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9
ORTHOPAEDIC AND POSTURAL DEFECTS.
Mr. Lindsay writes:—66 The work of the School Orthopaedic
Clinic is not spectacular, but consists of correction of
the many slight defects found to be so prevalent among children
of school age, e.g. flat foot, knock knee, scoliosis, etc., with
occasionally more severe disability such as spastic paralysis and
infantile paralysis. It is essential that all these ailments be
treated as early as possible to obtain the best results.
There has been a fresh element during the past year, viz.
the number of children with pains in the legs apparently due
to rheumatism, and which it was suspected originated in the
inflamed tonsils. This is probably due to the fact tlhat during
the recent disturbed conditions these children escaped their
usual medical inspection.
On the whole I have noticed a steady improvement with
treatment in all the patients who have attended regularly."
I find Mr. Lindsay's observations concerning inflamed
tonsils extremely interesting, for it is a fact that nearly double
the number of children have had the operation for Tonsils and
Adenoids this year as compared with the last. Despite many
difficulties medical examinations however, have not been overlooked
in this service during the past two years. Reference
to this report for instance, illustrates that 1181 school children
had the complete routine medical examination this year, as
compared with 413 during last year, and that during May of
last year it will be remembered that for purposes of evacuation
(Plan iv) a complete survey of the total school population was
made.
This survey included an examination of the nasopharanx,
and any abnormalities were noted in the usual way, and action
taken accordingly.
I think that probably the conditions within the borough
during the early half of this year may have been a definite
contributive cause of this rheumatism. The following is a list
of cases which have attended the clinic:—
Infant School
Welfare. Children.
Talipes Equinus 1 —
Genu Valgum 10 6
Calcaneo Valgum 1 —
Hallux Valgus — 3
Pes Valgus — 1