sease.

"2. By the instillation of a silver salt in the eyes of a new-born
infant the disease is prevented from developing in all but an
exceedingly small number of the cases in which it would otherwise have
appeared.

"3. In practically all those few exceptional cases the disease is
absolutely curable, if like treatment is employed at a sufficiently
early period.

"Since these facts are no longer subjects of discussion, but are
universally accepted by all educated medical men, the natural inquiry
follows: Why, as a common-sense proposition, are not these simple,
harmless, preventive measures invariably employed, and why, in
consequence of this neglect, does a nation sit quietly and
indifferently by, making no attempt to prevent this enormous and
needless waste of human eyes?

"The reasons are three-fold, and lie--first, with the medical
profession; second, with the lay public; third, with the state.

"For the education of its blind children annually New York alone pays
_per capita_ at least $350, and a yearly gross sum amounting to much
more than $100,000. If, as sometimes happens, the blind citizen is a
dependent throughout a long life, the cost of maintenance is not less
than $10,000, and the mere cost in money will be multiplied many times
in that a productive factor, by reason of blindness, has been removed
from the community.

"If, therefore, as an economic proposition, it were realized how
vitally it concerns the state that not one child shall needlessly
become blind, thereby increasing the public financial burden, there is
no doubt that early and effective measures would be instituted to
protect the state from this unnecessary and extravagant expenditure of
public funds.

"Eleven states have passed legislative enactments requiring that the
midwife shall report each case to the proper health authority, and
affixing a penalty for the failure to do so. As has been intimated,
however, it is not by any means always under the ministration of
midwives that these cases occur, and, like all laws behind which is
not a strong and well-informed public sentiment, this law is rarely
enforced. A more effective method must be devised. Every physician
having to do with the parturient woman, every obstetrician, every
midwife, must be frequently and constantly advised of the dangers and
possibilities of this disease, the necessity of prevention,