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