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It is caused either through material in the
maternal passages, which contains the germ of the
disease, clinging to the eyelashes, whence it is
carried to the eyes after birth by the blinking of
the infant, or by the sponges, water or other
articles used in the first bath.
The first symptom is the appearance of a thin
discharge from the eyes like whey, which later
becomes like tnick yellowish cream.
If the disease is not at once treated, an
ulcer will quickly form, and the infant's
eyesight will be lost beyond recall—a
calamity which is probably more terrible than any
which can befall a human being. Recollect that
there is nothing more precious than eyesight, the
loss of which is regarded by most people as equivalent
to the loss of life itself.
Treatment is, therefore, more urgently
required than in almost any other known
disease and consequently a doctor, if
not already in attendance, should be
summoned at once.
Caution.
MOTHERS AND NURSES SHOULD RECOLLECT
THAT IT IS A VERY INFECTIOUS
DISEASE, AND, THEREFORE, CAN BE CONVEYED
FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER BY
THE FINGERS OF THE MOTHER, NURSE
OR OTHER PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE
BABY. CONSEQUENTLY THE PATIENT
SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO YOUNG CHILDREN
TO NURSE, NOR, INDEED, SHOULD
THEY BE ALLOWED TO KISS OR FONDLE,
OR EVEN TOUCH THE BABY, LEST THEY
SHOULD CONVEY THE INFECTION TO THEIR
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OWN EYES, IN SHORT, ALL MODES OF IMMEDIATE
CONTACT WITH THE PATIENT OFFER
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE INFECTION OF
THE HEALTHY AND MUST BE AVOIDED. THE
CLOTHING, PILLOWS AND BEDDING, WHICH
MAY QUITE POSSIBLY HAVE BECOME INFECTED,
SHOULD ON NO ACCOUNT BE USED
BY ANY OTHER PERSON UNTIL DISINFECTED.
Recommendations.
The following recommendations with one slight
addition have been issued by the Metropolitan
Union of Blind Charities, and are fully endorsed
by your Medical Officer of Health : —
1. When a child is born, insist that the nurse
or midwife washes out the eyes thoroughly,
as she was taught to do.
2. Examine the eyes daily yourself in the first
week of the little one's life, and if there is the
slightest redness on the lids, swelling or discharge,
send for the doctor at once,
and follow his instructions minutely.
3. In the meantime wash the child's eye or eyes
about every ten minutes with a soft clean rag
or cotton-wool wrung out of plain cold or tepid
water, or better still, water in which boracic
acid (one ounce to a pint) has been dissolved,
gently wiping from the temple towards the
nose.
4. Never use the same rag or cotton rag twice,
but burn it at once ; be particularly careful
not to touch both eyes with the same piece;
also that in the act of cleansing nothing gets
into your own eyes.
159
[1912