The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-03-12
TRACH0MA AND
G0ITER SURVEY
WILL BE MADE
DR.. A. A. WhittemOre Seeks
to Learn Extent Of the
Diseases in State

Believing that trachoma, 4 chronic
contagious inflammation of the eye
lids, and simple goiter, Il dlsflgurlng
enlargement Of the throat and neck,
are spreading over the state and
eases are numerous in many locall-
ties, but lacking complete lnforma-
tion, the state health department
through Dr. A. A. Whittemore, state
health officer, has begun Il survey
OF the. state.
Eve wish TO determine definitely
the locations where these two dis
eases are prevalent so that we might
institute and recommend preventive
methods says IL statement Of the
health officer.
Trachoma may cause blindness,
ulcers and sears Of the eyes, and
roitcr causes Il useless, disfiguring
condition Of the neck, ana also may
become dangerous to health, accord
ing 10 DR.. Whittemore. There are
"goiter belts" in the United States,
where the disease is much more pre-
valent than in other sections, and
he health department wants par
ticularly to learn whether such
condition obtains in this state.
General Public Aid Enlisted
Health officers, physicians, teach
ers and superintendent Of schools
are being enlisted in the effort of
the health department. While Dr..
Whittcmore believes these two dis
ease conditions are fast spreading
=. OF, H.
survey has been made to ascertain
the extent or seriousness Of the
situation.
In seeking the assistance of sup
crintendents of schools, who lack
medical knowledge, instructions have
been prepared by DR.. Whittemore to
make possible detection Of these dis
eases. With regard to them he
says:
Characteristics Described
Trachoma tchronic sore eyes
sometimes called graduated lids).
Trachoma is chronic inflammatory
disease of the inside of the eye lids.
1t is very contagious. 1t causes
blindness, ulcers, and inflammatory
conditions of the eye ball by the
roughened lids moving up and down
over them. 1t is not expected that
you can distinguish this disease from
other chronic inflammatiOns Of the
eye. AIT we want is the fact that
any kind of chronic inflammation
has existed six months or more. We
viii then have each case reviewed
by their doctor for correct diagno-
sis"
Goiter. Typhoid enlargement
Everyone knows what goiter is. The
only trouble is that you may not no.
tlce the small one Or those just
starting. Goiter is very disfigur
ing enlargement of the thyroid glant
OF the throat or neck situated il
front about where the Adams Apple
ought to be in boys or little be
low 1t is shaped like the printed
letter H, the cross bar extending
across the throat. Either one or al
of these sections may be enlarged
"A large goiter may be seen b.
any one across the room. You can
distinguish a small enc by openin,
the collar and looking at neck from
both sides. You may perhaps fee
one of the lobes with your finger
or if you will tip the head back
little, the fullness of the neck O
throat above the sternum may b.
seen. A small goiter is hard to dis
tinguish in fat children.
"Goiter is preventable. 1t is cur
able in it's early stages. 1t is al
most a crime On somebody's part t.
allow any child to grow to adult lif
with this disfiguring and often dan
gcrous defect. 1t OCCURS in certai
localities of the state due to lack O
iodine in the water. We wish t
locate these places"