Golovin. [Blindness, its causes and prevention ]

Abstract:
The data on the general statistics about blindness and its causes for individual districts of Russia and the structure of the population, age and gender, and social status are given here. Seven causes of blindness in Russia were identified by author: trachoma (21.4% of all blind people), glaucoma (19.2%), corneal diseases (13.5%), smallpox (12.1%), neonatal blenorrhea (4.9%), damage of various kinds (4.9%), syphilis (4%). The first three are especially common among peasants. The current situation with the prevention of blindness in three areas — general education, general sanitary, medical special — and the pace of training are discussed. The question of the elimination of blindness in the country was raised. The author draws a terrible conclusion: two-thirds of the blind lost their sight completely in vain, and only because the light of knowledge did not come to their aid in time. So, the evil of blindness is extremely great in the country. With the proper organization of public medicine, it can be reduced by 60 percent. But there are not enough funds for this.