Report of the Verral Charitable Society.

  • Verral Charitable Society (London, England)
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Verral Charitable Society. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    amended state, or as he now is. Wilcox is certainly a shining trophy of what your system can accomplish. He now enjoys much constitutional vigour; skips on and off his couch, and seems, comparatively speaking, in robust health. The deformity of the chest has much diminished ; the posterior curvature has subsided in a great degree ; and the spinal processes, that were imperceptible, can now be distinctly traced. The lateral curvature has almost entirely subsided, and he would, as to the erect figure, pass satisfactorily the test of a drill-sergeant.” The case of Ann Newman, aged eleven, 10, Fulwood’s Rents, ITolborn, especially deserves attention ; indeed is one of those that would repay the benevolent for the trouble of a visit, by the gratification that it would afford them to hear the grateful tale of the mother and child, for the very great relief they have experienced from so much misery. Her history is as follows: — In July, 1834, her father, who is since dead, upon examining her back, for a complaint she made of pain in that part whenever she was touched, or stooped, or turned in bed, thought he discovered one of the bones very slightly projecting, and being alarmed, took her to Sir Astley Cooper, who said it was weakness of the spine, and ordered her, sea air, a generous diet, and the use of a back board. The advice was followed, except the visit to the sea side, which the parents’ circumstances would not allow of. Three months after this she began to stoop, and was then taken to the-Dispensary, where she was merely ordered to be kept lying upon the back. This advice was strictly acted up to for six months, during which time she gradually got worse and worse, both as regards the pain and the deformity. She was then taken to another eminent surgeon, who told the mother, that it teas quite useless to attempt to do anything for her beyond attending to the general health, and that she might do as she pleased, as he was quite sure no relief could be afforded to her. So advised, the poor widow was left to act according to her own judgment, and she, therefore, seeing that her child could only walk by supporting herself by the hands upon the knees, procured crutches, which were used for about twelve months, until indeed, the child became so weak that she could not walk even with them. So great was the pain that she constantly suffered, that she could not turn in bed without assistance, and even then it caused such extreme agony, that the mother states she dreaded to touch her, as her screams were heart-rending, not only to herself, but also to her neighbours. In this state of misery she continued for upwards of two years, the projection of the spine all the time getting worse and worse, and the chest becoming more and more deformed. Frequently indeed, her sufferings were greater than have been described, for the pain, which was always great, occasionally increased in paroxysms that continued for periods, varying from two days to as much as a fortnight, during which times it was so acute that she could not bear to be in bed, but of her own accord, was accustomed to seek relief by laying on her stomach over a chair, in which position she used to continue night and day until the paroxysm was over, that being the only thing that afforded her the slightest relief. After the paroxysm had subsided, she used to return to her bed, but even in the most perfect intervals she was never free from pain. Her face, as might be expected, was expressive of the greatest care and misery. Her chest had grown out so much, that it resembled a cone, projecting at the apex at least two inches. Such was her condition when she came under the care of the Society, in August, 1839.-Her amendment was rapid, and most marked; the pain gradually abated, so that in about three weeks it had subsided altogether, and from that time to the present, has never returned. The back became stronger, allowing applications to be made to it; and now, has improved so much, that she can bear as much pressure as a person in health, without complaining of the least pain or inconvenience. Her general health has undergone a complete change for the better; and her face lias lost all that haggard expression of misery that previously so characterised it. And, lastly, she can walk, nay even run, without support of any kind, or experiencing the slightest inconvenience. Maria Atkins, aged six and a half years. This was a most deplorable case of disease, distortion, and extreme debility, and was placed under our charge on the nomination of Her Majesty Queen Adelaide. She had an enormous projection of the dorsal vertebrae, partly of a rounded form and partly angular, together with great deformity and contraction of the chest and of all the ribs. She was perfectly incapable of holding herself erect. In attempting, indeed, to stand without support, the body became abso¬ lutely bent double. There was great tenderness and pain in the back, especially on -moving, and she had also much pain in the chest and abdomen, with shortness of
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