[Report 1930] / School Medical Officer, Somerset County Council.

  • Somerset Council
Date:
1930
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1930] / School Medical Officer, Somerset County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    23/48 (page 21)
    Sister to be treated 1)\ her under their general directions. These cases therefore do not go to the Surgeon's Clinics and ari;- not included in the table. If the defect is considerable or if the condition does not yield to treatment the cases are then sent to he seen by the Ortiio])a‘dic Surgeon. The satisfactory alteration of tyjie of case seen has continued and by far the largest groups of cases comprise postural and other minor defects, a large jiortiou of which are the result (.)f rickets. 'I'lie more serious crippling conrlitions have diminished over the earlier years of the scheme hut not as compared with the two previous year’s. The attendances at both Clinics have considerably increased, at the Surgeon’s Clinics by 175 and the Sister's by 1,170 compared with 10‘20. At the Sister's Clinics while most of the woi'k has been at the five ma.j<jr centres, the minor Clinics have been very valuable and have enabled many ca.ses to attend for further treatment w hen it would have been impossible for them to travel the longer distances to the main Clinics. A large number of cases have been provided with suitable splints and appliances. During 1030, 138 sjrlints, etc., were su[)plied, 100 being calipers or other irons, while 10’2 alterations to ordinary bouts were ordered and supervised, and 7 pairs of surgical boots provided. These appliances are obtained from the Oswestry and Wingdield Orthopaedic Hospitals, as well as from the Bath Ortho¬ pedic Hospital. In addition a large number of [)laster of Baris splints were fitted. The number of these has greatly increased and as many asTit^b were fitted during the year. X-ray photographs of cases are required in a number of instances, either to aid in making the diagnosis or as a guide to the treatment required. Arrangements have been made with 14 hospitals, or individuals, for X-ray photographs. Cases requiring massage have greatly increased in number including 5 polio¬ myelitis cases which could only be discharged from the Bath Orthopaedic Hospital if they could bi' folloAved up by |n'olonged courses of massage treatment. The cost of the Orthopaidic Scheme is apportioned between the County Plducation Committee, the Tuberculosis Sub-Committee and the Maternity and Child Welfare Sub-Committee. The proportion of tuberculosis cases seen and admitted to hospital has been fewer than anticipated and the Education Committee cases correspondingly iiiore numerous, so that the major cost at [)resent is falling upon the Education Committee.