View report page

80
either (1) surgical instruments or splints supplied, (2) convalescence recommended,
(3) instructed re home treatment, (4) referred to hospital, or (5) kept under observation
at intervals. Number of old cases re-attended for treatment, 29.
Defects.—The 195 children mentioned above (i.e., 166 new and 29 old re-attended)
were suffering from the following defects. Spinal curvature—postural, 47; kyphosis,
12; lordosis, 2; kypho lordosis, 9 ; lateral curve, 8. Defective chest expansion,
10; infantile paralysis, 13; foot deformities—talipes varus and valgum, 22; flat
feet, 9; bow legs (genu varum), 35; knock knees (genu valgum), 6; various, 22;
total, 195.
At the weekly medical visits 607 inspections were made, and decisions made
as follows:—Treatment required, 153; treatment not required, 16 ; discharged
improved, 102; to continue treatment, 142; to re-attend, 22; to be seen again after
an interval, 77; referred for convalescence, 13; referred to hospital, 4; referred to
own consultant (Mr. Roth), 24; forms and certificates filled up, 8; referred to
Woolwich Treatment Centre, 4; examined re general health, 3; referred to solarium,
3; various, 36. Mr. Paul Bernard Roth attended monthly, and his advice in difficult
cases is found invaluable. He is also in sole charge of the strictly orthopaedic cases.
Classes for
stammerers.
Classes for Stammerers.—During 1927 the number of children in attendance
at the centres for stammering children was 252. Of these 55 were discharged as
cured, while 48 were discharged as provisionally cured. Six children were readmitted,
having previously been discharged as cured. An investigation into the
permanency of cure or improvement of children who have attended stammering
classes was carried out by Dr. E. J. Boome and Dr. Nairn Dobbie. The cases
included 49 children (43 boys, 6 girls), who have been discharged one year or more
previouslv, as cured or much improved, from stammering classes in London.

Remarks.—24 out of 49 children followed up remain cured after a lapse of time
of at least one year from discharge. There is tendency shown towards relapse in
the other cases. 34 of the 49 were considered cured on leaving the class, and only
24 are now certified to be without any tendency to stammer.
There is little doubt that a stricter classification was made during this investigation
than upon discharge. Several children are included in class B who
remain to all intents and purposes "cured"; and with the strict classification
now adopted some of the 34 children placed in class A as "cured" at the time of
leaving would have been placed in class B. The slight hesitancy shown by certain
of the children upon which they have been classified as " B " in the present investigation
does not appear to be different in character and degree to that shown by nonstammering
children of nervous type. In fact they are still regarded as " cured "
by parents and teachers alike. It follows, therefore, that although the figures
as they stand are very satisfactory and show undoubtedly there is a good return as
the result of the expenditure involved in maintaining the classes, a perusal of the
case sheets will carry the conviction that the results are even better than is shown
by the analysis of the figures.