Azbukin. [Social roots of blindness, deaf-muteness and mental retardation and the basis of prevention ]

Abstract:
Discussed subjects are blindness and deafness, being combined with mental retardation and social disasters — poor sanitation and hygiene, social infections, fetal intoxication, including alcohol. Hearing loss is important not only in the origin of deaf-muteness, but also in the origin of mental retardation. A cursory sketch of the causes of blindness and deaf-muteness clearly shows that these disasters have predominantly social roots. The opinion is expressed that blindness and deaf-muteness are not a fatally inevitable phenomenon, but will be eliminated along with the elimination of the social conditions that cause them. The reorganization of society on socialist lines will uproot even these social calamities — blindness and deaf-muteness. But in order to destroy them, we need a tireless struggle to improve labor protection, protect the health of children, improve health and rational organization of life, we need to deepen the sanitary culture.