COMMITTED ON PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS, NEW YORK 311 



Three miscarriages only have occurred, and we have had no deaths 

 to record during the whole period. Six women have already come back 

 to us for the second time, one 9f whom notified our nurse months 

 before she registered at the hospital. 



The expenses of the work are limited to the nurse's salary and car- 

 fares and are covered by $1,150 a year, making an expense per patient 

 of a trifle under $3.00. The women are encouraged to pay this sum, 

 as the committee believe that it is much better for them and for the 

 future of the work that they should do so whenever possible. 



In conclusion attention may be called to three things: 



First That whereas about eight per cent, of the pregnant women 

 were threatened with eclampsia, in no case did the disease develop; 

 indicating that care during pregnancy greatly lessens its dangers. 



Second That the average birth weight of the babies whose mothers 

 were cared for was seven pounds ten ounces, which is ten ounces above 

 the general average birth weight as given by Williams. 



Third That the cost of accomplishing these results is a trifle under 

 $3.00 per patient. 



COMMITTEE ON PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS OP THE NEW YORK 

 ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND 



The work of the Committee on Prevention of Blindness during the 

 year ending November i, 1910, has, like that of the preceding year, 

 been almost entirely educational, co-operative and legislative. 



The educational work has been carried on by means of the publica- 

 tion and distribution of literature, public speaking, photographic ex- 

 hibits, lantern slides, and through magazine articles and the press. 

 Thirty-one thousand two hundred and forty-seven of the committee's 

 publications have been distributed during the year. These have been 

 sent into every State of the Union, and to many European countries. 



Through the courtesy of the New York School of Philanthropy, the 

 committee was enabled, during the winter of 1909-10, to carry on 

 investigations and gather information regarding the relation of social 

 conditions to the occurrence of ophthalmia neonatorum, this being 

 one phase of the field work done by students in the school. Assist- 

 ance in this conection was very kindly given by the New York Eye 

 and Ear Infirmary, the New York Ophthalmic and Aural Hospital, 

 the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, and Bellevue and 

 Allied Hospitals. 



The committee made investigations during the year relating to 

 the existing provisions in hospitals in and about New York city for 

 the reception and care of patients suffering from ophthalmia neona- 

 torum. It was found that there were eight hospitals to which patients 

 with ophthalmia neonatorum may be admitted. There are several 

 dispensaries at which patients may be seen and treated daily, and 

 where directions are given for treatment at home, which are always 

 imperfectly carried out, and a certain number of eyes lost as a result. 



The executive secretary, on behalf of the committee, while abroad 

 last summer, went to London for the purpose of investigating the 

 English method of educating, licensing and controlling midwives. 



Women engaged in this profession in England are required: I. 

 To take a course in midwifery in a training school sanctioned by the 

 Central Midwives Board, which was appointed by an Act of Parlia- 

 ment in 1902. 2. To pass the examination given by the Central Mid- 

 wives Board, and to present certificates of their good moral character. 



