The Sometime Physician: William John Little - Pioneer in Treatment of Cerebral Palsy and Orthopedic Surgery

Physical Therapy, Jan, 1989 by Marylou Ingles

The Sometime Physician: William John Little--Pioneer in Treatment of Cerebral Palsy and Orthopedic Surgery (1810-1894) If the practice of medicine in the 1800s was to be compared with the practice of medicine in the present, it would be characterized as primitive. Anesthesia and Lister's antiseptic techniques were new to the era, and their acceptance by the medical professions was slow. Causes and effects of precipitating factors related to disease frequently were unrecognized, and therapeutic interventions were of limited value. Despite the limitations of his times, William John Little became a major force in the world of medicine. He made contributins to the medical profession that set the foundations for the treatment of clubfoot and cerebral palsy. Most of Little's teaching are still valid in today's modern medical world.

The author uses a chronological approach to narrate the story of the life and works of William John Little. This book will appeal more to historical buffs than to clinical practitioners. The work is sure to find a place in the treasury of historical literature.