EARLY TREATMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21197, 21 August 1940, Page 9

EARLY TREATMENT

CRIPPLED CHILDREN ADVICE BY SOCIETY FINDING PLACE IN LIFE (By Telegraph. —Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Tuesday “The great majority, estimated at about 80 per cent, of the total crippled population, have become cripples only because they were not provided with proper orthopedic treatment through their childhood,” states the annual report of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society. “If no treatment is given during the first year or two of the child’s life, a defect may still be curable—but only at the expense of many months’ treatment. If the child is I left without treatment for several years, the complete cure may no I longer be possible. “Obviously, the first essential in our work to prevent children from growing up'into cripples is the provision of proper facilities for the treatment of all those who suffer from slight deformities at birth, or who have developed symptoms of any of the crippling diseases during their growing years. But even if the necessary facilities for treatment are available, the cripple, or potential cripple, has to be found and parents, in some cases, have to be persuaded to allow their children to be taken to clinics or hospital, as may be necessary. General Welfare “There remains a wide field for the voluntary effort of the society in providing for what can best be described as the general welfare of cripples. This includes varied activities such as visiting, organising outings and entertainments, providing the means of reading, teaching ! cripples some handicraft to occupy 1 their time, providing the cripple with j the means of convalescence, an in- j valid chair, or tools to enable him i to take un a trade, or finding him a suitable lodging where he can receive personal care while he is undergoing training or employment. These varied activities are receiving the personal services of a large body of volunteer workers throughout New Zealand. “Experience proves that many children who. in spite of expert treatment. remain to some extent physically disabled, will, if properly treated and given suitable work, bo equal to the able-bodied efficient—and indeed often surpass them—for the limita- ! tions produced by disablement tend j to concentrate their interest and ] energy on their work. Employers. ; however, seldom appreciate this, and j ually strong against th# ] engagement of crippled workers. In j most cases, therefore, the cripple re- I quires assistance in finding work, and j much personal effort by voluntaf*y workers is needed if he is to be placed satisfactorily.”