1927: Trachoma surgery proves too dangerous
The Office of Indian Affairs begins a national campaign in 1924 to eliminate the infectious eye disease trachoma from American Indian communities. For three years, doctors are urged to perform a radical eyelid surgery called tarsectomy to remedy symptoms, but in the hands of inexperienced surgeons, the procedure proves dangerous.
- Theme
- Federal-Tribal Relations
- Region
- California, Great Basin, Great Plains, Northeast, Northwest Coast, Plateau, Southeast, Southwest
Trachoma was rampant on some reservations, afflicting whole families. A Hopi grandfather, father, and son have the disease.
Courtesy National Archives and Records Administration