AN APPEAL FOR HELP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23882, 9 August 1939, Page 5

AN APPEAL FOR HELP

TO THE EDITOR Sir—As the person most concerned with the cure of the two crippled children mentioned in 'his morning's Daily Times in the letter from Mr R. S. M. Sinclair, I cannot let his remarks go unchallenged. I can truthfully state that at no time had the Crippled Children's Society helped, or taken any interest in, my children, but since they were placed in the hands of Mr T. Thomson, Mr Sinclair asked me to put my children into the Dunedin Public Hospital. My boy has already been in a public 'lospital, and received no benefit and I had taken him to one of the leading doctors in Dunedin, who declared he could not cure him, but might help him by a surgical operation. decided, therefore, to take my children to Mr Thomson, and I have no regrets for having adopted that step, as there is a decided improvement in the boy, and I am hopeful that if Mr Thomson's treatment can be continued long enough, the boy will be enabled to walk quite well again. My little girl, who has been undergoing Mr Thomson's treatment for a shorter length of time, is already showing signs of improvement. It is not true that my children have been under the notice of the Crippled Children's Society for years, and they could not have been receiving periodical advice as to their progress from their medical advisers as the boy had only been three times in two years for examination by the doctor already mentioned, and the girl has never been inder any medical man in her life, ft is only within the last few months that the boy came under the notice of the Crippled Children's Society, when I asked it to give financial help. It refused this because Mr Thomson is not a registered practitioner In fact, when I wrote to the society first, some time before last Christmas, it never ;ven acknowledged my letter. My mother saw Mr Sinclair after that and still the society took no notice I had to go to the expense of coming to Dunedin and seeing him myself, and <hen it was nt good Th point I would like to stress is that the major portion of the funds for the Crippled Children's Society vas presented by Lord Nuffield, and . am sure he never at any time stipulated that a cure must be effected by a registered practitioner, the main thing being that the children should be cured It is by the kindness

of the Tahakopa people and Mrs E. Knowles that I am enabled to have the children in Dunedin near the clinic and to receive for them the treatment they are receiving at the present time. Owing to my husband's ill-health caused by war wounds and adversity, I find it most difficult to buy the necessaries of life, and there is little left for medical advice or for treatment at the clinic. Seeing that Mr Sinclair's association has given no help in the treatment of mv children, what is his object in writing to the press? Can it be his desire to divert public sympathy from the cause.—l am, etc.. Mother of the Children. August 7.

TO THE EDITOR Sir,— May I state in reply to a letter from Mr R. S. M. Sinclair, the secretary of the Dunedin Crippled Children Society, that I called this evening on i the father of the two crippled children and he assured me that the following facts were correct:—These two children referred to have not "been under the sympathetic notice of the society for some years," and the society "has never had periodic advice of their condition and progress from its medical advisers," to use Mr Sinclair's expressions. The crippled girl has never attended a doctor. The boy was seen by Dr White and the mother was told by him to bring the boy in to see him in 12 months' time. When the second time she was again told to bring him in after a further 12 months. Some few months ago (under 12 months) the mother was told by Dr White that he could help, but not cure, by operation and, as stated in Mr Sinclair's letter, Mr Thomson promised cure. Of mv own knowledge, the boy 1 is in much better condition, both physically and mentally. Better to help without operation than help witn operation! I have grear regard for the Crippled Children's Society, but I feel I cannot let Mr Sinclair's letter tfess unanswered. Regarding mi Thomson. I think I may that MiHerbert Barker was not always thought highly of. In fact, at one time, I believe any doctor who helped Mr Barker in any waV was struck off the medical register. Now he is Sir Herbert Barker, and has to teach others his methods. "., , . , ... I appreciate Mr Sinclair s position, but as I did not refer to him in any way, I think his letter was uncalled for. In fact, it savours of the attempt to stop me getting the help that I greatly need to help these poor little folk. Not one penny of cash subscribed goes in administrative expenses, and I am willing at all times, within my power, to helo the sick and crippled children. Again, I say of my own knowledge, the boy was greatly improved in health the last time I saw him. Unfortunately he is at present an inmate of the Dunedin Hospital suffering from bronchial pneumonia, but we hope to have him attending the clinic again soon. The girl is still attending. . Perhaps Mr Sinclair is confusing these two children with another two. I know this family quite well and can assure Mr Sinclair that there is a mistake somewhere. Perhaps he would kindly let me know when and where these' children were examined and when the periodic advice of their condition and progress was gathered, to enable the Crippled Children Societv medical advisers to pass on to the societv. I think it a pity that all doctors and healers do not work on the plan—"No cure, no pay."—l am, etc. (Mrs) Evelyn Knowles. Tahakopa. August 7. ' [These letters were referred to Mr R. S. M. Sinclair, secretary of the Dunedin. branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society, whose comment is as follows:—(1) The society's sole object in publishing its letter was to explain why it could not assist in paying for the particular treatment desired, and not with any intention of hindering Mrs Knowles. (2) The visits made to Dunedin for examination, mentioned in your correspondent's letter were made with the knowledge of the society and were the source of the "periodic advice" referred to in my letter. I have a medical report on the boy concerned, dated July 5; 1937. It is trite that the girl has never been examined by the society, but her condition was known to it. (3) In such cases, where expert medical opinion holds out. little'hope of cure, it is still the duty of the society to endeavour to assist the child concerned to a useful place in the community, and this duty we are still prepared to fulfil when the children grow older. We have no grievance against the mother of the children—she has our sincere sympathy. We can only admire Mrs Knowles's unselfish persistence. The mother's letter, sent before Christmas last, was held over for consideration by my committee at its first meeting in the new year, when the mother was advised of our views, as were other applicants for similar, assistance. We have not asked the mother to put the children in Dunedin Hospital, as this can be done only by her own Hospital Board. We did ask her to bring them to the Hospital, while they are in Dunedin. for further medical examination. —Ed.. O.D.TJ