Imperial Valley press., 1924-02-23
REGARDING THE EYE EPIDEMIC


Because of the dissatisfaction of many Imperial
county parents with the treatment OF the present eye
epidemic and in view OF statements pubhshed by the
county health officer the Press has thought 1t aVs-
able to investigate the matter personally The writer,
who was recently in position to observe large num-
ber Of trachoma cases in state on the Mexican
border visited the county clinic and the Spruce dis
trct where the epidemic is particularly vlrulent
At the clinic several cases, apparently tr&choma,
were Observed the most severe among them being that
of Mexican whose sight IS considerably mn
paired and who has suffered from the disease for two
wears At the clinic, DR.. /. c. House, county health
officer is treating county cases with te assistance Vi
The trip to Spruce district school was made in
oor,nan7, with DR. House DR. c. S. Brooks and Dr. F.
A. Burger El Centre city health officer. The sltua
ton in this school has been serious and several bad
cases are now under treatment One boy In particular
has had severe infection, but according to teacher
and physician his have vastly improved under the
treatment given As evidence that the disease is nec-
tious three members OF one Mexican family IN thlS
district are affected with 1t.
AS result of the Investigation, satisfied
that the public officials having the matter in charge
are acting all good faith and doing all in their
power to prevent the spread OF the eye dlsease De II
trachoma or folliculosIs. .
In our opinion, since trachoma is common d.
sease in Mexico medical inspection at the border
should be more rigorous Trachoma is said to be more
or less prevalent in the southern states whence come
our cotton pickers and other tnerant crop workers.
an damOng these groups sanitary inspection cannot
be TOO searching. Segregation and prompt and thor
ough treatment of those afflicted will eventually stop
the progress of the epidemic.
the local men who are handling the epidemic How
ever there appear to be differences of opinion
among physicians regarding the detection and treat
ent of the disease and the degree in which it is
municabe.
We respectfully suggest therefore, that the coun-
tv supervisors secure the services OF consulting ply
eician who is an expert trachona There are num-
ber of such men available, who have been connected
with the immigration service for years and whose chief
business it is detect trachoma among applicants for
entry into the United States The county should spare
neither time expense TO get rid Of this devastating
disease.
Inspired by Nevada's lehal gas chamber politi-
clans are taking to the idea with gusto Only they
the innocent as well as the guilty.
Politicians are always firmly convinced when
times are good that they did it, and when times
bad that somebody else did it.
With the words 81 am ready" Woodrow Wilson
made fitting end.
No matter how big production of automobiles or
steel or corn there may be this year, there will be
bigger output of politics.
Time is said to be the most used noun in the die
tionary. But outside of the dictionary, there isn't
much use made of it.
There doesn't seem to be any agreement yet as to
whether being Corporation lawyer" is something to
brag about apologize for