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The cases treated have been rickets ; anaemia ; general debility ; debility following measles, whooping-cough
and pneumonia ; marasmus ; malnutrition ; slow and delayed development (combined with organo-therapy) ; and
some cases of seborrhoea and eczema.
With few exceptions a routine treatment has been established of two or three exposures a week, according to
the reaction of the child, usually beginning with three minutes' exposure, but in a few cases it was thought advisable
to begin with two minutes. The time of exposure is increased on an average by one minute at each application
till an exposure of 15 or 20 minutes is reached, according to the type of case treated. This maximum is arrived at
in 4 to 6 weeks and for the remainder of the treatment the length of the exposure remains at this amount.
It has been found that the cases of rickets, anaemia and malnutrition require a full course of three months
and that certain of the more severe forms require a second course after an interval of six weeks, while some of the
cases of debility have responded remarkably to a shorter course of treatment of six to eight weeks. Cases of
seborrhoea have shown marked improvement after two weeks and have been clear in four weeks.
In a small number of cases the treatment has been interrupted or stopped on account of infectious disease,
parents leaving the district, and parents discontinuing the treatment.
When the Lamp was first started in the Out-Patient Department there was considerable doubt on the part
of many parents about bringing their children for treatment, but now—after twelve months—mothers are asking to
have their children given " sunlight" and an increasing number of children are being sent from Lancaster Road
Welfare Centre for treatment. The Out-Patient Department is working at full time and there is a considerable
waiting list.
Records have been kept of all cases treated, but detailed notes have been made of a group of 32 cases. Of
this series of cases all showed response to Light Treatment. The outstanding features were—improvement in
condition of the skin and healthier appearance, firmer and stronger muscles, improved appetite and better sleep,
evidence of less nervousness, lessened liability to ' colds,' frequent disappearance of enlarged glands in the neck,
marked increase of growth of bone in rachitic children.
Of the cases treated the most satisfactory results have been obtained with rickets and of these the best results
in early cases. An early case of rickets can be cured and no evidences of the rickets remain. With the advanced
cases of rickets the children become fit and well, but the bony deformation, though much lessened, still remains.
•
Most of the series have been cases of rickets, but of 7 cases of anaemia and malnutrition, with no evidence of
rickets. 3 were discharged fit and well, 2 were much improved, one to return for a further course, and the other has
left the district.
Five cases of general debility and debility following infectious diseases have been treated and discharged well
and fit.
Two cases of delayed development are still under observation after treatment and have shown such improvement
that further treatment has been started with one, and will be started shortly with the other.
THE RAYMEDE MASSAGE AND ELECTRICAL TREATMENT CENTRE
No. 240, LADBROKE GROVE.
This Centre was opened in the early part of 1922 for the purpose of giving massage, electrical
and gymnastic treatment for poor children whose parents could not afford to pay for private treat_
ment, or could not, owing to financial and other reasons, take the children to a hospital.
The days and hours of attendance are : Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 to 5 p.m.
and the treatment is carried out by four ladies, all of whom hold the Certificates of the Chartered
Society of Massage and Medical Gymnastics. There is also a Medical Officer attached to the Centre
who attends on the first Friday in each month.
The usual fee charged is 3d. for each treatment, but those who can afford to pay more are
invited to give a larger sum, whilst those who are very poor are treated free of charge.
In September last the following scheme of co-operation between the Council, the Infant Welfare
Institutions and the Massage Centre was approved by the Council who gave a grant of £50 in respect
of the treatment of children under 5 years of age carried out in 1925.
1. The name,address,age and information as to the disease from which each new patient is suffering is to be forwarded
to the Medical Officer of Health, Town Hall, Kensington, W.8., in the case of all children under the age of
5 years attending the Massage Centre. The patient will continue to be visited by the Health Visitor of the
district as often as is necessary in order to secure satisfactory home conditions.
2. In the event of a child failing to attend the Massage Centre for treatment, notice is to be sent to the Medical
Officer of Health in order that the patient may be visited immediately by the Health Visitor.
3. Information required by the Massage Centre as to the home conditions, etc., will be supplied by the Medical
Officer of Health when a request is received from the Massage Centre.
4. Each child found to be in need of general medical treatment is to be referred for such to the doctor of the Infant
Welfare Institution, Hospital or other medical practitioner by whom it was sent. If, however, the medical
treatment is required on account of the condition for which the child is attending the Massage Centre, such
is to be given by the physician at the Massage Centre.
5. All children attending the Massage Centre are to be seen at least once a month by the Orthopædic Surgeon
attached to the institution.
6. On discharge, the names and addresses of all children are to be sent to the Medical Officer of Health in order that
the Health Visitor may arrange for such after-care as is necessary.
7. Full medical records of each case are to be kept at the Massage Centre, and on discharge appropriate records of
the case are to be forwarded to the medical practitioner who referred the case to the Massage Centre.