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Problem of Indian Administration

no fresh milk, butter, fruits, or vegetables were furnished them. A limited amount of milk was, however, used in the small sanatorium and hospital. It seems a questionable procedure to try to heal a localized condition by localized applications, when the whole body lacks the food necessary to nourish it.

The Indian Service began the treatment of trachoma, both medically and surgically, in 1911. In 1924 a definite procedure for eradicating the disease was adopted based on advice from recognized authorities in the field of ophthalmology. This procedure had its origin when a few Indians of the Blackfeet nation attending the Carlisle School some years ago were found to have trachoma and were operated on in Philadelphia. In 1923 they were found during the course of one of the first trachoma surveys on that reservation. From all appearances, their eyes had remained cured in spite of frequent contact in their homes, for periods ranging from eight to fifteen years.^[1] During the summer of 1924, the physician operating on these original cases treated a fairly large number at Fort Browning with the assistance of the reservation physician. Special clinics followed, and a number of physicians were detailed to do this work in the field. These were physicians selected on the grounds of ability or interest in the disease. They were required to assist and observe the technique of an operation believed at that time a cure for trachoma. This apprenticeship was frequently short, and some of the first physicians probably started out with a somewhat distorted idea of their problem. At that time no cases among Indians had remained cured long enough to warrant the complete acceptance of the specific operation (tarsectomy) proposed. The work, however, was started and pushed as rapidly as possible. The next step was to extend this service by attempting to have all agency physicians serve as trachoma specialists. Circular No. 2122, under date of June 22, 1925, stated in part, “We shall require all of our physicians to learn to perform the approved operations for the cure of trachoma, or give place to those who will learn, but we cannot make effective this requirement until they are provided with instruments.” This order was again strengthened

↑ At the time of the visit of the medical representative of the survey to the Blackfeet Reservation, an effort was made to see some of these cases that had been reported to have remained cured from eight to fifteen years, hut the agency authorities said they could not locate them.

[1] At the time of the visit of the medical representative of the survey to the Blackfeet Reservation, an effort was made to see some of these cases that had been reported to have remained cured from eight to fifteen years, hut the agency authorities said they could not locate them.

[1]