more conventional massage techniques, m ainly deep kneading, rolling and frictions, in the specific areas relating to th e cause and distribution o f th e pain, achieves m ost rew arding results; this is far m ore effective and lasting th a n electrotherapy in m any instances. T he benefit to th e p atien t of the physiotherapist’s hands is im m easurable as a means o f co n tac t to give him confidence. T he exam ination makes him aw are th a t som eone understands his problem . T hen com es the benefit from physical treatm ent, be it massage, m an ip u ­ lation, exercise or electrotherapy, or a com bination of any or all of these. But how often is massage considered as one of the available m odalities? H ow m any young physiotherapists have know n the satisfaction o f bringing relief and joy to th e p atien t by the judicious use of their hands w ith m assage? — actually feeling the easing o f an asthm a attack as the physiotherapist stands behind the p atient, who is sitting relaxed forw ard over pillows, and gently m assaging th e muscles o f his neck and shoulders to induce relaxation; reducing the swelling in DECEMBER 1979 101 an oedem atous arm after m astectom y, when the p atien t has possibly n o t been adequately instructed in p o st­ operative exercises; rem oving altogether in one treatm ent th e referred pain of an intercostal neuritis by firstly finding and then attacking the offending “nodule” !; stretching an unresolved haem atom a deep in the q u a d ri­ ceps group due to an old untreated rugby injury; giving m agical relief to “ tension” betw een the an terio r tibial and calf m uscles in th eir efforts to effect com pulsory m ovem ent in th e sub-talar and m id-tarsal jo in ts following an arthrodesis o f the ankle. C ertain ly o th e r m odalities are also effective in treating these conditions, b u t it is the massage th a t the p atien t will rem em ber and return for, should the condition recur. It is the careful selection o f th e co rrect m odalities for th e individual p atien t th at ensures the success of the treatm en t. T he sense o f satisfaction to the physiotherapist is the rew ard of our profession. T he value o f “th e laying on of han d s” , as in every other aspect of life, m ust never be underestim ated. P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, MAY TO SEPTEMBER 1979 F o u r m eetings o f this com m ittee have b een held since the C ouncil M eeting of A pril this year. M atters discussed at each m eeting include items carried over from p re ­ vious meetings th e im plem entation o f resolutions passed at C ouncil, finance, reports of sub-com m ittees, reports of special groups, b ran ch m atters and anything con­ cerning W .C .P.T. IT E M S C A R R IE D O V E R F R O M T H E P R E V IO U S N .E .C . The possibility of getting the T ertiary E ducation D iplom a (U nisa) accepted as a registrable additional qualification seem s a little nearer follow ing a meeting betw een th e D ean of the F acu lty o f E d u catio n a t U nisa, Mrs. M athias, Misses Bow erbank and Irw in-C arruthers. U nisa is giving as m uch co-operation as they can in this c o n n e c tio n . . . B T he list of approved employing au th o rities fo r regis­ t e r e d physiotherapists (i.e. authorities o ther th an regis­ tered physiotherapist or specialists in physical m edi­ cine) has been revised at the request o f the P rofessional B oard. T his now read s: D ep artm en t of H ealth, D e p a rt­ m ent of N atio n al E ducation, D epartm ents of C oloured and In d ian Affairs, D ep artm en t o f E d u catio n and T raining (B antu E ducation), D epartm ents o f D efence, Provincial A dm inistrations, M unicipalities, Benefit Societies, U niversities (provided th a t th e em ploym ent is in a teaching o r research capacity), N atio n al Council for th e C are o f C ripples and its affiliated bodies, and any o th er body subject to the approval o f N ational C ouncil e.g. H ospitals and E stablishm ents o f the M ining and o ther in d u stries, G eriatric Institutions, Institutions for the M entally a n d /o r Physically H andicapped. Physio­ therapists offered em ploym ent by any o ther body should con tact the N atio n al E xecutive C om m ittee. N egotiations are still proceeding in o rder to legalise the ad m in istratio n of certain drugs by physiotherapists. M rs. Jaholkow ski’s very com prehensive re p o rt on industrial physiotherapy was discussed by b o th the N atio n al E xecutive C om m ittee and the N atio n al C om ­ m ittee of R epresentatives and plans are under way to r Mrs. Jaholkow ski to visit the branches. T he latest invasion o f the scope of physiotherapy is the C ritical C are Society’s proposals fo r the establish­ m ent of a new profession in this country — respiratory technicians. T his does not appear, at this stage, to have support from any authority outside the C ritical C are Society, b u t the N.E.C., as well as w riting to the Critical C are Society, has m ade fu rth er representations through our H o n o rary V ice-Presidents and through the S.A. Society o f A naesthetists. T h e C h iro p racto rs’ A ssociation have subm itted a letter purporting to co u n ter our objections to the C h iro p rac­ to rs’ A ct. H ow ever, th eir letter in no way counters the m any am biguous points raised in the S.A .S.P’s m em o­ randum , p articu larly relating to the scope o f chiropractic and to the very m inim al penalties for m isconduct. T he M edical A ssociation is in agreem ent w ith o u r objections and has w ritten to the D e p a rtm e n t of H ealth, opposing the C h iro p racto rs’ A ct. IM P L E M E N T A T IO N O F R E S O L U T IO N S PA SSED A T C O U N C IL In o rder to involve o u r H o n o rary V ice-Presidents more in th e affairs of the Society it w as agreed to enlist their su p p o rt regarding the C h iropractors’ A ct and th e pro­ posed establishm ent o f respiratory technicians. A ction has b een tak en on all resolutions passed at C ouncil b u t few m atters have been finalised yet as we aw ait replies from various bodies. T he two m atters wh 'cn interest m ost m em bers are the question o f tax-deductible expenses and the possibility o f registering an ePali'®fte- D ue to th e recent re p o rt of th e F ranzen C o m m i s s i o n th ere is, u n fortunately, no possibility o f getting ttie pro­ visions of Section 16 o f the Incom e T ax A ct extended to include physiotherapists. . T h e State H erald has indicated th a t there « objection to the registration o f an ePaule“ u0p