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52
Light Clinic.
During the year 1936 eighty-two children and two women completed treatment
. These comprised the following cases:—
Malnutrition 38
Rickets 25
Debility 8
Anaemia 4
Marasmus 3
Ante-natal 2
Bronchitis and Cough 2
Skin Diseases 2
Malnutrition.—These cases respond well to treatment provided no underlying
cause, such as septic tonsils, is present. The average gain in weight
was 9.2 ozs. per month, whereas the previous gain over a period of some months
had been 4.5 ozs. per month, the previous weights of all but two cases being
ascertained.
Rickets.—Unfortunately there are still a large number of these cases coming
for treatment in spite of all the preventive work at the clinics, though in almost
all the cases the condition is slight. Prolonged treatment is, as a rule,
necessary.
Debility.—Of the eight cases treated three had had no acute disease. One
of these improved, though gaining little, but the other two showed little improvement,
and one of them was sent away for convalescence. The remaining
five, who had recently had pneumonia, whooping-cough or measles, did very
well, gaining on an average over 10 ozs. per month.
Anaemia.—Of the four cases treated two were entirely cured and the other
two much improved, but required tonsillectomy.
Marasmus.—The three cases treated were the following:—
A. Aged 3½ months. Weight 8½lbs. (birth weight 7¼lbs.). At 7½ months
after 4 months' treatment she weighed 161bs. and was very well.
B. Aged 3½ months. Weight 8½lbs. (birth weight unknown). Pale—
not doing well. At 9½ months, after treatment, she weighed 151bs. 11ozs.,
had two teeth and was very well and active.
C. Aged 2 months. Weight 81bs. 1½ ozs. (birth weight 81bs.). At 6
months, after 4 months' treatment, she weighed 141bs. 10ozs. and was very
well.
Ante-Natal.—One woman with aphonia of 14 days' duration, during which
«he had been having treatment at a hospital, was able to speak the next day
after one treatment. The other patient had two treatments on account of
toxaemia of pregnancy, but she had to be admitted to hospital. This treatment
should be valuable for mild cases of toxaemia if begun early.
Bronchitis and Cough.—One case of persistent cough after whooping-cough,
with a family history of tuberculosis, did not entirely clear up, though no
tuberculosis could be found on examination at hospital. The other case, one
of chronic bronchitis, only had one attack, a mild one, after beginning treatment.
Skin Diseases.—One case was successfully treated for septic spots in order
that he could be admitted to a convalescent home. The other, a case of lichen
urticatus, did not clear up, as it was due to improper diet.