Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-08-11
Self-Support For the Cripple
By Frederic ]. Haskin

EUROPE is attempting to find callings
r. that are adapted to the posslolH-
- ties of it's many varieties of war
follow those caiiings There are. for
instance, many occupations with when
the loss of leg would not lnterlers'
other tasks may be performed as read
lily by a man with one hand as TWO.
A night watchman may need no hands
at all. There is much work that tne
those who see. To fit MANNED men IN
to work that they may do and thus ac-
new task brought forth by the war.
Already thousands of men have been
discharged from the hospitals armless,
health practically normal. Under ordi-
nary conditions these men must be eX-
lpected to subsst partially upon future
| by their Governments being insufficient
for their needs. Instead of supporting
their families, they must be supportead
physicians in different countries have
been cooperating in their efforts to
make cripples self supporting, and a the ne
concentrated at the war centers for
the benefit of the convalescent Grip
pies.
| Shops For Cripples
| Impromptu shops of various kinds are
being fitted up for these cripples, ana
men are being fitted with work where
! their injuries will be the least possible
| inconvenience. Light work is selected
in most cases, but not always There
! is in a London hospital, for instance,
blacksmith shop which has iately, pee1 zen
men are already practtcing with view
to overcoming handicaps due to wounds.
Two have lost their right arms, one e.,
left arm, one his right fingers, and the
| fifth leg.
The men who have lost their right
arms are learning to swing the ham
mer dexterously with the left. while a
hook, attached to the artificial right
arms which have been furnished, viii
anvil ready for the blow. When they
have become dexterous despite their IN
juries, the phases of iron working pest
adapted to their qualifications will be
selected and they will be aided to en-
In France. arrangements have been
made for a number of war cripples to
| enter Industrial establishments to re-
ceive special instructions which VIII
qualify them for future independSenGe. e Ssarn
ing to handle tools in tin shop with
rapid dexterity. A man who has lost
a leg and three fingers is working In.
tin shop. He has learned to use the
soldering iron in making tight seams
and corners. A special hook adJustaple
to place that firmly upon the round
of a ladder so that he may be able to
climb up and do work upon house roofs
as safely as before his war experience.
i For Inventors
Men who have an inventive turn of
mind are giving attention to the de-
signing of special forms of machinery
and tools which will offset physical de. de
hands than their left, so slight modi-
fication of the usual patterns for vari-
Gus implements is being made to over
come com this lack. The fingerless man will
soon be able to secure planes, saws and
chisels devised especially for him. In
a number of instances crippled men
Themselves are at work in shops max
ing tools to meet the needs of com
Irades who have been similarly unfor-
tunate.
Because the majority of crippled men
naturally will turn to occupations call
ing for little or no physical exertlon,
prefer the active work to which they
had been accustomed. But large num-
ber Of convaleseent soldiers soldiers are plan
are devoting their convalescent stage to
study along those lines. Many of the
training in these lines to start them
effectively and many volunteer teachers
are contributing their services.
Nurses Aid Them
A number of hospital wards have the
appearance of school rooms. Sketch
boards and portable tables in front of
the men afford writing space Black
boards in the center of the room pre-
sent lessons and the teacher. goes from
one patient to another. guiding stiffen-
ed fingers and aiding them in every
conceivable way to the desired pro-
The materials for this work have
been secured chiefly through private
donations. An American, typewriting
manufacturer last month shipped a
| dozen typewriters to Paris to be used
for the instruction of convalescent sol
diers in this useful occupation. The
number of men who are trying to learn
. typewriting indicate that the girl typist
In Europe may soon be supplanted by
the war cripple, but as women are
J taking mems places as street car con-
ductors. railway porters and other
fields not open to crippled men. perhaps
ship.
Problem of the Blind
The thousands of blind men present
an even more serious problem than do
the cripples to those who are bent upon
aiding them to be self-supporting
Last March the French Government SCI
laside a large building as a refuge and
school for blind soldiers in which they
could be trained in some of the indus
ton The first teacher was himself q
blind man thoroughly familiar with the
Braille system of reading and writing
! and skilled In a number of handicratts
Before the shops were In readiness for
work he put the most hopeless of the
men to work at brush making.
Within few hours the psychological
latmosphere of the building seemed
changed. The men lost their despoll.
dency when confronted with the possi-
blind men are working. industriousiS
each day at such occupations as basket.
/ making. brush and broom making, lace
/ making, chair Gaming and light car
Ipentry. In addition sople typeWEitsrs