Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-04
Clinic Continues
at Fairfield

Fairfield, Me, Aug. 5 (SpeciaD -
That the clinic for Maine physicians
being held this week at the Central
Maine Sanitorium at Fairfield is in
creasing in popularity among the
doctors Of the State is evidenced by
the fact that the registration of at
tendance for the three days that the
clinic has been in progress. is
greater than it was for the entire
week last year.
One of the features of Wednes
day $ session was the address by Dr.
=. J. Beach before the nurses on
the subject, conservation of the
Vision of children" This subject is
of far greater Importance to the
health and we'll being of the public
than the lay mind imagines and Dr.
Beach handled it in such manner
as to make his hearers realize the
importance of this department of the
public health work. In his capac-
ity as chairman of the division of
the. Maine Public Health Associa-
ton on the conservation of vision,
Or. Beach was supplied with figures
OF startling proportion in regard to
the pre- valence Of blindness or de-
fectivc vision in the State of Maine
He said that conservation of vision,
or prevention of blindness. is a part
Of three OF four different lines OF
public health work that have no re
lation to each other. except that it
requires special knowledge of the
eye to understand their effect on the
eye.
\ tack in the finger is of little
Importance. because YOU can pull it
out" said DR.. Beach, but tack in
the eye. if it has pricked the lens,
may lose the sight of the eye. Tacks
are all stopped by goggles. but the
ordinary workman will not bother
with goggles The time to educate
people TO wear them, is in the pub
lie schools. The important point is
that in the examination of school
children is the place where one de
tccts the preventable disorders"
DIR. Beach especially emphasized
two groups as absolutely requiring
glasses. One is progressive near
sightedness. He compared the near
sighted eye to "A defective rubber
tire.
What do you usually have done
when Your automobile tire develops
blemish?' asked DR.. Beach.
And then he proceeded to answer
his own question You have it vul-
CaniZed. How many of US have
stopped to think that Nature is The
Great Nulcanizer' especially with ref
erencc to our eyes?
IN the case of blemishes in the
eyes Of children we find that this is
especially true. Eyes with these de-
ects can be detected by the ordinary
school examination and with proper
care will harden so firmly as to
equal first quality eyes in usefulness.
II neglected. on the other hand. the
defective spot will stretch and be
come thin until clear vision is no
longer possible. causing progressive
near sightedness 4 VulcaniZing
Job by Doctor Nature thus becomes
exceedingly difficult
That preventable blindness is sur :
pIisingly common is well known. The
ijlNis!on Of Conservation of Vision OF
he Maine Pablo Health Association
as been collecting and compiling
Maine statistics and We find that tho
data received from cnly one Ct tht
twenty-five accident insurance Gem
ranies operating in this state show a
loss OF a41 working days by Maine
Fictims OF preVontntle eve accidents
during the year 1920 The compan,
officers are convinced heedlessness or
The part Of the injured workers was
responsible for nearly all Of these ac-
cidents. The men themselves have