prophylaxis and treatment, has been issued and is being widely distributed.

Little Rock physicians and health authorities strongly endorse the passage of an ordinance by the City Council of Kansas City, Missouri, requiring physicians, nurses or midwives assisting in the birth of children in the city to place in the eyes of the baby two or three drops of 1% solution of nitrate of silver or a 25% solution of argyrol.

California:-During the meetings of the Public Health Nursing Association and similar organizations held in San Francisco last June, a largely attended meeting of persons interested in public health questions in San Francisco was held at the civic center. The subject of prevention of blindness was discussed by the Secretary of the National Committee and elicited much interest.

The Ophthalmia Neonatorum Bill introduced by Senator Jones in the California legislature was passed and became a law by the signature of the Governor early in June, 1915, The act provides for the definition of ophthalmia neonatorum, its reporting within twenty-four hours of its occurrence, and certain measures of prevention to be taken by the local health officer and the State Board of Health. The interests of this bill were in the hands of Dr. Glaser of the State Board of Health.

California passed a new Registration-of-Vital-Statistics law during the last summer, putting this under the State Board of Health. The question is to be inserted on the birth certificate: "Was a prophylactic for ophthalmia neonatorum used? If so, what?"

At a meeting in Berkeley last June of the American Association of Instructors of the Blind one afternoon's session was given to the discussion of prevention of blindness.

For the use of the California Committee on Prevention of Blindness a set of fifteen photographic reproductions of the National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness exhibits on Babies' Sore Eyes, Midwives, and Wood Alco

hol Blindness, were purchased by Mrs. Andrew S. Rowan. A similar purchase was made by the Pittsburgh Association for the Blind.

Illinois:-On June 25, 1915, Governor Dunne of Illinois signed the bill which was passed by the legislature of that state for the prevention of blindness from birth infection or ophthalmia neonatorum. Its chief provisions are:

(a) That any diseased condition of the eye of any infant in which there is inflammation redness, swelling, or any unnatural discharge at any time within two weeks after birth, shall be legally regarded as ophthalmia neonatorum.

(b) That any physician, midwife, nurse, parent, or any other person assisting any woman in childbirth or assisting in the care of any infant shall be required to report such case of ophthalmia neonatorum coming to his or her attention, to the health authorities within six hours after noting same.

(c) That physicians, midwives, etc., are required to inform parents or guardians of the serious nature and consequences of this disease and to advise the use of the prophylactic measures designated by the State Board of Health.

(d) For the purposes of this Act, midwives who, previously, have not been permitted to use medicinal agents under any conditions, may employ the approved prophylactic of the State Board of Health, with the consent of the parent or guardian.

(e) The local health officer shall investigate each case of ophthalmia neonatorum so far as he may do so without entering the home contrary to the wishes of the parents, and the health officer is required to report all such cases and their results to the State Board of Health.

(f) It is the duty of the State Board of Health to enforce the provisions of this Act; to provide a prophylactic agent for free distribution together with proper directions for the use of same; to publish and distribute information concerning the dangers and prevention of ophthalmia neona

torum; to furnish special advice and information to physicians and midwives on this subject; and to bring all violations of the law to the attention of the prosecuting attorney.

(h) Violation of the Act is punishable by a fine of not less than $10.00 nor more than $100.00.

A number of new laws have been passed directed toward accident prevention. The most important of these is the Workmen's Compensation Act, known as Senate Bill No. 66. This is a comprehensive law, too extensive for synopsis in these pages. Briefly, it provides and specifies the minimum sum which shall be paid in the event of death or injury of the employee and defines the responsibility of the employer, amending the Acts of 1911 and 1913. While this law is of especial interest from a social and industrial standpoint, it is expected that it will increase precautions against industrial injuries, many of which are eye injuries.

At the annual meeting of the National Medical Association held in Chicago, August 22-27, the evening session of August 25 was given over entirely to a popular consideration of conservation of vision. The meeting was largely attended both by the physicians and by the general public as well, and great interest was manifested in the topics and illustrations. Dr. C. V. Roman, Nashville; Dr. S. C. Dickerson, Chicago; Dr. M. J. Brown, Chicago, and the field secretary of the National Committee presented various phases of prevention of blindness work. Before adjournment a resolution was adopted by the Association signifying its approval of the use of a prophylactic in the eyes of the new born, prompt reporting of all cases of babies' sore eyes to the proper health authorities, endorsing the efforts of the National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness, and urging local medical societies to further such efforts so far as possible in their own communities.

Kansas:-After an examination of a number of adults and children, Dr. Harold B. Woods, City Health Officer, Topeka, reports that he found no trace of trachoma and

now considers the city relatively safe from this dreaded disease.

During the summer the Division of Child Hygiene, Kansas State Board of Health, purchased a number of photographs from the National Committee for publicity purposes. Kentucky: In the July issue of "The Modern Hospital" appeared an interesting article entitled "Trachoma in the Mountains of Kentucky," written by Dr. J. A. Stucky, of Lexington, Ky. Dr. Stucky is one of the pioneers in antitrachoma work in Kentucky, and has had a large and unusual opportunity to observe and treat patients from the infected areas. He is furthermore one of the most ardent supporters of the work being done by the Kentucky Society for the Prevention of Blindness.

Due to the efforts of Miss Linda Neville, Secretary of the Kentucky Society for the Prevention of Blindness, the following plank will appear in the platform of the Republican party at the coming state election in Kentucky:

"(14) For economic, as well as humane reasons, we recommend that the State of Kentucky undertake to supplement and later to continue the work of the United States Public Health Service for the prevention of blindness from Trachoma, a communicable and painful disease of the eye, from which the last census report shows that 33,000 persons are suffering in a single section of this State."

Almost identical provisions have also been made in the platforms of the Democratic and Progressive parties of Kentucky, so that the continuity of the remedial campaign now under the direction of the Public Health Service is practically assured, even after that body has deemed it necessary to withdraw from the field. It is interesting to note that this plank is the only one to be found in the three platforms mentioned having to do with public health. Editorial comment has been without exception extremely favorable so that the Kentucky Society for the Prevention of Blindness

may look forward to popular support in the furtherance of its plans.

The serious and economic waste and misery occasioned by trachoma-"a problem more largely economic than any other in the whole field of preventive medicine”—is set forth in a bulletin issued by Dr. A. T. McCormack, Secretary of the State Board of Health, who says that half of those who have it are eventually blind and the usefulness of every patient is greatly decreased. The loss of working capacity is one-fourth, he believes.

Michigan:-As Chairman of the Health and Hygiene Committee of the West Michigan State Fair Association, Dr. Collins H. Johnston of Grand Rapids secured from a number of health organizations exhibits for use at the annual State Fair in September. The entire exhibit on prevention of blindness was shown, and some seventy lantern slides bearing self-explanatory captions were thrown on the screen continuously day and night. Attendance at these State Fairs is very large, hundreds of thousands of persons often coming from all parts of the state to see the agricultural exhibits, races, etc. During recent years health authorities have been taking advantage increasingly of this opportunity to put in some effective popular exhibits and much direct good has undoubtedly been accomplished through this method of reaching the public.

Missouri:-Dr. James A. Campbell, of St. Louis, in a paper read June 29th, before the Ophthalmic Society, in joint session with the American Institute of Homeopathy, warned against the use of wood alcohol. Several cases of blindness were reported due to absorption through the hands. In part, Dr. Campbell said:

"Wood alcohol blindness may occur by inhaling the fumes, absorption through the hands, and one case was caused by its being splashed into the eyes. The symptoms are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, prostration, blindness and death. Blindness is a late symptom.