[Report 1939] / Medical Officer of Health, Cumberland County Council.

Cumberland (England). County Council.

Date:: 1939

Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1939] / Medical Officer of Health, Cumberland County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

39/72 (page 37)

Wigton Rural . . Penrith Rural Maryport Urban 37 1 1 Totals . . . . . . (S3 . . 52 ORTHOPAEDIC TREATMENT. There is nothing outstanding of importance to report under this Section. The greater part of the work of the orthopaedic department concerns, of course, the School Medi- cal Service, and is dealt with fully in the report on that service. During the year Ihl cases of crippling conditions affecting children under 5 years of age were dealt with. This is a marked increase on the figures for the previous years. The increase is chiefly due to an increase in the number of cases of talipes (club foot) among young children. This is rather a curious point, because in very young children this condition is usually present at birth, and does not occur normally as a result of infantile paralysis or other extra-uterine conditions. In fact, we have not in recent years had any incidence of infantile paralysis to account for any increase. The following is a list of the crippling conditions concerned : — Tuberculosis . . .. .. .. . . 9 Hydrocephalus . . .. . . .. .. 1 Rickets .. .. .. .. .. .. (13 Congenital Dislocation of Hip .. .. 2 Torticollis .. .. .. .. . . 7 Infantile Paralysis .. .. .. .. (1 Birth Palsy .. .. .. .. .. 2 Talipes .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Club Feet .. .. .. .. .. 5 Spina Bifida .. ., ., 2 Flat F oot .. .. .. .. .. 13 Scoliosis .. .. .. .. . 1 Fragilitas Ossium .. .. .. .. 1 Anterior Poliomyelitis .. .. .. 4 Other Conditions .. ,. .. . . 29 ]()1 Of the foregoing list, 19 received hospital treatment. The remainder were dealt with locally at our Orthoptcdic Clinics, rwenty-four .school children received treatment for tuberculosis of the bones and joints, about half the number of the previous year.