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185
[1911
that these are the cases that are dangerous to sight, for they produce
the severest and most destructive form of inflammation, and consequently
endanger the integrity of the cornea. The remaining 20 per
cent, are of milder order, and are due to inoculation with the bacilli
from other discharges.
02) The second question he answers affirmatively in this manner by citing
an incident as evidence:—One day, at Moorfields Hospital, he saw a
mother and three girls, aged 10, 8, and 4 years, and an infant 4 weeks.
The baby had developed Ophthalmia Neonatorum on the fourth day
of life ; a week later the youngesi girl contracted the disease; a few
days later the second girl caught it, and subsequently the oldest girl,
and 2t the time they were seen the four children had the disease, and
the mother showed the initial symptoms of an attack. Further, it
was found that each of the children suffered from a gonorrhœal
vulvitis.
Such an example demonstrates the great possibilities of the
spread of the disease more forcibly than words.
(3) His reply to the third question is answered by his experience at the
Belgrave Hospital, for a long while situated in Pimlico, and tended a
small but very poor district. Here 34.4 per cent, of the infants
under 12 months old were suffering from the ophthalmia of the newly
born. When, however, the hospital was moved to Kensington, he
found the patients more numerous and better kept, and that only 6.2
of the infants were the subject of the disease. It is evident from
these figures that poverty and neglect tend to increase the liability to
the disease.
Prevention of the Disease.—So long ago as 1807 Gibson, of Manchester,
laid d ,wn three rules for the prevention of the disease which have
never been bettered. As, however, they are primarily of a medical character, it
is not necessary to repeat them here, more especially as certain medical measures
recommended by a Special Committee of the British Medical Association who
were appointed to consider what action was necessary for the prevention of the
disease, will be given presently. This Committee made recommendations of
two characters—first, as to the administrative and educational kind, and,
secondly, as to medical measures. With respect to the first class, they placed
notification in the forefront, which is also very strongly recommended by
Dr. Harman in his very able contribution on the subject. With respect to