I'm somewhat conflicted and confused about some information about silver nitrate. This is not a query about opinion, but if you have concrete info, please respond.
We've all been warned about NEVER getting silver nitrate in our eyes. I'm rethinking this - is it true? If it is, why do they (or have they) been putting it in newborn's eyes for years? I know it's an antibiotic and still used as a "caustic stick" in hospitals. There's a lot of conflicting information. I think it's based on a ver, very weak solution, but still. Here's what I've found:
From AllRefererHealth.com Because of the significance of neonatal conjunctivitis, all hospitals (most required by State law) routinely use silver nitrate or antibiotic drops, such as erythromycin, in the newborn's eyes to prevent disease. Silver nitrate is no longer commonly used and has been mostly replaced by antibiotic eye drops.
From the American Foundation for the Blind: There is a remedy for ophthalmia neonatorum. This is an instillation of nitrate of silver solution into the eyes of the child. It is efficacious if promptly and skillfully applied. It is not, however, infallible, and in unskillful hands it may do great harm. The mother who sees in the eyes of her baby the symptoms which I have described should lose no time in summoning the assistance of an intelligent physician.
Let no one suppose that this is idle advice. In France and Germany the laws require that the eyes of every child shall be treated with nitrate of silver solution as soon as it is born, and in those countries there has been a considerable decrease in blindness from the scourge of ophthalmia neonatorum. And what do the wise lawmakers of America do? A bill for the prevention of blindness introduced in the Illinois Legislature failed to pass because it was argued that this was only another scheme of doctors to provide fees for themselves! But, at best, the law is concerned only with the remedy. The people themselves, and only they, can wipe out the cause.
Can anyone respond to this?
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