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32
Attendance at School.—All the children are at present
attending ordinary schools, with the exception of the boy
with the Tuhercular Ankle previously mentioned, who is
excluded.
Thirteen children, however, are attending various hospitals
more or less regularly for treatment, which means considerable
loss of attendance.
Treatment.—Out of the 40 children with defects, 30 have
received treatment at some time or other, 14 of those are
still receiving treatment and 2 are under medical observation.
It is difficult to speak of results of treatment as only an
imperfect estimate can be formed of the original condition.
The only case which appears really satisfactory is that
of a girl of 5½, who had a Congenital Talipes of right foot,
with apparently considerable deformity. There is now no
shortening of limb. The foot is in a good position with the
heel on the ground, and she cat) walk well without any
support. The only remaining disability being some weakness
of the extensor muscles of the leg with a tendency to dropped
foot.
This case has had continuous treatment at Gt. Ormond
Street Hospital from birth— manipulative, operative and
electrical, and is still attending the hospital three times
weekly for massage and electricity.
Requirements for Satisfactory Treatment
The requirements of satisfactory treatment of crippling
are well exemplified in the case just quoted, and fall under
three main headings, viz:—
1. Treatment must begin as soon as the deformity is
noticed.
2. It must only be in the hands of those skilled in
Orthopcedic work.
3. It must be continuous and only end with the
correction of the deformity, or when further treatment
is proved useless.