INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Evening Star, Issue 16197, 19 August 1916, Page 2

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

2CURSE BEVILAQTJAS WORK,

[Special to the 'Star.']

CHMBTCHURCH, August 18. VCP °^- i " 0n ? Wellill Stoi. regarding the sjt-uation which has arisen between Nurse wnnHT * flc . Hos Pital Board las caused ,J° \ m HI of , uu «-° st here, particularly amongst those who attended her clinics and jve.-e associated with her in other wavs Dr Lhesson, officer in cliargo of-public health iu this city, reiterated his opinion, when asked tor his news, of the undoubted efficacy of the treatment introduced by Nurse Bevilaqua Ho considers it thoroughly sound and scientific. Apart from the technicalities if one may use the word,'of the profession! it appeals to the understanding because of the common senseiicss" of it.' "Undoubtedly,- said-Dr Chesson, "good results have been achieved by means of this treatment, ot which Nurse Bevilaqua does not claim to be any more than an exponent. lam very much surprised that there has been any lack ot enthusiasm regarding it in other districts.

Coincident with Nurse Bevilaqua's second visit, to Christehurch, Miss Millar, a student ot the Dunedm School of Massage, came up to join the staff of the public hospital for a period of t,hree months, during which time she was to work in accordance with the •Mackenzie method, the one. followed by ivurse Bevilaqua. The Mackenzie treatment was introduced to the Bunedin School of Massage some time before the visit, of Nurse Bevilaqua, and the doctors, masseurs, and masseuses woro fully convinced that it was a good thing. When, during her visit, she held clinics, the students -naturally made rapid progress, having nothing to unlearn, and, moreover, having had the benefit' of several months' " spade-work." Miss Millar told of a. child who had not been able to move her leg for 2£ years, although she had had every kind of treatment which has hitherto obtained favor in the cure of paralysis. She had had particularly close care and attention, being the near relative of a doctor, but the case remained obstiuate; but., after four days of Nurse Bevilaqua's treatment the muscles commenced to move. The leg was first rested in splints, which allowed the defective muscles to relax, and then the work of " educating " or " exercising" t hem commenced. Rest and education —those are the main features of the treatment. The cure is sometimes slow, said Miss Millar, but as far as her experience went it was sure. She had had Tetters from fellovf-students in Dunedin, written after Nurse Bevilaqua/s departure, telling her of many remarkable results, and she expressed herself as fully convinced of its beneficial nature.