Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-24
IGNORANCE NO LONGER
TO BLIND INNOCENTS
Law Of Virginia Now Require, Pro.
phylactic Treatment Of
Eyes OF Infants.
BIG HUMANITARIAN MEASURE
VIII Save Sight of Thousands in Flu
~ turc Generations by Treatment at
Birth--Local Health Officers Must
Act Without Delay.

There arc to be fewer cases OF blind
ness in Virginia tho result of failure
on the part OF attending physicians
or midwives to take adequate p-ophy-
Tactic measures at tho birth OF babe
to protect the sight OF the little one.
great number Of siEhtless people
in the world to-day arc so because
simple remedy was not used in their
eyes when they were born condemning
them TO a life Handicapped by unseeinS
eyes, with its attendant burdens AID
discomforts.
The General Assembly of Virgil nia
has just enacted one ot the most hu-
!nanitarian laws on the statute books
OF the State. It requires that every
babe born shall have one or two drops
of scientific prophylactic dropped
into its eyes. such prophylactic be-
ing furnished free by the State De-
Dartment of Health.
WHILE NOT INFAILIBIE.
II HAS REDUCED BLINDNESS
while this remedy is not infallible.
il has reduced the number OF cases OF
eyc-infcction tremendously. one au-
:hority stating that where there were
4 one time in certain hospitals twelve
out OF 100 cases infected, tha proper
ton Is now onc-halt Of per cent. or
Just one case out of c0n births
The law further provides ti:At should
:,ny infant be found suffering from
inflammation OF the eyes or the new
born (ophthalmia neonatcrum), il
shall be the duty of the physician. OBJ
s'etrician midwife nurse. maternity
home or hospital. parent, relative and
persons attendant on or assisting in
NnN !, ut Hp St,.r1, re
child, or the mother, within two weeks
after the birth. to make report thereof
TO the local health officer Should
such case be in the hands OF mid
wife and there he 10 local health officer
10 whom she may report it. she is re-
1uired TO notify come competent prac-
ti:ioner and withdraw trom the treat
meat thereof except under the instruc-
lions OF physician.
The duty is placed upon the local
health officer or the physician. OF at
once warning the parents or such other
persons rs may nave charge Of The
child of the danger to its sight and, IN
INDECENT eases. steps lnust be taken to
afford treatment al public expense.
PROVIDES TEA" VI0LATORS
SHALL BE IENALIZED
For failure 10 make use Of the pro-
phTlactic. a. required by LAW, or fail
IRE To make report of thu disease IS
required therein. or for any other vio- |
lation Of the provisions OF tho act. !
the responsible person shall be deemed
guilty CT \ misdemeanor and shall be
fined not less than SO - mc-. than $50. .
The enforcement, OF tho law is placed
in the hands of the state Department
OF Health. and owing to the close touch
OF the Bureau OF Vital Statistics with
the particular subject treated Of and
the persons charged with tho use OF the
nTophylactic. tho details OF operation
and enforcement Will DC carried on
through that branch OF tie Department
IT Health. An appropriation of $4,000
has been made FIR CARRYING out and
crfoi cling tho provisions ot ;he law.
One OF the most earnest advocates
Of tho law for many years has been
Or. Frank ~. Hanger. OF stanton, long
connected wiki the treatment ~ VIC
Tins of early neglect at the State
school for thc Deaf, Dumb and blind
at that place.
The passage OF this act was secured
through the efforts Of Hon. II ]. Tay-
ior' OF Staunton Tho practical opera
ton OF the measure Will. il is believed.
serve to ,rcicI cndously reduce blind
0nSS in all futurn generations.