Carthage courier. (Carthage, Tenn.) 1913-current, 1921-03-10

at Carthage to deal with the local
problem
i Arrangements have been completed
whereby the county, the local chapter
of the Red Cross and the Service have
joined hands IN the support of twelve
| bed hospital, which is now operating
and which, since Jan. 18th, has re-
celved for examination 14O patients.
Of this number total of 85, so per
cent, have been treated, So cases have
been treated for conjunctivitis (infia-
mmation of the eyes) and 80 have been
operated on for trachoma and it's com
plications. Since only 40 of the 40
cases examined have been school chill
dren it viii be seen that a serious prob
lem is presented by the adult popula-
ton as well as the school children.
At the present writing all II beds
IN the hospitals are taken and many
patients have quarters outside in the
town, which shows that the public as
well as the health authorities are be-
coming thoroughly interested in the
correction of the present state of af-
fairs. Indeed, it is said that some of
the citizens of the county are agita-
ting the question of locating a perna-
nent trachoma hospital in the county
or in some town easily accessible
thereto. The hospital is in charge of
Assistant Surgeon ]. A Eldridge, one
of the most competent officers of the
Service.
Surgeon John McMullen of the Pub
lie Health Service, says that trachoma
presents problem more largely eco
nomlc than almost any other field of
public health. Many of those who
have the disease are eventually made
bind and the economic usefulness of
every patient is greatly decreased. 1t
would be conservative to say that the
average earning capacity of persons
having trachona is less than one
fourth that of we'll persons This
feature of trachoma is well illustrated
by the picture showing the family
group of six, all infected with ira
choma. 1t will be observed that all
but one of the group show the char
acteristic position of the trachoma pa
tient, /. e. the head turned away be-
cause of the pain caused by light.
The one facing the light shows the
effort exerted by his clenched hands,
and the attitude of the little bow of
five in the foreground is pitifui. The
mother before treatment had not
walked without being led for the past
eight years. Ten days after treat
ment she walked over the entire bust
ness section of Carthage without as
slstance, and so remarkable was the
change that it made missionary out
of former "knocker"
Il thought that woman couldn't !
walk without being Ied," said this
gentleman, "but / see she is walking
alone now"
When informed concerning the reas- +
on for her improvement, he remark
ed: well, if they can cure her so she /
can even do her homework they have
done something worth while"
The boy whose eyeballs were af-
fected would have become a county
charge in comparatively short time
had he been left untreated Now he is
being cured and, with his otherwise
splendid physical development, will +
grow up to be a useful citizen.
Trachoma is slowly but surely con-
tagious and spreads thru families.
schools, institutions and communities
where an initial case is introduced.
The disease has been shown by the
State Board of Health to exist in
some degree from West Tennessee to