Page Four P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y January, 1956 A d d r e s s t o t h e C o n f e r e n c e o f t h e S o u th A fr ic a n S o c ie t y o f P h y s io th e r a p is t s , 8 t h O c t o b e r , 1 9 5 5 . B y D R . K. F . M IL L S, Superintendent, Johann esbu rg G eneral H ospital. Madam, President and Members o f the Society of Physiotherapists. I NE E D hardly say that I feel very honoured indeed at being invited to address you and to open this annual Conference o f your Society. I also feel singularly unqualified to do so. Your Secretary, in inviting me to perform today, said that it was customary to invite a prominent member o f the Medical Profession to stick his neck out on such occasions. I must however disclaim any such pretensions. My name, I regret to say appears very frequently in the Press, because not' being in competitive clinical practice I do not incur the displeasure o f the Medical Council whenever I am bullied or manoeuvred into making some more or less indiscreet statement about this or that or the other occurrence at this Hospital. I may therefore have acquired a certain notoriety, but by reason o f not being in clinical practice my knowledge o f modem Physiotherapy is probably just sufficient to be dangerous. So if I do stick m y neck out, I hope you will be charitable and resist the temptation to chop it off! N o w just about the time when I received your Secre­ tary’s invitation, I was engaged in reading a very long and much publicised novel in which one was taken with an almost painful degree o f detail through the boyhood, college and hospital life and well on into the professional career o f an earnest young American doctor. Surely, I thought, in so long a narrative I must find a few sidelights on physiotherapy and physiotherapists in the modern American professional world. But no! Then I read Richard Gordon’s latest contribution to medical manners and customs, and I did find a passing reference to the “tickle and slap ladies,” but he was clearly not really interested in them, and it was o f course the night-nurse whom the hero o f the story took off for a naughty weekend. Even in that treasury o f light romance “The Woman’s Weekly” you will find that the heroine o f the current serial'is either a nice young nurse, or a graceful young governess, or a ravishing young receptionist, or even a snappy young schoolmistress, but never, oh never, a pretty young physio­ therapist! I wonder why. Or, to consider a more serious type o f fiction which is popularly considered to be the staple literary diet o f the medical profession, I can recall dozens o f ingenious stories in which the victim is disposed o f in medico-legal fashion, varying from the crude administration o f prussic acid to more subtle methods involving the induction o f hypo- glycaemic coma or even the engineering o f an air embolism. But I have never yet read a thriller where the victim is found suspended by the neck on the kind o f therapeutic gallows which you physiotherapists are wont, quite legiti­ mately, to employ, nor is there any record, either in fact or fiction, o f a bride being found drowned in a bubbly bath! I don’t know what conclusion to draw from all this, if indeed any valid conclusion can be drawn. I can only infer that the principles and practice o f Physiotherapy are as yet so wrapped in mystery, that the writers o f thrillers don’t yet know and understand enough about its possi­ bilities to exploit it; or maybe that Physiotherapists are so respectable, or perhaps so fierce, particularly when they operate with such terrifying equipment, that the writers o f romance are positively scared off. How little they know. When however we come away from the domain of fiction and fancy, we find that the physiotherapist is seen to occupy a very real and important place in our social organisation, and that the story o f Physiotherapy abounds with interest and colour. Physiotherapy in the abstract, that is the process of applying physical agencies to the relief o f somatic disorder must have existed in the world as long as life itself has existed, and certainly as long as mankind. Heliotropism is a biological fact o f practically all plant life, and an etio­ lated and sickly plant can, if the disorder has not progressed too far, be readily cured by a little judicious surgery followed by ample exposure to the rays o f the sun. Mankind, very early in its history, recognised com­ forting and healthgiving properties in the sun’s rays, aeons before man began to have any conception o f what the sun really was, or what was this mysterious influence which we now term radiation. Naturally the sun, along with many other prominent and obvious natural phenomena, became deified and the object o f worship to primitive man, and the Sun-God appears in the mythology o f various races with many different names and in many different forms. To the ancient Greeks and Romans he was identified with Appollo, and he was always conventionally depicted as a very handsome young man, bursting with health and vitality. It is significant that Aesculapius, the God o f Medicine in Greek mythology was conceived o f as being the son o f Appollo, and the first words o f the original Hippocratic Oath, which governs our professional ethics to this day were: “I swear by Appollo the Healer . . .” Besides the rays o f the Sun, the beneficial properties o f many other physical agencies were known to the ancients. Physical Culture and gymnastics formed the basis o f rather more than half o f the education o f ancient Greek youth, and Hippocrates had, I believe, quite sound views on the use o f massage in the treatment o f fractures and dislocations. Maternal massage, in the treatment o f infantile flatulence,( probably has an even older root in history. It is customary in considering the History o f Nursing to trace this back to the instincts o f the