FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21417, 8 March 1935, Page 20

FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN

TREATMENT IN ENGLAND MODERN EMPHASIS ON SURROUNDINGS An address of particular aptness In view of the impending appeal by Rotary clubs for a national movement in aid of crippled children, and of the gift of £50,000 by Lord Nuffield, was given by Dr. Bernard Myers at the weekly luncheon of the Auckland Rotary Club on Monday. Dr. Myers recently returned to Auckland after 15 years' absence. To New Zealanders Dr. Myers was best known for his work while in charge of the New Zealand general hospital at Walton-on-Thames during the war. Dr. Myers traced the many deformities with which children might be crippled, but said that modern surgery had enabled wonderful cures to be made. After the correction of the deformity by surgical means it was a matter of long rest, good feeding, sunshine, and nursing. In the ordmarj general hospitals of England the orthopoedic wards were attended by some of the greatest surgeons, and the same scrupulous care was exercised in au cases, regardless of the circumstances. Fees and Contributions Ordinary out-patient treatment; costs Is, 2s 6d, or, in some cases, P*f»P| ss. In-patients were charged i£ 3 S a week for the bed, but rl the circumstances did not permit fuU£ even partial payments, no <&*»*??. tion was made. The English voto tary hospital system was perhaps ttj greatest in the world ™J?L wealthy families used to take pleasure in devoting a tenth or evena *» of their incomes to these tutions, but unfortunately tHfVrJ not the same generous spirit MB"* all those who had more recently acquired fortunes in England. . After treatment in the hospital u self it was obviously impossible » send the child directly back■ wjg slums, and therefore cojwaleseeni homes in delightful surroundings wenj set up. Balconies and smaU *«*» through the grounds ensured the ma» mum of fresh air and sunlight ««« theless, great care was taken toJhieia the children from the harmful red .rays of sunlight, which had only an t ener vating effect. Dr. Myers said he na been greatly impressed by the wonder ful curative results at a Swiss hospital for crippled children, where. *»* ultra-violet rays of the sun' «£*sg from the surrounding snowneias. «> children, with the minimum °* 5 iOUl ing, built up health and strengthHope of a Garden Hospital It was essential, added Dr. Myers. that the children should be, given not only good food, but tood that *» P£ perly cooked and Pr°P«J> J%«n That was a lesson mat should be J effect to, not only for sick people, wr for everyone , ho£ - A great ambition lot - rae Mver * pital was then outlined d> JJr. -*- He said that the effect of environing during illness was ct the utmost^ portance. A taction ! , ,a '^;. in£? v i e w. : paper on the walls a aepie- ng u : all definitely retarded a Pf 1 he covery. In a great Frencn once noticed that the wail*. ™* w . forms, the crockery, even tne i i ments, were a light ureen. became to* colour was restful to the e>e^ ! Dr. Myers hoped that senwJjJ garden hospital for children «°uia established in London, wneie «* e dren would have bea W *<>"£. £ h ere on, green sward to play on and* each, in his convalescence given a little garden plot o lu> to tend. -If that were acne. ud formation of many a >f into a happy and valuable mmber society would be a he concluded