INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 133, 7 June 1937, Page 6

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Sir, —In to-day’s issue you publish a letter by Dr. Williams who condemns all the medical profession in the following sentence: “Besides, what doctor wants to see disease abolished. We live and thrive upon abundance of it, etc.” Now, as an original member of the N.Z. Executive of the Crippled Children’s Movement and as one who saw several years work of the medical profession in the Great War, I wish to help remove any such insinuated stigma from a body of men who have helped freely, without reward, without advertisement, but with a desire to help remove that feeling of fear for the future which Dr. Williams so

glibly talks about. Doctors have very freely helped, and helped successfully within the Crippled Children’s Society and apart from that our everyday experience proves that the doctors’ great aim is to reduce disease to a minimum. But one does not expect them to use only one method and that the same for each case when their lifetime’s experience proves a particular treatment for a particular disease. Such a sweeping statement as made by Dr. Williams may do incalcuable harm to those depending for their very existence upon their medico’s advice and, being contrary to fact I am sorry to see that gentleman obtains his advertising so easily. 1 protest against it. R. L. THOMPSON. Wanganui, June 4, 1937.