A-INTRODUCTION
21
Games for the Paralysed. Having regard to the ever increasing interest of members of
the medical profession in this problem as a result of these meetings, the International
Medical Society of Paraplegia was founded in 1961 at Stoke Mandeville, which holds its
annual meetings at Stoke Mandeville and in the Olympic year in the country of the
Olympic Games. This Society has now over 400 members representing many countries
and has its own international journal.
Paraplegia,
which is published by Livingstones of
Edinburgh and which appears quarterly.
RESEARCH
From the beginning of our work, research went hand in hand with the clinical work, and
many aspects of paraplegia have been the subject of intensive clinical and experimental
research. Since 1954, the Centre has had its own research department, consisting of a
biochemical and physiological laboratory with a biochemist, technician and senior
research assistant carrying out research work in co-operation with the clinical staff and
visiting research workers from other departments of this country and abroad. Moreover,
for several years an electro-mechanical laboratory was included in the research depart–
ment which was concerned with the development of electronic controls for tetraplegics.
As a result, the patient operated selector mechanism called POSSUM was developed
by Mr R.G.Maling and D.C.Clarkson and their co-workers, which enables tetraplegics
with high lesions and with complete paralysis of all muscles of the upper limbs to control
through a tube by sucking and blowing with the mouth various types of apparatus to
make them relatively independent and restore contact with the outside world. They are
thus able to open and close the door of the house, switch on and switch off lights, radio
and television, control an electric typewriter and, by a special adjustment of the tele–
phone, are able to communicate with the outside world. The Post Office authorities
have been very helpful in supplying special telephones. The most important aid is the
electric typewriter which puts a tetraplegic into the category of a disabled person who is
capable of competing in the labour market. The disadvantage of this apparatus is that it
is rather expensive.
Throughout the years, a great number of publications have been produced on many
aspects of paraplegia, and members of the medical staff have regularly read papers at
the annual scientific meetings of the International Medical Society of Paraplegia since
its inception. Further details about the results of the research of the Centre are given in
the individual chapters of this book.
