STRANGE AFFLICTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23263, 4 February 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

STRANGE AFFLICTION

DISLOCATION OF SHOULDERS OVER ONE HUNDRED TIMES Surgeons have decided to operate for the third time in an attempt to cure a young man who habitually dislocates his shoulders. Six year ago, Maurice Carter, aged 22, of New Cross., dislocated his left shoulder merely by turning over _in bed. Since then he has had to visit hospital between 70 and 80 times to have his shoulder replaced after dislocation. Jn addition, he has replaced it himself about 50 times.

"Until I was 16 I was perfectly normal," ho stated. "Then, in turning over in bed, 1 dislocated by shoulder, liver since f have had to wear light clothing, and 1 cannot put a coat on by myself for fear of another dislocation.

"Surgeons tell me that it is bocliuse the socket of my shoulder joint is too shallow. L spend my time going backwards and forwards to hospital to have it put hack after dislocation. "Sometimes J wake up in the morning and find I have dislocated it in my sleep. "t dare not put my arms up level with my shoulders for fear of one of the joints coming out. Once when 1 went to see a Hurley Street specialist l.io asked me to put my arms out straight and level with my shoulders. 1 did so, and the left one went out with a click. "Once .1 got a job as steward on the steamship Samaria. I went to bed the nij;ht before 1 was due to sail, and woke up with my shoulder dislocated. At first my mother thought it was paralysis, because I could not move my arm. When the doctor came in he said it was dislocated. 1 have had other jobs since then, hut have had to give them up because I cannot use my arms without one of my shoulders being put out." Meanwhile Mr. Carter spends most of bis time on a couch in his parents' home, afraid to move much because ol" his fragile shoulders. "There is not much I can do but read," lie added. "If 1 took up any hobby it would mean using my arms, and probably cause me even more trouble than I have now."