primitive mother in caring for her child, and no doubt certain other physiotherapeutic tech­ niques could also be traced to this source. Electrotherapy was, I gather, discovered by accident about the time o f the Emperor Nero, when some afflicted person paddling by the sea shore accidentally trod on an electric ray fish, and was dramatically cured o f what ailed him. This incident must have caused quite a stir in the medical world o f the time, and shocks from fish o f this type apparently became quite a fashionable form o f treat­ ment for neuralgia and headaches. It was doubtless about this time that the armament with which the practitioner o f Physical therapy is wont to surround himself or herself began to get so formidable! One wonders about the details o f the technique o f this form o f electrotherapy. H ow did they manage to apply the fish without getting shocks them­ selves? It is a pity that it has gone out o f fashion. One could imagine with relish the consternation and alarm o f our Provincial Stores Organisation if presented with a rquisition for say—five dozen electric eels for use in the Physiotherapy Department o f this Hospital. R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. ) January, 1956 P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y Page Five Tt is quite clear, I think, that the History o f Physio- , aDV is a fascinating subject, and you are all no doubt II versed in it. But I think it is also true that the discoveries de by the ancients as to the beneficial effects o f various mha ical agencies ran far in advance o f the acquisition o f knowledge as to how or why the application o f these agencies produced the results that were found in practice to occur, and moreover that this empiricism persisted until quite recent times. One might say that the establish­ment o f Physiotherapy as a profession coincided with and followed from the adoption o f a scientific outlook in its practice. But I would be so bold as to say that much that is empirical still persists here and there in the field o f Physical Therapy as in other branches o f Medicine. I do not suppose that the ancient physicians who applied the electric shocks o f the torpedo-fish came any­ where near a satisfactory explanation o f what they were doing. They probably said that as physicians they were the divinely appointed representatives o f Jupiter or Zeus, Father o f Gods and Men, one o f whose playful little prerogatives, you may remember, was to hurl thunderbolts i right and left, and that they were, under his guidance and on his authority, just dispensing a few well-directed little thunderbolts, and so driving out the evil spirits responsible for their patients’ disorders, whatever they were. But, can the modern physician who turns on a switch, and hurls thunderbolts at his schizophrenic patients, via the medium o f a shock-box, give a really satisfactory explanation as to how or why his therapy works and pro­ duces the results that it does? Can you explain in full and convincing details the rationale o f ultra-sonic treatment, or even the benefits to be obtained from “taking the waters” internally or externally at Badplaats, Warmbaths, or even at some o f the internationally renowned continental spas? You may refer to mechanical factors, chemical factors, thermal factors, or even psychological factors; but when you have said all that have you really explained? There is surely much scope for scientific study and research in your profession, and in such study and research for co-operation and collaboration with fellow scientists in many and diverse fields o f science, pure and applied. And what o f the future? Man has for countless ages contemplated the Universe around him, and speculated on the nature o f matter. With remarkable intuition the philosophers o f old stumbled on and held to a belief that things are not what they seem. Despite the evidence o f their senses and contrary to all the dictates o f common sense, they have continued throughout the ages to seek the philosopher’s stone whereby the commonplace materials o f their experience may be transmuted into fine gold. And now, modern Science has come along, and evolved theories and demonstrations to show that things are indeed not what they seem, and with a vengeance. Matter is now for the most part a manifestation o f forces. The Universe is expanding at an explosive rate and dissolving into radiation, and to counterbalance this matter is continuously being created. Chemistry is becoming a branch o f Physics, and Physics is assuming the position o f queen among Sciences. The Philosopher’s stone o f the ancients is now seen to be as readily accessible as pebbles on the nearest beach. Transmutation o f elements is an accomplished fact, with potentialities for the good or evil o f the world as yet unestimated. It is surely impossible to believe that in time, and it may well be sooner than we expect, the new Physics will not find an equally revolutionary expression in the practice o f Medicine, and indeed in the field o f Radiation Therapy that expression is already taking place. And it will surely follow that the Physiotherapy o f today will give place tomorrow to new and powerful technical developments, (Continued on page 7.) IONIZYL I O N I Z I N G C R E A M C o n q u e r s p a in q u i c k l y a n d e f f e c t iv e ly . For use against M I G R A I N E + FIBR O SITIS + L U M B A G O + N E U R A L G I A Price 12/9 for 4 ozs. Ob t a i n a b l e onl y f rom N E W M A N ’ S P H A R M A C Y 3 1 1 M A I N R O A D S E A P O I N T C A P E T O W N R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. ) January, 1956 P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y Page Seven G E N E R A L The following were successful in the B.Sc. (Physio­ therapy) Rand examinations held in November:— Miss C. Brest, Miss S. de Villiers, Miss L. Davids, Miss J. Feyder, Mrs. J. Finger, Miss