The Growing Body: Its Nature, Needs and Training

1931

Truby King Collection WS103 WK376

Dunedin: Coulls Somerville Wilkie Ltd. Printers

James Renfrew White (1888-1961) was an orthopedic surgeon at Dunedin Public hospital (1920-1948) and was a strong advocate for physiotherapy. He was well aware of the sinister effects of infection on children in New Zealand. In his book, The Growing Body, he wrote about the need for children suffering from a range of infectious diseases including poliomyelitis ‘to be excluded from school for at least 6 weeks if treated at home until disinfection of the house had been carried out’ and ‘until a certificate of clearance had been received from an inspector.’