INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 119, 16 November 1937, Page 9

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

TREATMENT IN VICTORIA , ■'

B.M.A. DEPRECIATION OF KENNY METHOD

(Received November 16/ 9 a.m.)

MELBOURNE) November 15. Defending the treatment by mfedical practitioners of infantile paralysis, the Victorian Board of the British Medical Association tonight wrote to the Premier (Mr.' Dunstan) criticising the proposed support of Sister Kenny's treatment. • , The letter stated:—"Ffom the unbridled publicity ' given to what is known as Sister Kenny's treatment, the natural reticence of medical practitioners to advertise their methods* and the inability of parents to publish their gratitude for successful treatment of their children, it may have appeared that the treatment in Victoria lags behind that of other States and Other countries." ' , It is explained that the 1937 epidemic was less severe in its paralytic effects than that of 1931. Of 350 cases discharged from hospital 83 have already completely recovered, and within three months 100 more will be normal child"The only reports on Sister Kenny's treatment are unfavourable," the letter states, "In any method we adopt we must be assured that it is in the best interests of the patients."