The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-12-30
s OR IS IT NOT TRACHoMA
!, THE DREAD EYE DISEASE

h0A;nion Is Divided on This Important
Question And We Are At Sea On
The Subject.
The whole country by this time
knows that the eye specialists dit
fer on this disease, it having been
heralded broadcast that the experts
do not agree on the trachoma situa-
ton in Newberry. In accordance
with previous notice, DIR. j. W. Jer-
yey of Greenville and DR.. G. l..
Kibler- of Columbia came to New
berry on last Tuesday to examine
many children who, in the opinion
of DR.. J. L. Goodwin, OF the Federal
Health service, had trachoma. The
two eve specialists were invited here
bv the city board Of health, acting
with DR.. James A. Hayne, State
health officer. DR.. E. R. Wilson OF
Sumter was also invited to come but
was not present. DR.. Goodwin took
no part in the examination or dis
cussion. It will be remembered that
several eases that had been pro-
nounced genuine were sent to Dr.
Jervey who, after examination
stated positively by written and
eiened certificate that the disease was
not trachoma, but follicular con-
iunctiivitis, non-communicable and re-
coyerable without operation or treat
kment. The visit Of the doctors to
Newberry did not change the status
Of the situation, leaving the author
ities here no better able to decide
as to the clinic.
The examinations were made at
the high school building, about sixty
children submitting to the process
fDr. Jervey Sheld to his original con-
viction in the cases he had PREVIOUS
" examined and stated as positively
that not one of the sixty he examln'
ed on Tuesday had trachoma. Dr.
Kibler, on the contrary, asserted ms
equally positive opinion that ira
choma existed among the children
both doctors had just examined,
stating that so per cent had ira
ehoma. With 25 suspicious and several
doubtful cases among the rest; ne
found very few that were not affect
ed.
One of the children examined
Tuesday was the little son of Health
officer ]. P. Livingstone. AS our
readers know, DR.. Goodwin had pro-
nounced this case real trachoma. The
(boy was taken to Greenville and DR..
Jervey said that the disease was not
what DR.. Goodwin had stated it to
Ihe. At The examination here Dr.
iArvey reiterated his opinion, while
Kibler pronounced it a suspicious
sase.
The doctors came here to ascertain
whether or not there was sufficient
trachoma in Newberry to warrant the
establishing of free clinic in this
community, but as no decision OF
agreement was reached the situation
remains in an unsettled and unsatls-
factory condition. DR.. Hayne agrees
with the city council and the board
Bof health of Newberry when he says
that the health department is trying
to ascertain whether or not the con-
ditions obtaining at Newberry war
rant the establishment of the free
clinic, as it is the desire Of the
Health officials to safeguard the eye
sight of children affected.
In the Columbia State of Wednes'
day it. was stated that Congressman
Fred H. Donlinick had wired Surgeon
General Rupert Blue of the findings
Of Drs.t Kibler and Jervey and that
the CONGRESSMAN had notified DR.
nHayne that he was requesting our
geon General Blue to send to New
berry Surgeon John McMullen, medl'
cal officer in charge of trachoma
stations in Kentucky and Tennessee
for the United States public health
service, Surgeon McMullen to come
to make a report on conditions here
It has been stated that there was
some talk here of getting DR.. Eotell
an eye specialist from Augusta, to
come to Newberry. He is not IN the
service of the government, but has
served in hospital in Russia, where
there were at one time, it is said
500 persons with trachoma. His
opinion would have great weight.
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