820 CASES OF PARALYSIS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 46, 17 November 1937, Page 5

820 CASES OF PARALYSIS

Epidemic in Victoria METHODS OF TREATMENT (Received 17, 8.45 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 16. Kew cases of infantile' paralysis yesterday and to-day brought tbe total in the State to 820. The warmer weather is believed to be the cause of the renewal of the large daily number of cases. Defending the treatment by medichl practitioners of paralysis in Victoria, the British Medical Association tonight wrote to the Premier, Mr A. A, Dunstan, criticising the proposed support of the Sister Renny treatment. The letter stated: "From the unbridled publicity giveh to what is known as Sister Kenny'g treatment, the natural reticence of medical practitioners to advertise their methods and the inability of parents to publish their gratitude for the succcaaful treatment of their children, it may have appeared tbat the treatment in Viccor'n iags behind that in other States and other eountries." It is explained that the 1937 epidemic has been Jess severe iu its paralytic effects than that of 1931. Of 350 cases discharged from the hcspitals, 83 already have completely reeovered and within three months 100 more will be normal children. "Ihe only reports were that the Sister Kenny treatment is unfavourable," says the letter. "In any method we adopt, we must be assured it will be in the best interests of the patients."