[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.

    25/48 (page 23)
    THE PREVENTION OF CRIPPLING AND POSTURAL CONDITIONS. (h’eait a-tteution is paid to this side oi! the work. During the year 172 fresh cases of early rickets or suspected rickets were reported and all these were given medical or other treatment. Of these 25 had to Ije transferred to the Orthopaedic Clinics for advice and treatment. Poliomyelitis is a severe and not uncommon cause of cripphrig. It is a notifiable disease, but unfortunately a good many cases are not recognized in their initial stages and do not get medical treatmeut until the definite effects of paralysis are apparent. Notified cases do not include all the cases which occur, which is unfortunate. During the year 8 cases were notified, ages 14 months to 22 years. 8pecial inquiries and offers of assistance in connection with the (Jrthoptedic scheme were made at once. Of the 8 cases one was a visitor wdio returned to America, one a slight case (age years) taken into the Taunton Hospital and likely to make a complete reco\ery, while a third was an adult of 22 years removed for treatment tq_ Yeovil Plospital. The other 5 cases were all seen by the Orthopaedic Surgeon, 4 at the Clinics and one in hospital. Of these d were removed to the Bath Orthoptedic Hosi)ital, the other two being treated locally in connection with the Clinics. It is of very great importance that these cases should have skilled prolonged treatment if crippling conditions are to be avoided or mitigated, and it is difficult to obtain such treatment apart from the facilities offered by our orthopajdic service. It is, however, in regard to physical training and the prevention of postural defects that the greatest activity and progress is heing shown. This is being dealt with along the following lines. IMiss Alarjory Smith is devoting herself to this work and with great success, largely owing to her ability and the thoroughness of her work. {a) Steps are taken to instruct and assist teachers in physical training and posture work. At the physical training classes (see page 88) at Bristol, ^Veston- super-iMare, Bangport and Bath, two lectures and one demonstration were devoted to posture. Four coaiiferences of head teachers were held and similar demonstrations were given. At the teachers' residential course held at Taunton in August special lectures were given on posture and a demonstration by six boys who had been doing posture exercises was given. The experimental work done at (jlastonbury was also fully discussed. (h) The posture classes for children showing postural defects were continued. As explained in previous re])orts these children are selected by the Medical Inspectors from an examination of all the children in the school and formed into classes, usually from 9 to 14 childien from each selected school or department. In general children under 8 years of age are not selectetl.