Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-29

Hope that crooked backs re.
sulting from paralysis would be
almost unknown in the next gen.
Grafton was held out today by g
distinguished orthopedist speak
ing before the National Society
for Crippled Children and Adults
Sieges of infantile paralysis
frequently leave the afflicted with
a deformed spine.
DR.. Walter P. Blount. director
of the Department Of Ortho-
pedics at Marquette University
said that the work carried on by
"a few clear-thinking orthopedic
surgeons has finally proved sue
cessful."
His address was illustrated by
slides showing crooked backs
and their correction proved to
be of absorbing interest to the
almost 1000 persons from al
parts of the country attending
the meeting at the Hotel Statler
Vertebrae Are Fused
Surgeons have evolved a meth
cd of holding the spinal column
straighter by fuSing several Of
the vertebrae together into q
solid rod OF bone. he said.
Some patients undergo long
ordeal justified by results. The
patient is put to bed in a large
cast including the head and one
thigh. 1t was then shown thai
the cast could be cut through
the middle. hinges and turn
buckles installed to gradually in
crease the correction. Then the
back of the cast could be cut
away and the fusion operation
performed on the Strengthened
spine
Crooked backs may be con-
genital in origin, may be tht
result of infantile paralysis caus.
ing a tightness of some muscles
and paralysis of OTHERS, or may
be caused by bone disease. Some
time, DR.. Blount said. spina
curvature may develop withou
cause in a pre-adolescent girl.
Other Developments Reported
DR.. Irving S. Cooper. assistant
professor in neurosurgery at New
York University. reported de
velopments in treatment of in
voluntary movement disorders
He cited possibilities of operating
deep in the brain upon small Is
lands Of brain cells referred II
as basal ganglia. He reported
new techniques aimed at de-
struction Of part of the ganglii
by cutting off the blood supply
and by chemical means.
The keynote address Of thu
meeting. which runs through
Wednesday, was made by Loui
B. Setter. editor of the Cleve'
land Press. He said two million
handicapped men and womer
in the United States need heha-
Utilization. The medical victories
of the past. he said. promise
greater victories in the future.
Rehabilitation - Gateway Il
Freedom" is the theme of thu
three day meeting. with EN-
phasis this year on a program Il
develop more one-unit rehabili
tation centers.
Seal Drive Helps
The society collects some slI
million each year through ii
Easter Seal fund drive TO pa!
for help to the crippled. Othe
expenses. such as new construc
ton. are taken care OF by specia
drives and requests.
The societys work include
walking and speech therspy. !
professional and technical stat
of nearly 1900 has been built vi
by the society in It's IS years
There are LOO separate societie
In the 4S States and territories
Yesterday was devoted to pre-
convention activities such as Al
Easter Seal fund raising lunch
con and general get-togethers.
Representatives Of the societ
speak confidently Of the rehabil
itation work being done
Public Education Needed
Bruce @. Eberwein. executiv
director Of the Maryland 50
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