The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-06
LETTER PLEADS WELL
FOR BLINDNESS BILL
DIR. Hanger, of Deaf and Dumb School,
Writes Representative Taylor
Touching Appeal.
Bill PASSES HOUSE
Preventive Method Involves Applica-
ton OF Medicine to Eyes of New
Born Infant--Trcatment at States
Exp nse.

Delegate Tayiors bill aiming to pre-
vent blindness among infants, which
has passed the house. and is now
pending in the senate will, so emf
nent specialists and medical authori-
ties state, prevent blindness among
infants when due to certain specific
diseases affecting the parents. and
thus cave countless sufferers from
woe and misery.
The preventive method involves the
simple application OF feN. drops of
medicinal solution to the eyes OF
the newborn infant The bill pro-
vtdes that the proper authorities shall
he notified when babe comes into
the world under conditions which en-
tail blindness, and that the treatment
shall be administered at the expense
OF the state.
A letter TO Delegate Taylor from
DR.. r. NJ. Hanger. president of tho
Augusta County Medical association.
tells OF the horrors that may be pre-
vented by the enactment OF this legfs-
lation He tells of children coming
to him with this incurabie affliction,
cheeks flushed with the hope of re-
lief, and with tears standing In their
sixhtless eyes, crushed and detected.
turning and leaving his ofioe like
souls cast into outer darkness. The
letter follows:
Staunton, Va. March 2. 1913.
Hon. Herbert J. Taylor,
House of Delegates,
Richmond. Va.
My Dear sir:
Your letter OF the 2Tth ultin1o. an
nouncing the fact that your bill for
the prevention of blindness from oph
thalmia neonatorun had passed the
house has caused me no little salts
{ 80 ~ M fol ar
com mittee will endorse IL. No more
| economic or humane hall has ever
come before the Legislature. II Ia
passing strange that Virginia. In this
progressive age, has not before this
| Joined the twenty mine states of the
Union. which now have laws for the
prevention Of ON, and thus throw
Iaround our unborn children some
Safeguard to prevent their happiness
being marred and their usefulness I'm
paired by being deprived OF their
sight~-the greatest blessing which God
has given us.
The efficacy Of such a measure, for
the prevention Of blindness. Is no ex-
pertinent. II has for years been
adopted by the leading countries OF
Euro 9; and the frequency of oph~
- neonatorum IN the maternity
eoucaucis in many OF their cities has
employ W cent, and the resulting blind
pure ic.i like proportion.
Insn a decrease has taken place in
{ number OF cases OF blindness in
1.-THE state Of Massachusetts since the
passas e of q bill. similar TO yours. that
/ the Perkins Institution for the Blind,
the largest institution devoted to this
special. need, has actually cancelled
contraFs for the enlargement OF its
/ l. a 4 AN Ne
niaa cent OF the hopeless blind
| in the stitutions NJ Europe are made
so by ophthalmia neonatorum, and
statistics are only slightly better in
our own country.
/ AS a result of my twenty-six years
connection with the Virginia School
/ for the Deaf and Blind as oculist 20
that insl tuition. I am in position TO
know, better than an other man in
the ravages of this terrible sight de-
stroying malady.
Year after year. at the beginning
Of each session OF the school. some
Of these incurabie children come to
me, their cheeks flushed with the
suppressed excitement OF hope, to
know II / could not possibly help
them.
! It has been my painful duty to tell
/ LDSul' AF gafEly AS Coutus Nnat h'hA~
/ ing could be done.
! have sesn their cheeks grow pale
at hearing those fatal words, and with
! the tears standing in thetr sightlees
eyes, crushed and detected. they would
turn and leave my ONCE, like souls
( cast into outer darkness.
| with experience like this. Is It any
wonder that advocate your bill?
! I hope It will pass the senate;
believe It will, and II can be OF any
further service TO you, you have but
to commend me.
You are at liberty TO use this letter
in any way which will assist In bring
Ing about the passage OF your much
needed and long delayed bill
with best regards, I am