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Show H CHILDREN MADE BLIND. hhH l There are so many children who become blind through neglect H at birth that the state board of health, complying with a law enacted H by the late legislature, has issued the following: H No midwife shall treat any case of dphthalmia neonatorum or H inflammation of the eyes of a newly born infant unless it is impos- H sible to secure thc services of a physician, provided that in case the H services of a phi'siciau shall be secured, a midwife may begin and H carry out treatment until his arrival. H In the event that the services of a physician connot be secured, H midwives are authorized to use and apply the following treatment: Hj Immediately upon thc discovery in a newly born infant of an in- H flammation of the eyes, attended by a mattery discharge therefrom, H five (5) drops of a twenty per cent (20 per cent) solution of argyrol Hj shall be dropped into thc eyes with an eye dropper, after having H separated the lids with the thumb and finger; and this treatment H shall be repeated every hour for four (4) days and longer if a dis- M charge is' still present. After four (4) days if the discharge has j ceased, thc treatment may be reduced in frequency to intervals of- four (-1) times daily for several days, until it is shown that the discharge dis-charge is not liable to return. Before each application of the argyrol solution, thc eyes should be thoroughly irrigated and cleansed by dropping; or pouring into them a one per cent (1 per cent) solution of chloride of sodium (common salt, or a saturated solution of boric acid. For practical purposes, the salt solution may be prepared by dissolving one tea-spoonful tea-spoonful of salt in a pint of water. The person treating thc eyes should exercise the utmost care to avoid touching the cornea (eye ball), as there is great danger of causing serious injury thereby. In applying the treatment the child should be placed flat upon its back and the head so held that the solution will not quickly escape from thc eyes. Inasmuch as thc secretions from the eyes are very infectious, care should be taken to destroy all articles contaminated by them, and to sterilize the hands after each treatment. The treatment above described is considered by eminent authorities authori-ties to be entirely effective and safer than solutions of nitrate of silver; and it is recommended to all physicians in general practice, i Solutions of argyrol quickly deteriorate and should be freshl' prepared for every case. Upon request the State Board of Ilealth will furnish materials for preparing fresh solutions. The foregoing is part of a most important bulletin and the instructions in-structions should be scrupulously followed by those entrusted with the duty of ushering children into the world. Two-thirds of the blindness having its inception at birth could be prevented by proper treatment of the eyes, and it is with that in mind thnt thc state board of health has sent out its instructions. Now it is for those occupying oc-cupying the responsible position of attending women at child birth to perform their duty as plainly defined, and then Utah at least will soon decrease thc number of sadly afflicted children. |