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95—

"It has to be noted that the arrangements for massage made
with the King Edward Memorial Hospital would be discontinued.
The amount estimated for this treatment last year was £30.
Thomas Orr,
Medical Officer.
24th February, 1925.
The scheme only came into operation in September, 1925, and
there has not been much time to get it working fully. Many of
the crippled children were already attending London Hospitals
and parents were not easily persuaded to send their children to the
National Orthopaedic Hospital— neither was a change desirable
in many cases— but it may be said that by means of this scheme
children are now being sent for treatment at a much earlier stage
than formerly and the treatment is more regular and sustained.
(j) Heart Disease.— When a child attending school is found
to be suffering from heart disease, drilling and all vigorous games
are prohibited. The parents are also advised with regard to the
mode of life which the child should adopt at home. Heart disease
in children, due in the vast majority of cases, to rheumatism,
is responsible for a great deal of crippling in later life.
A number of school children on medical inspection are found
to present some slight variation from the normal in the condition
of their hearts. A searching enquiry is made in these cases for a
history of rheumatism, especially in its more insidious forms, and
the activities of these children are restricted for twelve months.
The parents are also put on their guard. At the end of this period
a fair proportion of these children can be safely regarded as normal
The remainder continue with their restrictions under supervision.