Ophthalmia neonatorum : its etiology and prevention / by Sydney Stephenson.

  • Stephenson, Sydney.
Date:
[1903]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Ophthalmia neonatorum : its etiology and prevention / by Sydney Stephenson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    the genera] adoption of the Crede method : (1) that it is too complicated bo bo entrusted to the average midwife; and (2) that it does not always prevent the development of ophthalmia. (1) That the ordinary midwife is too unintelligent to apply the method correctly can scarcely be admitted as a serious argument. She is often compelled, lor instance, to undertake tilings that require at least as much intelli- gence as applying a drop of liquid to a baby's eyes, such as tying the cord, or giving a vaginal douche.. Michaelsen's case (< Centralblatt f. p. Augenheilkunde/ 1900, p. 63), where a midwife, having runout of the 2 pel- cent, solution, hastily sent to the nearest chemist and obtained a solutionof 20 per cent, silver, which she dropped into the eyes of two babies, with consequences which may ■be better imagined than described, must surely constitute a unique instance of carelessness on the part either of the chemist or the nurse, it is, however, no argument against Orede s method. Nevertheless, stress has been laid upon this objection by several writers. (2) Does Credo's method always prevent the develop- ment of ophthalmia neonatorum ? The answer to this question must be in the negative. In response to Cohn's oft-quoted circular, replies were received from thirteen medical men, who had met with no fewer than 36 cases ot blennorrhea amongst 310 births,-that is to say in 12 per cent. This seems a startling result, but a moment's reflection will show us that the percentage ought to be calculated not from the results of thirteen returns only but from the whole number replying to the circular: lhen there remains the fundamental fact—namely that amongst the 24,723 babies included in KoStlTns hi where the Orede plan had been used, only 0-65 per cent' developed ophthalmia, indeed, it is clear 'that the o ^ n,e of the silver drops should prevent ophthalmia when itheTLtTf' in0Clat6/ W'*th « ns eithei just before or just after birth. On the other hand, ,t obviously cannot prevent ante-par, ,„„ infeC!