[Ophthalmia neonatorum of the newborn and its treatments in Canadian medical publications: 1872-1985]. / L'ophtalmie du nouveau-né et ses traitements á la lecture des publications médicales canadiennes: 1872-1985.

In the 19th century the occurrence of ophthalmia neonatorum had reached alarming rates in the maternity wards not only of Europe but also across Canada. The impact of this blinding ocular infection on Canadian medicine from 1872 to 1985 is examined through a review of 80 medical journals, books, and lay press articles of that period. The prophylactic and therapeutic use of 2% silver nitrate introduced by Credé in 1880 to prevent neonatal blindness is reviewed. The signs, symptoms, and corneal complications of this disease as well as the multiple ocular drugs used during this era will be presented. The judicial consequences on midwives and obstetricians will be discussed. The subsequent use of colloidal silver based agents such as collargol, protargol and argyrol followed by the introduction of sulfonamides and finally the routine use of prophylactic topical antibiotics will be reviewed.

[From the experience of Cheselden (1728) to the experiences of Dr. Guillie on contagious ophthalmia (1819-1820). Different methods of using those who were blind at birth as point of proof]. / De l'expérience de Cheselden (1728) aux expériences du docteur Guillie sur l'ophtalmie contagieuse (1819-1820). Diverses modalités de l'utilisation de l'aveugle-né comme lieu de la preuve.

During the 18th century, oriented thinking about the origin of human knowledge, and the progress of ocular surgery, led to a number of observations on born blind recently cured from cataracts by famous surgeons. Such observations were continuously done during the 19th century, and they were interpreted either from the empiristic viewpoint or from the all along viewpoint. In 1820, Dr. Sebastien Guillie, manager and chief consultant at the Royal Institution for Younger Blind, prospected different experiments with four of his pupils, in order to prove the contagiousness of purulent ophtalmia. Despite the various differences between Dr. Guillie's experiments and his predecessors', the author voices that the century old habit of using blind people as subjects of experiment was the factor that allowed Guillie to grant permission using his pupils as guinea pigs.

Silver nitrate prophylaxis.

In many countries the statutory use of silver nitrate prophylaxis as soon as possible after birth has recently been reviewed from both a human rights and a medical standpoint. It has been argued that silver nitrate does not prevent all cases of gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum (GON) and that it causes chemical conjunctivitis, pain and visual impairment, which may interfere with parent-infant bonding. Furthermore, the low incidence of GON, better methods of prenatal diagnosis, and the availability of suitable alternative prophylactic medication and of effective methods of treatment of GON have prompted recommendations that alternative prophylaxis be legally allowed or that mandatory prophylaxis be eliminated altogether. This paper reviews the situation and provides updated recommendations.