Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-18
ELEVEN OPERATIONS
For POL|OMYEL|TlS
Children From All Parts.of state
Helped at Proctor Hospital
Average Age Ten Years and
Three from Burlington-All
Doing Well

MISS Bei-i,a f Weishrod, III charge or
the after care work in poliomyehus for
Vermont. and DIR. W, l.. Aycock. VINO mas
charge Of the polomyelitis researcn de-
partmsnt of the state Board OF teaAth'
have returned from Proctor. where they
assisted in operations Uron eleven chi-
dren from all parts of the state 10 re-
lieve conditions brought about through
poltolnyelitie. The operations were per-
formed at the Proctor hospital by III.
Frank r Ober one of tn" associates OF
Dr Robert " Lovett IN The Childrens
Hospital. Boston, Mass. mr. Lovett Ia
we'll known in Vermont, having treated
polio patients here for several years
The operations were performed Deem
Der and all the children are coming
along nicely Two wards at the hospital
have been offered for the use of the
poliomyelitis department Of the state
Board Of Health. and the children will
remain in these wards for two or three
months. that being the usual time sor
hospital treatmou; after an operation of
this nature.
Three Burlington cliidrcn, Donald
Preston. aged eight wears, sam Brice,
aged FIVE years, ami Harrison Evans, aged
70 years were among those operated upon.
The average age % tho children includ
ing both hogs aud girls. was about 10
wears. some being under i've wears Whine
others were about t. years old
Dr. Oher brought with hin, his operating
room staff 20 ASSIST 10 the work, which
went through without the slightest hitch.
Dr John Morton of Boston was Or Oher' s
chief assistant while Or. Aycock Of the
Vermont state Board Of Health also as
sisted
The operations included tendon trans
plantation. the relieving of hip ileNion
contraction. muscle trausrlantation, and
other paralysis resulting from polio
myelitie TWO of the children operated
upon had neevr been able to walk. while
one Of the others had not walked for
several years II is expected that, as a
result of the operations, these youngsters
will be able TO walk, with braces and
crutches at first.
This is the first pulionvclits operation
clinic to be held within the state, and il
was successful IN every way, eye. ueyond
expeota tons. Miss Gibbs. the head Nurse
of the Proctor hospital is a graduate ~
a chldrcn's hospital and her scrviCes
We're very valuable in connection with
these operations The hospital Is well
equipped for this work and everything
dren. IT IL much easier 10 operate, and the
results are better. when the eases are
taken early. As a result, it is considered
hest, however, 10 wait until about two
years after the disease has taken ns
course, IN order to see how much i'm.
provement can he made through natural
means.
No charge wa made for these opera.
ton, although some of the parents Of tbs
children are payinr the hospital bills
where they ara noie. But no Chld was
refused an operation. where It needed
or account ot lack o. funds
About - children have hesu sen out
side the STATE for operations in the polio
sfter-case wurA which has been carr &c
on since the brst Of asst May, Most q
these children hay" been sent 70 Boston
or New York, ana every operation per
fromed has heeu successful thus far,