The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-12-12
DOCTORS DIFFER ON
TRACHOMA SITUATION
The Government Doctor Says It's
Trachoma-Dr. Jervey Says It's
Chronic Follicular Catarrh of
the Conjunctiva."

It has been announced that the
city schools and schools in the
county had many cases of trachoma
among the pupils. DIR: j: L: Good
wyn of the U. S. public health ser
vice was in Newberry last Monday
and Tuesday, examining pupils OF the
schools here. DR.. Goodwin conduct
ed a clinic at Prosperity last Friday
and Saturday, operating on above 50
cases. In fact, with the cooperation
of the doctors of Prosperity Dr..
Goodwin operated on all the cases
found in that vicinity but two, those
not being brought in for operation;
DR.. Goodwin examined 945 pupils
in Newberry and found "A positive
cases, SO very suspicious cases and
ten slightly suspicious cases of ira
choma. DR.. Goodwin returned to
Columbia, but will establish clinic
here as soon as the city board OF
health makes the necessary prepara-
tions.
In Prosperity DR.. Goodwin oper-
.ated on all cases free, the only cost
attached being that Of actual ex-
penses such as a room, nurse, equip
ment and medicine. The same plan
NAV be carried out in Newberry with
the assistance of the city board of
health.
The question of trachoma here is
still debatable. The city council and
the board of health, as has been stat
ed. will see that there is no unneces-
sary delay in handling the situation.
The authorities sent Health Officer
J.. P. Livingstone to Greenville with
his little son, Paris for examination
by DIR. j. w. Jervey on Wednesday,
the boy having eye trouble. At the
same time Mr.. Pope Buford carried
his little son William and Mr.. John
Cousins his little son, Jackson there
for the same purpose. They returned
with a statement to each father from
DIR. Jeryey. We saw the health Off
Ger. from whom we copied the fol-
lowing:
"Greenville, S. c., Dec. 10, 1919.
lsTo Whom It May Concern:
s<This is to certify that l have on
this day examined the eyes OF Paris
Livingstone, the little son of Mr..
J.-P. Livingstone Of Newberry, 5. C.,
and state that it is my positive opln-
ion that this child has not the disease
known as trachoma, but has condl-
ton of the conjunctiva of the eyehds
not at all uncommon, and known to
ophthalmologists as chronic folilcular
catarrh of the conjunctiva.
t'This disease is entirely harmless
both to. the patient and to others. 1t
is not communicable and in so simple
a form as it exists in this case, will
give no trouble of any kind and will
have a tendency of itself to disappear
in the course of time without treat
ment.
{Signed) 81. W. Jervey, M. D."
As DR.. Goodwin and other doctors
have pronounced these cases to be
trachoma, and DR.. Jervey and other
doctors have pronounced positively to
the contrary, the discussion has
thrown the community into an anxi-
Gus and unsettled state. IT 1t is not
trachoma and the affected children
have to undergo operation or leave
ScnOOl, SOiiie pdiSi1S VIII IN
from school and refuse to allow the
operations to be performed. 1t the
disease is the dreaded trachoma the
children will have to undergo the
operations. DR.. Jervey says 1T IS
criminal shame to have the opera
tions. Opinion is divided among the
doctors of Newberry, some OF them
agreeing with DR.. Jervey that it IS
wrong to have the eyes of children
injured by operation when tn
trouble is no worse than it is: Some
doctors, however, agree with Or.
Goodwin.
The board of health will meet this
evening, Thursday, to canvass the
situation.