REJECTED BY ROYAL COMMISSION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20928, 6 January 1938, Page 7

REJECTED BY ROYAL COMMISSION

HEALING INFANTILE PARALYSIS

SISTER KENNY’S CURE UNDER FIRE

-MANY CASES STILL REPORTED

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 5, 10.0 pm.) BRISBANE, January 5. The Sister Kenny method of treating infantile paralysis has been rejected by the Queensland Royal Commission of five doctors, appointed two years ago by the State Government. A summary of the Commission’s findings declares that except in one important principle, there is little difference between her method and orthodox treatment, and where the difference occurs the orthodox is better.

The report states of 47 patients examined the majority showed no effective improvement. Originally the Kenny method showed radical departures from orthodox treatment, but as time went on, it has gradually been brought into conformity with medical practice. Some spastic paralysis cases improved appreciably under her treatment but the Commission was of the opinion that similar results could have been achieved by a trained masseuse. The Commission emphasises that if the Government rejects its advice and decides to retain the Kenny clinics, These should be placed under the control of a competent orthopaedic surgeon or surgeons with the object of rejecting obviously hopeless cases, thus saving public money and getting a sane and balanced view of the patients’ possibilities.

MORE DEATHS IN VICTORIA DAILY AVERAGE OF CASES MAINTAINED United Press Association—By Electric Tel egraph— Copyright (Received January 5, 11.20 pm.) MELBOURNE, January 5. Although the authorities declared a month ago paralysis has passed its epidemic stage, a daily average of fourteen cases has been reported since bringing the total to 1460. Two deaths occurred to-day—a woman of 29 and a girl of 4, making a total of 81. The largest proportion of the cases are now coming from the country districts.