Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1927-12-10
SURVEY SHOWS
TRACH0MA HAS
BEEN REDUCED
Extent of Eye Infection
In Valley Much Lower
Than Formerly.

Progress in Imperial county $
fight against trachoma was report
ed today by DR.. c. II. Halliday,
cpidemiologist of the state depart
mcnt of public health, who is com
plotting his fifth survey ON condit
'"ttS with DIR. G.. $. Brooks, county
health officer, and the county nurse.
Hr. Halliday makes the gratifying
announcement that the condition has
been reduced IS per cent since the
first survey was made in Januar.t +,
1925.
THE survey DR.. Halliday
stated. "has been conducted in 81
county schools located outside the
incorporated cities, and covers APP
rroximatcly. 1000 school children.
When the first survey was made
in these schools, 5SS cases were
found. At the last examination, but
80 were located, the doctor stated.
That Imperial County is not in a
class by itself as far us the exist
ance of trachoma is concerned is
emphasized by DR.. Halliday, who
states that every county in the
state suffers from the infection,
which he also declares is found III
nearly all parts of the world.
/ - However, Imperial County is the
first and so far the only county in
the state to put into effect an or
eanized campaign against the dis
ease, - DR.. Halliday explained.
Imperial County's work against
trachoma was begun by DIR. l.. {.
House, Er. Halliday stated, Dir.
House having started survey in
the county schools before DIR. Hal
lidav made his first investigation
here. An expert of the United
States Public Health Department
was also brought to the Valley and
the diagnosis of the disease rs
"trachoma was made.
DR.. Halliday, who has made in
tensive study of trachoma in the
Philippines, China, India, Russia,
France and Poland, has diagnosed
the condition existing here as ira
choma, which if neglected and left
untrcated, may result in certain
percentage of. eases of total bin l.
ness. The percentage of blindness
resulting from trachoma in the
United States is about two per cent j,
Dr. Halliday states.
For the benefit of the layman
who may not have definite idea
of the disease, Dir. Halliday explain.
Cd that traehoma is a disease affect
ing the eyes; which is spread from
tnc infected to the non-infeeteI
easily by discharges. Several cases
are often found in the family of n
patient having the disease. 1t is
very slow in its development, which
begins with a slight inflammation
and progresses onward through II
rumbcr Of stages, which include the
formation of granules ON the lids
and increases until film is formed
ever the pupil itself. Treatment
should be secured from an eye speei-
alist.
In the Incorporated cities, it has
not been possible for various reasons
u conduct a campaign, but indicat-
ions ut the present time are that
the work beng carried on in the
county will be taken up by the city
schools. In the rural schools, the
infected children are under the care
If a nurse who sees them every two
weeks, aud gives instructions for
systematic treatment. DR.. Halliday
reports that he has, in addition to
MS raral school work, made from one
10 three, and in most cases at least
two, surveys of the schools in each
city.
The Rockefeller Institute for
Medical Research is working on tin.
disease at the present time, and Dr.
y. Nogachi, famous for his import
ant discoveries in the field of med
ical science, has located the specific
organism. Fifteen blood specimens
sent to DIR. Nogachi from Imperial
Valley gave - positive reactions,
br. Halliday stated.