Text written: "Trachoma, a highly contagious eye infection that could cause blindness, was common in south-eastern Europe but relatively unknown in the United States. It appeared as infalmmations on the inner eyelid. Doctors checked for the disease by raising the eyelid with their fingers, a hairpin, or a buttonhook. Since trachoma was difficult to cure, sufferers were generally isoloated and sent back to their ports of embarkation.