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"Of these, three cases are still under treatment, presenting
problems of unusual severity. Five have been discharged as
being no longer in need of help.
"The falling off in numbers seems regrettable, in view of
the encouraging results obtained during the last two years.
Similar good results have been obtained in clinics of this type
in other areas, and it is considered that valuable prophylactic
work can be achieved in the sphere of mental health by treating
children who show symptoms of faulty adjustment at this early
age. It is to be hoped that the doctors working with this age
group in the Borough will avail themselves more freely of the
facilities provided."
(g) Paediatric Clinic.—The fortnightly clinic, under the charge
of Dr. Elchon Hmden, Pediatrician to Whipps Cross Hospital,
continued during 1953, and 27 children under five years of age
were seen.
Dr. Hinden reports as follows:—
"There have been no major changes in the work of the
clinic during the past year. The bulk of the patients are
suffering from abnormalities of growth or development, or
from behaviour disorders; ordinary organic disease is not
commonly seen at the clinic.
"One of the most serious diseases interfering with normal
growth and development is Cerebral Palsy. This has many
causes—birth injury, infantile infections, and the like—but the
end picture is the same ; a child who has difficulty in making
his muscles do what he wants them to do, and with varying
degrees of mental defect as well. The disease can have any
degree of severity, from the bed'ridden idiot to the seemingly
normal child with a clumsy right hand. This makes diagnosis
very hard, particularly in the important early months of growth.
"Is my child 'spastic' ?" is a thought in the mind of many a
parent, when babyhood seems prolonged more than usual;
and although often a true answer can be given, occasionally
only time can tell.
"The treatment of these unfortunates is a long and
tedious business, and must last as long as life itself. Many
disciplines are needed to enable the child to make the best
possible use of his damaged motor apparatus, and these must
be combined with schooling, so that the development of his
brain does not lag behind that of his body. I doubt whether
it is possible to set up sufficient 'cerebral palsy units' to cope
with all the children needing special treatment—for one thing,
they are excessively expensive. But a Special School for the