow or other and
there is slow but steady increase
Of this terrible eye affection among
certain classes in this country, due to
it's righteousness
No men with traChoma should be
allowed to work or asso late with
others unless he has been instructed
as to the precautions he must take
to safeguard others. These rcstric-
tions can best be handled by the
health department.
The treatment Of trachoma is ex-
ceedingly long drawn out and pain
often requires years to bring about a
cure.
Funny things do transpire, even
among the more professional men.
DR.. Joseph H. Potts, while examin-
ing the throat of draft registrant
of obvious racial Characteristics, re-
marked to his attendant clerk:
Throat O. *. but garliCk StronG.'
Another doctor also had q case
which amused HIM greatly. The reg
jstrant. visibly deficient, yet visibly
worried for fear he would be &C
ceptcd related a long haranguo Of
his many alleged attempts to enlist
and Of his great sorrow at being
turned down each time. Finally, as
the draft board doctor rejected him,
he again expressed regret. "Cfce. its
q great note if a fellow wants to get
in and can't" he vhincd.
With wink at brother medico
the M D. smoothly said: well, [
can't pass you but YOU can appeal
from my decision and take your case
to the medical advisory board. They
may pass YOU since YOU INSIST. Hcrc'
sign the appeal here
Turning a shade paler. the erst-
while hero suffered and stammered:
well, if you think [ would not be
suitable for the army 7 guess I'd
better abide by your decision, no.
guess [ won't bother about an
appeal" he said as he hurriedfy
donned his clothes.
doctor as the reeistrant disappeared |
A teacher in a graded school tolls
this one as an actual happening. A
mother Of three boys visited her TO
remark upon the frequency with
which one of the young hopefuls
DIaved ''hookev'' She expressed a |
keen desire to have her son attend
g
NV other two boys don't want to go
to school. They want to work. But
this one-he just wont work so
thonght he ought to be educated.'
Ludwig Bctzhold. an Austrian by
birth. a resident of Jersey City and
New Britain by chance but an aTowed
pro-American by choice. can't under
stand the ways of the is government,
helately informed the secretary of
one of the local exemption boards
Ludwig wants to enlist. He would be
in the seventh heaven OF delight if
he should be drafted, but, he COM
plains, he is put into class Y. He
visited the board to see if he could
not be indicted into the service but
was turned down cold. for the gov
eminent orders provide that no aliens
who are allies of Germany can belong
to the American army. Ludwig says
he tried to enlist in Jersey City. When
the draft came he waived exemption,
expressed q. preferences for the in
fantry. passed the physical examina-
tons and was hoping to be sent to
Devens whom it was learned that he
was an Austrian alien. Now he has
been taken from Glass ! by his Jer-
sew board and put in class Y, much
to his disgust.
'"Therc's q lot of words that don't
mean anything. particularly when it
comes to Signatures. Wonder just
what the local LAWYER who made that