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simply require training of their muscles and the firm establishment
of good habits of balance to give them a perfectly normal
control. It is impossible to emphasise the value of obtaining
treatment for such children early, especially those with round
shoulders and slack backs. Once the faulty posture is established
by a few years of growth the difficulty of obtaining improvement
is enormously increased both for the child itself and those undertaking
its treatment. In my opinion we are obtaining
exceptionally good results with these postural deformities of the
spine.
The masseuse in charge of the treatment is very skilled at
this type of work and in enlisting the co-operation of the parents
so that the treatment may be continued at home.
Thirdly, a certain number of children are seen from time
to time requiring resident hospital treatment over a considerable
period.
Pseudocoxalgia of the hip and certain cases of old infantile
paralysis requiring operation or prolonged muscle re-education
can be given very adequate treatment in the open air at Pyrford.
Spastic paralysis again is a condition almost impossible to
treat while the child is living at home. The child is backward
mentally and physically, and requires concentrated training by
one who is used to dealing with such cases, and an escape from
the unavoidable neglect which occurs between treatments if an
attempt is made to treat the child while living in its own home."
(i) Artificial Light Treatment. Fifteen children. attending
the Health Centre were recommended artificial light treatment.
The children selected for this treatment were suffering from malnutrition
and anaemia, often associated with manifestations of
slight rheumatism. The parents were informed how to obtain
this treatment through neighbouring hospitals and institutions.
There are no facilities for obtaining this treatment at the Health
Centre and as the number of cases requiring artificial light
treatment is small there does not appear to be any indication
at present for this provision.
SPEECH CLINIC.
At the commencement of the year 1932 a sufficient number
of cases were reported from the Schools to necessitate the continuation
of the Speech Clinic. It is interesting to note that
during the three years that this Clinic has been in existence the
number of children in attendance has never fallen below twenty.
Fresh cases have always been available to take the place of
those discharged. Stammerers attend twice a week and cases of
defective speech only once.
The following table shows the number treated and discharged
during the year:—
95