Germany | 34,334 | 609 |
| Hungary | 19,377 | 1006 |
| Ireland | 4263 | 954 |
| Italy | 38,160 | 1175 |
| Holland (1890) | 2114 | 414 |
| Norway | 1879 | 838 |
| Portugal | 5650 | 1040 |
| Sweden | 3413 | 664 |
| Switzerland (1895) | 2107 | 722 |
| Scotland | 3253 | 727 |
| Spain (1877) | 24,608 | 1006 |
| Russia | . . | about 2000 |
| United States (corrected census) | 85,662 | 1125 |
+----------------------------------+--------+----------------+

CAUSES AND PREVENTION

There are many cases of complete or partial blindness which might have
been prevented, and a knowledge of the best methods of prevention and
cure should be spread as widely as possible. Magnus, Bremer, Steffen and
Rossler are of opinion that 40% of the cases of blindness might have
been prevented. Hayes gives 33.35% as positively avoidable, 38.75%
possibly avoidable, and 46.27% as a conservative estimate. Cohn regards
blindness as certainly preventable in 33%, as probably preventable in
43%, and as quite unpreventable in only 24%. If we take the lowest of
these figures, and assume that 400 out of every 1000 blind persons might
have been saved from such a calamity, we realize the importance of
preventative measures. For the physiology and pathology of the eye
generally, see VISION and EYE.

Ophthalmia.

The great majority of these cases are due to infantile purulent
ophthalmia. This arises from inoculation of the eyes with hurtful
material at time of birth. If the contagious discharges are allowed to
remain, violent inflammation is set up which usually ends in the loss of
sight. It depends on the presence of a microbe, and the effective
application of a weak solution of nitrate of silver is curative, if made
in a proper manner at an early period of the case. In Germany, midwives
are expressly prohibited by law from treating any affection of the eyes
or eyelids of infants, however slight. On the appearance of the first
symptoms, they are required to represent to the parents, or others in
charge, tha