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and on occasions have to wait long periods before treatment in a
Hospital can be obtained.
For instance, I have had before me recently the case of a girl,
8 years of age, suffering from infantile paralysis and club-foot,
who has attended school for only one week since five years of age.
This child was on the Waiting List from December, 1927 to July,
1928, before she could be admitted into Hospital.
The orthopaedic problem is concerned with two classes of children:
1. Those suffering from minor crippling defects such as
curvature of the spine which can be remedied by suitable exercises
and massage, in some cases special appliances being required for
such treatment. In Ilford the custom has been to refer such children
to the Supervising Instructor of Physical Training, and during the
last 3 years alone, 169 such children have been referred. Although
Mr. Roberts is able to improve considerably the condition of some of
these children, a number of them require a skilled masseuse and
medical gymnastic apparatus to obtain a complete cure. The Board
of Education only allows Mr. Roberts to supervise simple school and
home exercises.
2. The second class of children are those suffering from graver
physical defects, such as those the result of infantile paralysis, and
similar conditions. These ohildren require in some cases orthopaedic
appliances, in others, operative treatment. It is difficult
to estimate the number of these children who would require
treatment, as the majority of them would not be in attendance at
school, and this part of the scheme should be worked in conjunction
with the Maternity and Child Welfare work, so that either children
under 5 or over 5 could be referred to an Orthopædic Surgeon.
A complete orthopaedic scheme in Ilford would therefore entail,
(1) The establishment of a Remedial Exercises Clinic in a suitable
building with proper appliances and a skilled masseuse holding a
Masseuse and Medical Gymnastic Certificate. The salary of such a