AFTER TREATMENT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18303, 10 February 1925, Page 13

AFTER TREATMENT.

... INFANTILE PARALYSIS. | AUCKLAND DOCTOR'S EXPLANATION. (BPXCTAL TO "THX VUBS.") AUCKLAND, February 9. Many parents, as well as physicians; are discussing the question of special j troatment for cases of infantilo paralysis after the acute stage has been passed. The time is approaching rapidly when such treatment will have to bo J given to many children who aro recovering in Hospital, but will bo crippled for some time to come. A medical practitioner with an extensive experience of former epidemics of the disease, said that it would be advisable to let the public know a littlo about the treatment of the paralysis which followß an attack by the disease. It is known, for example, that a num- ' ber of children who were stricken in the previous epidemics were taken out of the care of medical men, and subsequently drifted from one "quack" to anothor. In some of those cases muscular power was returning slowly while they were under the care of the medical man,. and in. such instances tho "quack" got the credit of the return. In other cases, however, where a benefit was to be expected under orthodox: treatment, there was a loss of muscular power because the unorthodox practitioner, not knowing that fatigue is most detrimelftal in such cases; allowed a child to walk, and used no splintage to prevent the stretching of tho paralysed muscles. If the child later again came Tinder orthodox treatment the chance's of its recovery were greatly prejudiced, if not negatived altogether. "The greatest recovery is to be exi pected in tho first year of treatment, ; but the return of muscular power goes | on possibly for years," said this pfracti- ' titoier. "Perhaps the main reason [ why parents take their children away from orthodox treatment is the time required for tho re-education of the muscles. .

"As regards . prognosis, pr outlook, wliero a muscle is completely paralysed at the end of three months, one can Bay thdl no return of its useful function can bo expected. Fortunately, complete paralysis of a muscle is rare except in cases of the deltoid and tibials. Where a muscle is only weak in the acute stage a complete return of power can be expected. "Tho treatment carried out at Auckland Hospital is that which is given at all the leading British and American hospitals. Tho whole aim of thp treatment is to coax the weak muscle back to strong contraction by what is known as musclo re-education. It is most interesting work, but not every masseur is giftod to treat infantile paralysis cases. A special knowledge of muscle training is required, and the masseur or masseuse must have a "way" with children. "The duration of the treatment may be from one to two years in some eases, but it is surely worth while. As long as recovery is taking place treatment must go on. Without splintage, however, recovery will not take place. The correct splintage, which aims at keeping the weakened muscle's at . rest, must ensure that there will bo no deformity. Splintage and muscle re-evocation are tho basis of treatment, with massage, heat, and electricity as adjuncts, but not necessary ones. If it is a lower limb that is paijalysod it may be necessary to keep tho child off the leg from six to twelve months. .Fatigue must bo avoided. "I may say that as far as children aro concerned electricity is useless, in fact, harmful. This is the opinion of such eminent men as the late Dr. Lovett, of tho United States, and Sir Bobert Jones, in England,. A massenr with an electric instrument in his hands will find it difficult to secure the confidence of a child."