title: [The 'Veenhuizen ophthalmia'].
abstract: In 1860 the institutions of the former Society of Welfare in Veenhuizen, the Netherlands, which had been taken over by the state, were struck by a mysterious eye disease. More than 5000 orphans and former beggars lived and worked in these institutions. The Minister of the Interior ordered an inquiry by the ophthalmologist Herman Snellen (1834-1908). He reported that the inmates slept in close proximity to one another and had to share dishes and towels. There was no clean water for washing or drinking. 788 (15%) people were found to be suffering from trachoma. On Snellen's advice, a start on improving the standards of hygiene was made but no more was done. The real reduction in prevalence came around 1900 and was probably connected with a reduction of the number of inmates and improvements in hygiene.
authors.affiliation: Het Oogziekenhuis Rotterdam, BH Rotterdam.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Vries
mesh_terms: D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000266:history* / Q000517:prevention & control; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D009426:Netherlands; D014141:Trachoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control