THE TREATMENT OF INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2867, 4 September 1916, Page 4

THE TREATMENT OF INFANTILE PARALYSIS

NURSE BBVILAQUA'S FAHEWELL • MESSAGE. Sir, —Four months ago Miss Gully and I came to Now Zealand from South Australia, at the invitation of your Minister, tho Hon. Mr. Russellj to. teach the masseuses and workers' tho Mackenzie methods for the recovery of paralysed muscles, and, now, from tho far north to tho utmost south, these principles are being used. To-day I leavo for Adelaide, and Miss Gully, at the request of the Minister, is remaining a littlo longer, and I want to thank everybody for their kindness for us. We have tically nothing but love from "end' to end of the Islands, and it has been grand. Mr. Russell, through tho Health Department, lias not left a. stone unturned to help the scheme on to success, and, thanks to tho whole-hearted supP'nt.of tho medical profession, without which our visit was vain, this scheme is giving promise of fulfilment'' Every child that is doing its exercises and wearing its splint', • every mother who is doing her best at the instigation of tho doctor and teacher, furthers the work, and this treatment, if

carried out-, means much', for from the useless musole to the recovered body there is a definite line of treatment laid down. But the one who teaches • must know his job. Let every father consult the doctor, and if tho doctor does' not know or anyone proficient, the Health Department has a complete list' of names of thoso' qualified to teach, for, without; tho definite know- .. ledge, this treatment must be an utter failure —nay, worse. One country child.was brought to mo: "Wo had so-and-so up from tho city, she taught us." How dared she do it? She , had been present at one demonstration only, at which really nothing had been taught. I blame 110 one for not knowing, or not wanting to know, this treatment—it is only one branch of massago—but to pretend to possess / a knowlcdgo that ono has not!! There is one of your workers well suited to lead* and that name I have submitted to the Minister. ' Right here, I want to thank my follow workers for their . keen 'sympathy,' tteir willingness .. to learn, and their heartyv support.' and thank you all. This work is God's, for tho children's sake, and I know I have your hearty co-operation.—l am, etc., V. FLORENCE BEVILAQTJA. August 23. 1916.