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44
Report by Dr. Dorothy B. Gere.
Ninety-five cases completed treatment during the year, including five women.
Those treated were as follows:—
Malnutrition 37 cases
Marasmus 3 „
Failure to gain weight 2 „
Rickets 23 „
Debility 15 „
Cough 5 „
Adenitis 3 „
Anaemia 1 „
Nasal Catarrh 1 „
Ante-natal 5 „
Malnutrition.—The great majority of these cases improve very much with
treatment. Apart from the gain in weight, the general condition is nearly
always benefited. The parents themselves notice this, and often volunteer the
information that the child "sleeps better" and "is much less irritable," and
so on. One child, who was so nervous that treatment had at first to be given
individually, not with other children, improved so much that he lost all sign of
nervousness, enjoyed coming for treatment, and gained 4 lbs. in five months.
The average gain in weight for all those treated was 7.2 ounces per month.
Marasmus.—These cases invariably respond well to light treatment.
The babies treated were:—
A. Weighed 8 lb. 8 oz. at 3 months (birth weight, 7 lb.). With 16
weeks' treatment he gained 5 lb. 4 oz.
B. 9 lb. at 3 months (birth weight unknown). Gained 6 lb. with 17
weeks' treatment.
C. 7 lb. 5 oz. at 2 months (birth weight 6 lb. 11 oz.). Gained 1 lb.
6 oz. with 5 weeks' treatment.
Failure to gain weight.—Both children had been practically stationary for
months. Average gain with treatment, 6.2 ounces per month.
Rickets.—A cure is always effected if the child completes the course of
treatment. X-rays are taken at the British Red Cross Clinic in the severer
cases. These are, however, the worst cases for attendance, as they usually
come from ignorant homes.
Debility.—These were mostly cases occurring after whooping-cough and
measles, and they respond remarkably well to treatment. There is rapid
improvement in muscular tone, appetite and weight. The average gain in
weight of those treated was 8.5 ounces per month, as against 3 to 4 ounces per
month before treatment.
Cough.—One child, aged 17 months, with recurrent attacks of sub-acute
bronchitis, was treated. He had suffered from this since he was 10 months.
The course was begun in October, and from that time he had no further attack.
Other cases were those of persistent cough after whooping-cough, which improved
with treatment.