GIRL WITH WRITER’S CRAMP.
Compensation Case Inquiry

An interesting case under the Workmen’s Compensation Act, in which the claimant was suffering from writer’s cramp, came before Sheriff Dallas, accompanied by Professor Marnoch, at Aberdeen yesterday.

Edith Joss, clerkess, 18 Holland Street, was the claimant and the Aberdeen Combworks Company Ltd., the respondents.

Respondents averred that Miss Joss was a clerk in their employment, and was totally incapacitated on March 23 last, through contracting writer’s cramp in their employment. Respondents had paid her compensation at the rate of £1 8s weekly since .

Miss Joss was examined by Dr Sylvester D. Fairweather and also by Dr Coutts, who certified her as fit for light work, and respondents maintained that she was capable of undertaking work as a domestic servant, shop assistant, and alike, and that the weekly payment of compensation should be ended or diminished.

Claimant, in her condescendence, stated that her own medical advisor, Dr T. Best Gibson, Certified her as still unable to undertake any kind of clerical work, and that the trouble could only be cured by giving the hand a complete rest, and the disability was likely to be a protracted one.

Claimant believed and averred that attempting to do such work would still further retard her recovery.

Mr G. M. Aitken, advocate, appeared for the Claimant, and Mr W. J. Gilchrist, solicitor, for the respondents.

Medical Evidence
Dr Fairweather gave evidence, and said that claimant was fit for light house work; for the duties of a shop assistant, and of a waitress or maid in a hospital. In cases of writer’s cramp the doctor had to go mostly on the assertions of the patient. Working the other muscles would help the trouble.

Dr Coutts gave corroborative evidence, and said that the cure for writer’s cramp was rest and finger exercises, and would be protracted.

Dr Best Gibson said that Miss Joss called on him in February, and in March he ordered her absolute rest. He examined her every week, and certified her unfit to resume her duties. He afterwards sent her to the Royal Infirmary for electrical treatment. Rest was the only cure. The exercise of other muscles would be beneficial only to a small extent. She would be able to undertake light housework, provided it remained at light housework.

Miss Joss said she had been employed with the Aberdeen comb works since she left school, and her work had been entirely clerical.

At the request of her agent, Miss Joss wrote a passage to the dictation of Professor Marnoch, and Sheriff Dallas asked if she always wrote backhand, and she replied that she did not, but she found it more difficult writing in her old way. When she finished writing she complained of a pain in the wrist.

Sheriff Dallas retired for some time with Professor Marnoch, and on returning asked if it were possible for the employer to give the girl such a job as would not entail her writing at the present time. The treatment had not had a sufficient trial. He was fairly satisfied that at the present moment she was not fit to undertake such work as had been suggested.

Mr Aitken said she was anxious to get back to work.

Sheriff Dallas said he was satisfied it was not a case of malingering or simulation with a view to obtaining compensation.

The Sheriff made avizandum, and Mr Gilchrist promised to bring his suggestion before the girl’s employers.

Source : Press Cutting, December 1923