Significance of the history in the diagnosis of traumatic injury to children

On the Theory and Practice of Shaking Infants

“…It is generally ignored by physicians. 3. The habitual, repeated, rela¬ tively mild whiplash-shakings which are inflicted in the ordinary train¬ ing and disciplining of infants, and which may induce undetected cumula¬ tive chronic subdural hematomas and other undetected chronic types of brain damage, are probably more pathogenic than the less frequent but more violent and conspicuous shak¬ ings during wilful assault, because they are consistently unrecognized and may persist to generate mental retardation and permanent brain damage.…”

“…Subdural hematomas were treated surgically. (3) A few days later, this patient's twin brother came to the hos¬ pital with an unexplained broken femur. Shortly thereafter, the first twin returned with persistent subdural hematoma.…”

The Battered Child Syndrome: Parents and Children as Objects of Medical Study

“…In particular, Caffey accepted that his technician Edgar Watts and department supervisor Moira Shannon had saved him 'literally thousands of hours' with their work. 13 The medical research in this area was thus published by a small group of individuals, but conducted by, and raising awareness amongst, a broader community of technicians, assistants, and research laboratory staff. This is significant to acknowledge, because it spoke to a context in which concern about child protection was not only constructed by, or meaningful to, prestigious male paediatricians and radiologists.…”

Edward B.D. Neuhauser memorial lecture. Reflections of men and machines from red goggles and spin wobbles

“…Caffey said it very well during his acceptance of the Howland Award [1]. He was modest, but not overly modest lest he reflect poorly on the judgment of the selection process or give his audience an opportunity to see that he had a great deal to be modest about.…”