H. Grosberg, Miss A. Jones, Miss B. Kaplan, Miss H. Mackay, Miss C. van der Spuy and Miss J. Wagner. The following passed the examination for the Transvaal physiotherapy Diplom a at Pretoria Hospital:— Miss E. Grunow, Miss F. Hitchcock, Miss M. Millar, Miss H. Morgan, Miss G. Silverman, Miss M. Slone, Miss L. Swart, Miss M. van Woudenberg, Miss A. van der Spek and Miss H. Wilson. As several alterations have to be made to the renewed l copy o f the Private Practitioners Members’ Register sub- ' mitted at Conference, there will be some delay before it is printed in its final form. Any details from members who have not previously asked for inclusion on the register, must be sent to Mr. A. Rothberg, W .N.L.A ., E loff Street Extension, Johannesburg. We welcome to the Society:— Mrs. D . Curnick, 73, Balmoral Drive, Durban North, and Miss M. Iuel, c / o Coronation Hospital, Johannesburg. The Central Executive Committee has appointed Mrs. F. M. Rowe as its typist. She has already proved her immense value and we look forward to her continuing to work with us in the future. The Journal Committee is happy to accept for its expenses donations o f £5 5s. Od. from the Natal Branch, and £1 17s. Od. from Mrs. D . Curnick. The Constitution was accepted by Conference except for a few slight alterations, and is about to be printed, after which each member o f the Society will receive a copy. MEDICAL AID SOCIETIES. The following travel rates have been accepted with effect from October 1st:—Five shillings for the first four kmiles, and one shilling and threepence per mile over and ./above that distance. (Address to Congress, continued from page 5.) which will apply to the cure or relief o f human ills the potent and fearful natural forces and energies uncovered and unleashed by modern Physical Research. This then is the challenge to your Society and your Profession: Firstly by research and study and interchange o f know­ ledge to continue to establish your present practice on the soundest possible scientific basis; and secondly to be pre­ pared for whatever the future may bring, to prove what is new, to adopt what is proven, to hold fast to what is sound and o f good report, and to eschew what is shown to be false or outmoded. With these words I wish you success in your delibera­ tions. May they be o f great value and profit to yourselves and your profession, and may the fruits thereof be manifest to the comfort and welfare o f your patients. And, in confidence that this will be so, I have great pleasure in declaring the Conference open. On Thursday, November 3rd, the Physical Medicine Section o f the Medical Association invited Dr. H. Kessler o f the Kessler Rehabilitation Institute, Newark, New Jersey, to talk and show his films on Rehabilitation. A n invitation was kindly extended to physiotherapists, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable and worthwhile evening. Dr. Kessler is an excellent speaker and his films are some o f the best seen in this country on rehabilitation. Dr. Kessler was kind enough to lend some o f them to the S.A.S.P. and they were shown to the Durban Branch in December. Unfortunately they have suddenly been recalled by Dr. Kessler, but it is hoped the Society may be able to borrow them and possibly others from him in the future. M ISS SUSIE OO STH UIZEN. In July 1955, Miss Susie Oosthuizen, our President, resigned from the Society. For many years, Miss Oosthuizen had been an active member o f the Society. She shouldered the burden o f the Honorary General Secretaryship until 1952, and those o f us who have worked with her on the many committees on which she served, fully appreciate her capabilities. In spite o f her many commitments, she devoted much time and energy to furthering the interests o f the Society, and fre­ quently represented us on several bodies, including the National Council for the Care o f Cripples. It is largely due to her efforts that the Society enjoys its present status, and her valiant pioneering spirit will always be remembered. Several years ago, the Avalon Rehabilitation Centre was transferred from the Cape to “Tussenkoppies,” Miss Oosthuizen’s farm, and she became its Superintendent. The advances and developments at the Centre have been considerable. We are very pleased to know that although Miss Oosthuizen finds herself unable to work for the Society, she is continuing in the field o f Physiotherapy. We thank her for her past endeavours and wish her every success in the future. K.M.L. M ISS HAZEL BAINES. The Society is very sorry to lose the services o f Miss Hazel Baines, who has acted as General Secretary since October 1952. Miss Baines first came to South Africa to take up a post as Electrotherapy lecturer on the staff o f the University o f the Witwatersrand. She was here for the whole o f 1950, then returned to England at the end o f that year. She was back in South Africa in the middle o f 1951, and has since become known to all o f us, either personally, or nominally in her capacity as General Secretary. The amount o f work which that position entails has increased considerably since she took over from Miss Oosthuizen, and nothing but admiration and praise can be given for the way in which Miss Baines undertook the enormous task o f acting as General Secretary when she was already kept very busy by her work at the University. She was efficient and capable at all times and her decision to return to England was a severe blow to the Society, by whom she will be greatly missed. On behalf o f the Society, Miss Baines was presented with a travelling case at a party given for her by the Central Executive Committee, at the house o f Mrs. M olly Levy, kindly lent for the occasion. We wish Miss Baines every success in the future and can assure her that all she has done for the Society will never be forgotten. L.E.D. R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. )