Doctor's Tribute To Work Of Sister Kenny

Chronicle (Levin), 7 May 1948, Page 5

Doctor's Tribute To Work Of Sister Kenny

Press Association )

(Per

AFCICLAND, May . 5. Dr. J. Egerton Caughey, wjio was in charge of adult patients at the Auckland Hospital during the recent epidemie, said yesterday that recent studies made it fairlv certain that the incidence of poliomvelitis was low compared with the number of people who actually had the virus. He 'was speaking at the annua: conference of tlie New Zealand Trained Alasseur's Association,' he'ld at the Auckland Hospital and attended by members,froni all parts of the countrv. "An epidemie does serve to immunise large nunvbers of children against the disease and doetors are now regarding poliomyelitis as aii ordinary risk of childhoodj" he eontinued. "Our children have to get immunisation or they wilPbe exposed to the disease and probably get it later 011 in life'when it is rnuch more serious." Dr. Caughey added that although the closing of schools had possibly sJowefl down the epidemie, that had not been proven and there was some doubl; ibout the advisability of the closing. Eeferring to the work of Sister Elizabetli Kenny in the treatment oi cases, Dr. Caughey said tliat from hei travels around the World Sister Kenny had eome into contact with thousand?

of poliomyelitis patients and she had an individual knowledge of tlie tlisease whicli was proiiably unique. A new conce[>tion of it had been obtained from Sister Kenny 's observation of lmisctilur syiasms, mental alienatiou and incoordination. 'Recent researches in neuro-pathological institutes in America and Portugal l.ad shown tliere was during the war. disease and tliis had afforded striking conlirmation of some of Sister Kenny N theories. Dr. Caughey recalled that two years ago at the association's conference he had stated that although there was a liace for the Kenny systeni of moist hot packs, the method had not been pathologically proven. "From the recent researches, however," he concluded, "we have conie round to the fact that this astounding woman, Sister Kenny, who has come out of the bush without a medical training, has formulated a conception of poliomyelitis that will prohably stand the test of time."