WITH THE CRIPPLES

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 134, 8 June 1935, Page 26

WITH THE CRIPPLES

SIR H. GAUVAIN'S WORK

VALUE OF SUN AND SEA

A PEN AT HAYLING

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, May 11. Sir Henry Gauvain, Medical Superintendent, Morland Clinics, Alton, Hants, and Lord Mayor Treloar Cripples' Hospital and College, Alton and Hayling Island, since its foundation in 1908, is anticipating with mixed interest his brief stay in New Zealand as one of the delegates travelling for the British Medical Association meeting in Australia. Sir Henry, who has ! many friends in the Dominion, is greatly interested to know that the delegation will see Rotorua. His visit will be all the more appreciated because he has been for so long specialising on behalf of crippled children, tuberculous, and non-tuber-culous. From the interesting and very useful section, established at Hayling Island, excellent results have been obtained from the sun, the fresh air, and the sea—three great natural tonics. A fine tribute to Alton,was paid by Sir G. Newman (Chief Medical Officer :Of the Ministry of Health) recently ' ,wheh he referred to the disappearance during the past forty years of waifs, I strays,: and cripples from the streets of London, and declared that this was _ due,,in no small measure, to the work ~ of the Lord Mayor Treloar Cripples' Hospital and College. So greatly has ;the scope of this work been extended 'that-any crippled child is now eligible :for admission. SOME RARE CASES. ; Some rare and interesting cases have thus lately come under the care of the hospital, including two cases of arachno-dactyly, a remarkable condition congenital in origin. The long thin hands and feet have a superficial resemblance to those of the spider monkey. There is imperfect muscular development and abnormal movements at many joints. Owing to the weakness of the muscles the spine cannot be held erect and becomes markedly curved, while the sternum becomes carinate and the thorax narrow laterally. If the head is.lifted the back straightens out, and, therefore, if efficient treatment is undertaken the .deformity is correctible. There are ocular, aural, and other defects which need not be enumerated here. The I.child in question could not raise herself from, the recumbent'position when 'admitted. Now she can stand erect and iwith. the>' aid of suitable appliances made in .the. splint shop can walk a little. \ '. There was one case of hyperteleorism characterised by curious facial abnormalities, and with, inability to walk. This child was discharged able to walk unaided. ~...- . . • . '■ Yaripus rare myothies were admitted, including five cases of progressive muscular' dystrophy, three of them being of the pseudo-hypertrophic type. One case of fragilitas ossium in a boy of three years of age was of interest. He was unable to stand, had, suffered from multiple fractures of the ribs and lower limbs, had a normal blood calcium but a lowered blood-phosphorus; the calces and pelves of both kidneys were occupied by calculi. ; Two unusual complications after scarlet fever were admitted, one a rheumatoid arthritis and-sppndylitis, the other a hemiplegia occurring four weeks after the rash. ■ Treatment has consisted of the usual orthopaedic operations and appliances, massage, and remedial exercises. Four cases of rheumatoid arthritis have received injections of gold salts and Glycine treatment has been given in some cases of muscular dystrophy. In tuberculous cases a new type of splintage has been adopted in the late treatment of tuberculous disease of one, or both hips, where. there is a tendency to adduction of the leg. This adduction deformity, which so often arises when hip disease is healed, but fibrous ankylosis remains, is one of the most trying, disappointing, and unsightly sequelae of tuberculous disease of the hip-joint and frequently leads to severe disability and sometimes to secondary spinal deformity. A very simple splint designed and used for some time appears to be very effective both in the prevention and correction of adduction. THERAPEUTIC SEA BATHING. Sir Henry Gauvain maintains that marine treatment offers a ready means of .influencing basal metabolism. Given a patient capable of responding suitably to immersion in the sea, the basal metabolism may be raised enormously during the bathe, and in selected cases is of the utmost value to the patient. Under the influence of sun, air, and sea water, muscles long atrophied fill out and become firm and hard, the patient enjoys a sense of physical well-being, and an important aid to cure had been accomplished. ; The selected and acclimatised child is first allowed to paddle for a short but increasing period; later the body is sprayed with sea water; and finally, but only after some days, and if the patient reacts satisfactorily, total immersion is permitted. The length of time the child is allowed to remain in the water depends entirely on the reaction which follows immersion, but gradually the time may in almost all cases be extended. Initially the best effects are produced by a short bathe, but later a longer period is required in the water—to the evident enjoyment of the child. BRAZIERS OX THE BEACH. At Hayling the child is taken from the,sea and placed in a pen, with warm planked floor and enclosed by a wattle hurdle. The latter, while completely obstructing the wind, allows free circulation of air. There is no covering over the pen. In the centre is a large iron brazier in which a coke fire is burning, brightly radiating heat. Along one side of the pen is a wooden trough containing warm water. The child is wrapped in.a large, warm bath-towel and well dried before the brazier; he then sits with his feet in hot water arid is given a warm drink. Eapidly he is warm and glowing. The place resounds with merry laughter. Those who are able to do so link arms and dance round the fire; then all rest for a quarter of an hour in the warm pen. Afterwards they play on the beach in the bright sunlight till dinner comes along, and an abnormal amount of food is consumed with eager voracity. There follows a period of rest while the food is being digested. The technique for those who cannot walk is much the same, except ■ that their feet are sponged with warm water instead of having them placed in the trough. They, too; enjoy a sun bath after the initial period of rest. The value of this branch of the hospital's activities has been immensely enhanced by the provision of an admirable bathing pool for therapeutic purposes erected as a memorial to the late Sir John Rowland. This pool, 53 feet long and 2O''leet wide, with gently sloping'floor, six inches deep to four,j [feeV deep, is- a veritable pooll -Dfl

Bethesda. Filled with fresh seawater each day ' it is used daily during the summer months for the treatment of children likely to benefit by balneotherapy. It has the advantage over the open sea of safety, ready accessibility,- independence of tide and weather- conditions, and, best of all, the patients enjoy their bathe at that time' of the day most beneficial to them.

v The hospital school and : training college show ■ excellent -record*.