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PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS.

Reviewed by LUCY WRIGHT.
Supt. Dept. of Registration and Information.
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind.

Six new publications have recently appeared on the subject of Ophthalmia Neonatorum: -- the special committee of the New York Association for the Blind contributes the first three of a series on prevention of blindness; the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind reprints an article by Dr. DeNormandie and the circular recently prepared by a committee of the Massachusetts Medical Society; and the Ohio Commission for the Blind, with the advice and approval of an advisory committee of the State Medical Association of Ohio, issues a pamphlet of "Advice to Nurses and Mothers for the Prevention of Blindness."

Of the three New York publications, (1) "No. 1" is an eight page pamphlet, with a print of a group of children needlessly blind, followed by a clean-cut statement of the need of preventive work, not only in the case of infantile ophthalmia but, in case of accident, neglect of minor ailments, etc., and a statement of the purposes of this special committee. "Knowledge and promptness," they declare, "are the two great factors in the prevention of blindness." "No. 2" is a thirty-nine page pamphlet, with graphic illustrations, and, as its name, "Children Who Need Not Have Been Blind," suggests, it is a decided step towards explaining and popularizing the subject of prevention of blindness from ophthalmia neonatorum: -- first of all, by prevention of disease, through the use, in the eyes of all newborn infants of a prophylactic; and second, if the disease has been allowed to develop, the prevention of blindness by prompt and adequate care of the child's eyes. This pamphlet is, without doubt, the most complete and graphic contribution, thus far made for use on the popular side of the work of this campaign. It covers the points concerning registration and supervision of midwives; co-operation of the medical profession, co-operation of health officers and the public; makes recommendations for a campaign, and gives practical advice both as to prevention of disease and prevention of blindness. "No. 3" is a summary statement in a convenient small folder of the objects, etc., of the New York committee.

The Massachusetts reprints (2) are both of exceptional value. Dr. DeNormandie's paper is the statement of the problem up to date, by a physician of the Boston Lying-in Hospital and Assistant in Obstetrics at the Harvard Medical School, in a form so clear and interesting as to serve very happily for the education of lay workers. His paper sums up the matters of cause and frequency of the disease, the results of prophylactic treatment and the status of present legislation. He emphasizes the responsibility of the obstetrician and says that "the real danger is from the gross carelessness of the physicians who take no prophylactic measures, and from the midwives and from the ignorance of parents." When it comes to remedies Dr. DeNormandie urges that ophthalmia neonatorum be always included on the list of reportable diseases, that physicians guilty of criminal carelessness be prosecuted and that the campaign of education be pushed in every possible way. In conclusion, he urges that "the American Medical Association must be helped in every possible way in its fight against this disease.' He points out the fact of high mortality in these cases; that even the best hospital care of young nursing babies, without their mothers, has its dangers and closes with the question: -- "Is it too much to ask that wards be provided where mothers of these nursing can be admitted as well as infants?" The second Massachusetts publication "Ophthalmia Neonalorum. Preventive Treatment, Suggestions and Treatment of the Disease' is of the greatest value, especially for use in Massachusetts as the official bulletin, "Prepared by the Committee appointed by The Massachusetts Medical Society to consider what measures should be taken by the Society to prevent the occurrence and secure the prompt and effective treatment of Ophthalmia Neonatorum."