Trachoma Conference
In the last six months the Washington State Health
Department has thought it advisable to institute a
trachoma program in connection with other health
activities in that state. To do this it was necessary
to make a special study of diagnosis and treatment
of trachoma. After several conferences with the dis
trict medical director of the U. S Indian Service,
it was decided tnat Chemawa Indian School was
the best place available for this study. Through the
co-operation of Dr. Lombard, district medical di
rector; Miss Grace G. Englemen, director of tra
choma nursing; Dr. j. F. Lane, special physician of
the U. S. Indian Service at large: Miss Adeline Lynch,
trachoma nurse at large; Mr. M. W. Evans, super
intendent of Chemawa Indian School, thirty tracho
ma students and twenty non-trachoma students of
Chemawa Indian School, they were able to obtain
the desired information and instructions. Those in
attendance were, district medical director, three
ophthalmologists, one state epidemialogist, six coun
ty health officers, state supervisor of public health
nurses, and fifteen public health nurses. The puplic
health men were here for one day, but the nurses
stayed for three days. These activities took place on
the 28th, 29th, and 3()th of November, and Dec
ember 1st.
Trachoma
(As told to Paul Svinth by Dr. J. F. Lane.)
Trachoma, meaning roughness, is a granular in-
flamation of the conjunctiva of the eyelid. It is a virus
disease exclusively from the secretions of an infec
ted eye. It is spread by direct, or indirect, contact
of towels, handkerchiefs or any other material used
by the infected person.
The symptoms of this particular disease are:
A. Sometimes symptomless.
B. Sensitiveness to light.
C. Itching or burning of the eye.
D. Feels a foreign body in eye.
E. Tears.
F. Sticking together of lids due to discharge.
G. Pain if ulcers or if imflamation develops.
H. Visual disturbance.
I. Follicles in conjuntiva( hazy, vascular cloud
iness in the upper part of the cornea.)
Trachoma frequently develops very slowly. It is a
disease extended over a long period of time.
The conditions that are liable to follow are par
tial blindness or complete blindness. Also lid de
formation in which the lids turn in and bring the
lashes in contact with the cornea causing constant
damage to the cornea, often resulting in complete
blindness.
Assemblies
Assemblies are held in the auditorium on Wed
nesday morningsat 10:45. The first ones were chief
ly for getting acquainted with employees and for
group singing. Later assemblies have each been in
charge of a class.
The freshmen. Mrs. Weigel's class, entertained us
with a play, singing, some stunts, and readings.
Miss Sunrise's third grade presented a program of
folk dances. They were very cunning in grown-up
costumes. The dances were Varsoviana, waltzes, and
Virginia reel, and others.
Miss DodrilLs seventh and eighth grades each
gave a program. The audience was very apprecia
tive of th^ir songs to guitar accompaniment, stunts,
readings, acrobatic stunts, and tap dancing.
The beginners and first grade entertained us De
cember 8 w ith games and songs. They played Little
Black Sambo in pantomime while Miss Page read
the story. We enjoyed their costumes and acting.
Education
Education today is a necessity. After the war w hen
the jobs are scarce, you w ill almost have to have an
education.
Education isn’t something to be poured on you
by your teacher, your parents and other people who
might be called educators. It is something you, as
an individual, will build up for yourself.
A graduate from high school or college is foolish
to think education stops there; for education is part
of our everyday Life; we learn something new’ every
day. We must never stop learning, for that is what
makes life more enjoyable and understandable.
So let’s not pretend we know it all; let’s get in dig
out some of this EDUCATION.—C. P erry .
George W. Bent
George W. Bent, former boys’ adviser at Chema
wa for 15 years, passed away at his home in Salem
Oregon, after a months illness. Besides Chemawa,
Mr. Bent served in a similar capacity at the Indian
schools at Genoa, Nebraska and Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.
He had many friends among his fellow workers and
students with whom he worked.
The treatment that is used mostly is sulfonilamide
drugs. This drug has replaced almost entirely the
older methods of treatment. With this drug it has
been found that a greater improvement in a much
shorter period of time has been accomplished than
with any other type of treatment.