INFANTILE PARALYSIS AND THE HOSPITAL BOARD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2856, 22 August 1916, Page 6

INFANTILE PARALYSIS AND THE HOSPITAL BOARD

Sir, —With rcfcrenco to letters discussing the methods of the treatment of infantilo paralysis that have appeared ill this paper, recently, as olio who is a believer in fair play, I should like to say that I think the attitudo the Hospital Board has taken towards Niirso Everitt shows extreme ingratitude. For several months past Nurse Everitt and her assistants have given their services voluntarily to the treatment of this malady, with the result that very many cases left the Hospital completely cured before Miss Beirlaqua arrived in New Zealand, and surely the board should take such satisfactory cures into consideration. Madame Dospard, who is recognised as one of tl'o greatest authorities on massago, in doaling with infantilo paralysis, says: "Massago treatment should bo commcnccd as soon as the ncuto symptoms have appeared. Effleurago, petrissage, and kneading should be given for tho affected groups, and should be carried out gently at first, as tho parts may bo very tender, and the muscles tire easily. Later, percussion and vibration should bo added. Tho antagonising groups should bo manipulated with 'a view to stretching them. Great care should bo taken to keep tho patient' warm during treatment, and to give very gentle and short' applications at first, so as not to cause fatigue." As Nurse Everitt and her assistants have applied tlieso methods with such beneficial results, and as such a large community must ho vitally interested in this subject, I cannot understand tho antagonism displayed by somo memuors o? tlio board toward one who has devoted herself so entirely to relieving, by tile best-known methods, the poor littlo sufferers, and hope no hasty decision will bo arrived at when tho question comes before tho next meeting of the board. —I am, etc., HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE.