WONDERFUL HOSPITAL WORK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 232, 19 June 1918, Page 2

WONDERFUL HOSPITAL WORK

; ; MILITARY ORTHOPAEDICS'. Somo interesting. details' of wonderful 6urgicnl Work performed at 'military hospitals.aro given,in a letter received recently from, Mrs. (Dr.) I'arkes, slates the Auckland "Star."- She refers epeciall) to tjio face-l>uilding work carried on bj modern' surgical methods. Sometimes half tho - soldier's face is blown away, and'has'to be replaced with flesh I'rorn' another .portion, of -.the body, ■Trifle a- bone! is taken' frorii . the. log to form a new -jaw-hone. . The noso is grafted on roughly at first, until tho new flesh grows to-the palrt, and then' operated on until the'contour of the cheek and shape of the. noso is obtained. Skin is then taken froni ; another part of the. body and grafted on, ?o that tho new ■face, is-complete,.-but for one thing— the j power; of' movement. It is'here that a New Zealand'surgeon, (iillira, dorised a way. He conceived the idea of cutting into tho nerves controlling 1 tho movement of the forehead,.only, partly severing about -half of -them;' and- then attaching them to the jaw, which was-fiual-l.v covered with 'skin. This was most successful, .and one could' hardly notice tho-difference between tho. ai'tiliciali built-up sido "of the l'aco and the in touched side.

I A visit" was"-paid by Mrs. Parkes to the Hammersmith Orthopaedic..Hospital, of which she' furnishes nil.interesting description. An orthopaedic hospital carried on that branch of surgery which Ims' fo: - its principal object tlm restor-ition of function and tho correction of deformity resulting from wounds aiirl accidents. Any part of 'tho body is treated except the'abdomen, face, and jaw. The, \nri : ous forms of treatment fall under .tlie headings of' operation, eloclro-thornp.v, massage,'• exercise, manipulation,' and curative manual treatment in worksliips, etc. Electricity plays an important part, in stimulating nerves and muscles so that an electric-therapoutic department'is essential to an up-to-date orthopaedic bos-' pititl;The apparatus nt the Hammersmit.h Hospital was installed by the .Bed Uross .Society. -In. the-massage--depart-, lncnt. .tho treatment is administered by 'the Almerio Paget Massage Corps, under Dr. Mennell. The hydro-therapeutic department was also supplied with up-to-date equipment by the Ked Gross.

The baths, which. formian exceedingly important part of the treatment, are numerous, and aro administered in a great ninny different ways. Some of them have, compressed air tin billing through the water to keep it moving. There are also many forms of douches and showers. For the alternating douche tho operator stands about; six feet from the patient and directs strong jets of water on him from two nozzles, each of different temperature. When directed against . the. spine this douche is an. excellent! tonic. For malingering a'.course of cold , spinal douches at full pressure is most useful. Tho hospital includes n. well-equipped gymnasium, fitted with every modern appliance for remedial gymnastics. There is also a "plaster" department, where limbs are encased in plaster to keep them .absolutely still. In order that a permanent record may be kept of the most interesting cases, plaster casts are taken of tho limbs before, during, and at the conclusion of treatment, so that, the results attained may be 'available at any time for reference and demonstration.

The curative workshops have been established to enable every patient who can do so to work ut some light occupation during, his. spare time in hospital. It is well Known that,.wounded soldiers in hospital And life very monotonous, and in many cases this, feeling of boredom tends to prejudice ultimate recovery. This .is especially so in an orthopaedio hospital, where tho majority of the patients have recovered from the. immediate effects of their wounds and are convalescent but must remain in hos-' pitiil for .lengthy treatment' of injured limbs. Another possible effect of enforced idleness during convalescence is the loss of industrious habit,'to the soldier's great and possible permanent detriment when lie returns to the Army or to civil life. Many different trades are taught in the hospital workshops, including tailoring, carpentry, bootm'aking, splint-making, painting, electrical work, engineering,'cigarette-making, and many others. Every effort is made to prescribe. work that will have a direct beneficial effect upon'the man's particular injury. For men not fitted to rejoin the Army the work acts as a bridge between' mili-1 tary and civil life.

Mrs, Charles Hiorn, of Wang.jnui, is Visiting Wellington, and is' staying with her sister, Wellington Terrace. •' Mrs. Hubert Rose .(Woodvillc) is in •town and staying at the Hotel Cecil. Lieutenant .and .Mrs. Mackenzie Douglas are guests at tho* Hotel Cecil. .Mrs. Ziele lias returned to Wellington from a visit (o Napier. Mrs. Eric Eiddiford and Miss Thorns George' have been spending the past week at Tora, Martinborough. Mi'is Rutherford and her .niece Miss Grant are visiting Mrs. H. Nelson, Woodville, nnd leave shortly for Kotorua. ■ Mrs. Ewan Troutbeuk (Napier) lias I taken Lady Ward's house nt Heretaunga to J>o near her husband while ho is in camp. Ladies ara reminded (hat Mrs. Mathow<ion's sale of winter millinery .commences to-day (Wednesday); ■ A fino ran;e of the latest styles is oll'ered at very low prices. Mnthcwson's, ltd.; "Where the Smart Hats arc.," Lnmbton Quay.—Advt. Mesdames Pellier and Marcellc, Artists in Lingerie, French .Blouses, and Millinery, have arrived from Sydney, and will give a display for. one week at ihu Grand [[otel, Willis Street, commencing to-day (Monday), ihe 17th inst.—Advii. The First of the Season. Lovely Fresh Otaki Violets no,v arriving daily, Dainty boxes packed for posting, from 2s. Gel. Posies for invalids, Presentation Bouquets, and all classes ef Floral Work executed in artistic style. Miss Poole, 70 Manners Street. 'Phone 2409.—Advt. CtLARICU'S Hair -Dye restores-youthful ' colour, black or brown; harmless and odourless, colourless. Post free, Is, (id. and 2s. Cd. Clarke, Chemist, U(i Victoria Street, Auckland.