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29
ORTHOPAEDIC TREATMENT.
During the course of the year 28 children suffering from
Orthopaedic defects received treatment either from the Officers
of the Council or as a result of reference to hospital. The following
are the conditions from which they suffered:—
Knock knees (genu valgum) 17
Bow legs (genu varus) 4
Flat feet (pes planus) 3
Metatarsal varus 1
Little's disease 1
Deformity of toes 1
Deformity of limbs (neurological cause) 1
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION.
The campaign for the immunisation of children against diphtheria
continued throughout the year.
No less than 1,322 children under the age of five years were
so immunised during 1943.
On a child's first birthday it is the practice to send him a
birthday card and to invite him to attend at one of the Maternity
and Child Welfare Clinics to be medically examined and immunised
against diphtheria. It is pleasing to note that these invitations
are well accepted. All children when reaching the age of 4½ yeais
are now invited to attend the Maternity and Child Welfare Clinic,
not only for their routine examination, but also to be immunised
or to receive a supplementary reinforcing dose.
WHOOPING COUGH IMMUNISATION.
During the course of the year we have received requests from
66 parents that we should immunise their children against Whooping
Cough and these requests have been met.
In another section of my report I have referred to the fact that
immunisation against Whooping Cough by means of inoculation
is not wholeheartedly accepted by the medical profession as entirely
or partially successful.
I have thought it advisable to immunise all the children entering
our War-time Nurseries and this has largely been done. Despite
this some of the children have suffered from Whooping Cough,
admittedly mild in character but it has not been necessary to close
any of our Nurseries. I am not, however, prepared to state that