The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-09-27
CARING FOR THE
STATES CRIPPLED CHILDREN

The state health officer feels that
the care of the crippled children is the
most serious responsibility of all of
the many responsibilities connected
with his work. The physicians of
Florida may rest assured that these
children are going TO receive at the
fands of DR.. Simpson the best of sur
gical care, and that the state health
officer will personally see that these
little ones will not suffer pain when
same can be avoided; that they will
receive kind and considerate treat
ment; and that they will not be allow
ed to go to sleep hungry.
The fund for the care of the in
digent, ruptured and crippled children
Of the state was created by an act of
the legislature in 1911, and is a con-
crete evidence of a desire on the part
Of our law makers to do a real con-
structivs piece of work for the poor
people of the state in converting the
helpless and semi-helpless INDECENT
children into as nearly normal, 100
per cent efficient, productive citizens,
as is possible under the best and most
modern treatment.
The state health officer is taking up
this phase of the activities of the
board of health with the broad con-
ception which represents the spirit of
| the law, and is anxious to make it a
telling service to the citizenry of the
state. He, therefore, wishes to ex-
tend the benefits of the service as near
as possible, to all INDECENT children
whose future earning capacity is be-
ing jeopardized by any chronic malady
which is correctable by surgical
means. He wishes, in other words, to
make this a real reconstructive serv-
ice, including as it becomes possible,
the shaping and directing of these
childrens' future into channels of IN
dustrial usefulness in the lines best
fitted for them, considering whatever
they may have as remaining uncor-
rectable infrmities.
| An outline of the cases which may
properly be included in this service
follows:
Injuries, diseases or deformities o1
the bones and joints, cleft palate
Potts disease. tuberculosis of othel
bones and joints, chronis osteomye
litis, tumors of the bones, ankyloseC
joints, club feet, ununited and NAL
united fractures, old or recurrent dis
locations.
Injuries, diseases or deformities o.
muscles and tendons, hernias, Volk
mann's contractive, shortened muscle
and tendons due to disease injuries
burns, etc.
Injuries or disease of nerves, spas
tic plegias with correctable deformi
ties, poliomyelitis, post-meningiti
muscle cOntractures, severed periphe
raj nerves with group muscle paral
yses, neuromata of peripheral nerve
from injury.
All cases, of course, are subject +
refusal, if, in the opinion of the stat
health officer and the orthopedic sur
geon, they are not amenable to eithe
cure or permanent benefit by treat
ment.
An abstract of the history Of tn
case by the family physician, an
proof of indigency by the parents Q
guardian, is required in each cas-
Blanks may be had by application I
the state or district health officer.
People, who can pay the whole {
a part of the hospital expenses, bI
who cannot in addition afford to "a
surgeons fees, will have access to I'll
services by paying the hospital fee
or two dollars a day, without charl
Iby the surgeon.