CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Evening Star, Issue 22631, 24 April 1937, Page 9

CRIPPLED CHILDREN

DUNEDIN BRANCH SOCIETY'S ANNUAL REPORT The second annual report of ytho Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society, which is to be presented to the annual meeting next Thursday, states: — MEMBERSHIP, • Reference Avas made in the last annual report to the comparatively low number of annual subscribers to the funds of the society. The executive has appointed an official collector to canvass the city and suburbs for annual subscribers to the funds of the society. The comparatively low subscription of 5s per year is very little to ask from individuals to support the Avork of the society, and if is felt that an organised effort to build up the anual income from this source is highly desirable. The society Avas given a liberal start by life members and donors, hut its work is such that planned effort is not possible without a more or less regular income. FINANCE. The accumulated fund, Avhich at the beginning of the financial year stood at the figure of £1,114 Is sd. has now risen to £2,327 ss. The total expenditure amounted to only £213 17s lid. The increase in the funds has occurred mainly through a substantial contribution from the Students’ Association, a further donation of £SOO from the mayor’s fund, which was recently created by Lord Nuffield, portion of a legacy left to the society, and the proceeds of the donations, collections, and subscriptions. Tho enthusiastic cooperation of the Otago Hospital Board and its staff has enabled the society to keep expenses at the minimum. Tiie executive of the University Students’ Association recently decided that in future its annual capping procession should be held solely with the object of raising funds Tor the furtherance of the Avork of the society. It is satisfactory to note that a number of solicitors have made inquiries concerning the objects of the society on behalf of clients desirous of making bequests to its funds, and it has been decided to bring the society’s objects before all solicitors and trustee companies. INFANTILE PARALYSIS EPIDEMIC. A most regrettable occurrence during the year was tho serious outbreak in this province of infantile paralysis. When notifications of the disease became frequent the executive immediately communicated Avith the Department of Health and placed its organisation and funds at the disposal of tho affected children. The department and the Hospital Board, howcA’cr, Avere naturally quite capable of dealing Avith the situation, which at that stage did not require any assistance from the society. Now that the virulence of the disease has passed the society can be of real assistance to those affected. From the personal knoAvledge of members of tho executive the society cannot speak too highly of the skill and care Avith which the Dunedin Hospital staff has treated and is treating the sufferers afflicted by this disease. Members of the Case Committee and the secretary have been and are constant visitors to the Hospital, and haie had the privilege of seeing the actual Avork that is being done in the case under treatment. Everything possible is being done. A large number of children has been added to the list of cases under the care ol the society, and these avlU ' re-L,

quire special treatment and special training to enable them to : take their part in the life of the community. One of the features of the disease is the necessity for sloav and careful treatment of the affected parts to obtain the maximum amount of recovery.' To this end it is desirable that the crippled children, if they do not remain in hospital, should at least attend there daily for observation and treatment, and the society has undertaken the task of seeing that such of the cases as are discharged are transported daily to and from the Hospital. As the result of the interest and scientific enthusiasm of the Hospital staff dealing Avith the infantile paralysis cases a small hot Avater pool Avas built in the conservatory in *the Hospital grounds. The society furnished the pool with rubber rings. It Avas later decided bv the executive, as a mark of appreciation of the Avork of the Hospital Board and its staff, to give to the board the cost of the erecting of the SAvimming pool—namely. £25. The society has further provided assistance to carry the children to and from the Hospital wards to the pool every day, and the marked benefit of this form of treatment has aroused the interest of other branches of the society in this noA'el idea. SWIMMING CLASSES. ' The City , Council kindly permitted the society to continue its use of the Municipal Baths free of charge on three days during the week. Mr W. F. Ashman, of the Case Committee, has kindly taken charge of this branch of our activities, and as a result of his patience and perseA-e ranee the curative results are surprising. The average attendance at these classes is now 15 a day, including children from four and five years of age to those of 15 and 16. OUT-PATIENTS. The regular work of the society in beeping other crippled children in touch with expert medical advice and treatment has been going steadily o.n. Each case originally examined at the expense of the society is instructed to report at regular intervals for further observation, and, if _ necessary, for treatment. Regular times during the week have been set aside for the attendance of such children at the massage department of the Hospital, and the society sees to it that the children are brought there at the appointed time, providing transport for the purpose if necessary. During the month of March 27 children attended under this arrangement. IN-PATIENTS. Where the society’s medical advisers prescribe medical or surgical treatment arrangements are made to have such patients admitted to the Hospital. On their treatment and discharge they are kept under observation. Nine of the society’s patients were under treat- < ment in the Hospital during March. TRANSPORT. ! The attendance of children at sAvimming classes and as out-patients at the hospital—particularly those Avho report daily' since the epidemic—necessitates the organisation of transport for necessitous cases and the thanks of the I society are due to the numerous people , Avho so kindly placed their services at the society’s disposal. It is hoped, ( however, that more cars could be made ‘ available to the society by private in- , dividuals avlio can occasionally spare a little time during the week. _ Unless { sufficient voluntary assistance is forth- } coming in this, direction transport can . become an expensive item. CONVALESCENT CASES. £ Owing to the epidemic the society’s j plans for expanding its programme of i sending children to Central Otago d\ir- i jug the summer were suspended., .The t

Case Committee had proposed to develop this activity considerably this summer. Only a small number of children, who have just recently been sent to the country, will benefit this year.

GENERAL. A combination of fortunate circumstances has enabled the society to do a considerable amount of practical and useful work during the past year. In the first place, the constitution of the Case Committee, embracing as it does those who are connected with the Hospital, the massage department, and the orthopaedic 1 department, ' enables the best of expert advice to be available to the society. The relations between the society and the Otago Hospital Board are of the best, and ’the harmonious co-operation of the board and its officials and the Hospital staff have infinitely lightened the burden of the society. The society has made arrangements for the homes of all patients to be visited with a view to ascertaining what assistance can be rendered to the children in their own homes. For instance, it was ascertained in a number of cases that the diet of some of the children was quite deficient in milk and fruit, and arrangements were made by the society, in conjunction with the Hospital Board to remedy this. In a number of cases the society has had under consideration the supply of boots and splints, artificial limbs, wheel chairs, and similar appliances to valleviate the discomfort of some of the crippled children, and -where, after consideration of all the circumstances, it is deemed desirable to provide these necessities, the society has'done so. The general policy of the executive has been one of organisation of the existing means of treatment and care, and of working harmoniously with the facilities available. The society-is,not concerned with any particular child or class of children, but deals impartially with all those who are afflicted by any crippling disease. Its activities cover four hospital districts and in many cases it has borne the cost of taking, a child and its mother from the country to the local Hospital for the examination and, treatment of the child. The executive trusts that the. cause of crippled children will be taken up whole-heartedly by the community..'