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23
The conditions treated include corns, warts, bunions, ingrowing
toenails, dropped arches, inflamed bursae, minor foot
injuries and rheumatic conditions of the feet.
Treatment is limited to residents in the Borough, and a fee of
1s. per attendance is charged, but is remitted in the case of old-age
pensioners and unemployed persons. On the other hand, patients
are invited to pay more than the fixed fee if they can afford it.
Miss McCallum stresses the very real need for skilled treatment
for foot ailments and states that the amount of avoidable suffering
is far greater than is commonly realised. A surprising experience
has been the number of school children attending for treatment in
respect of multiple warts on the soles of the feet—a crippling
condition and a painful one to treat. Frequently cases of an
orthopaedic nature have attended and have been referred elsewhere
for appropriate treatment. It has not been uncommon again to find
patients suffering from interdigital ringworm—a condition often
mistaken for soft corns.
The chiropodist also advocates the provision of additional
facilities for foot bathing and states that many patients attend who
could afford to pay bigger fees which, in any case, should be charged
if any considerable amount of dressing is required or if radiant heat
is given.
Reviewing the working of the Clinic from its inception on
19th September, 1931, up to the end of the year, 347 new patients
attended and made 697 re-attendances or a total of 1,044 in 15 weeks.
The total receipts were £50 12s. 6d., an average of nearly Is. per
attendance, in spite of a considerable number of remitted fees.
The cost of equipment and maintenance is briefly summarised
below and, on the basis of the 15 weeks' working, the nett cost was
iust over £91.