The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-01-29
lose THEIR SPEECH
Many Soldiers in Hospitals Un-
able to Talk.
Men Recovering From Severe Wounds
Muat Be Taught TO Talk as Chill.
dren-csn't Frame Words
Physicians Explain Work.

united Press stan Correspondent
Laon, France.-TodRy / saw men
being taught to talk again. In the
human repair shops the great Ger
man field hospitals. these men were
learning anew the use Of brr.ns
tongue, hands and feet. They had re
ceived their baptism Of fire. Bullet
shrapnel, broken shell. all had done
their work. And now medical science
was doing its utmost to restore the
victims 10 partial normality.
This is the third time that Laon has
been in possession OF the Germans
first in 1914 and again In 1870. but
this time only vas the city taken with.
out fearful bloodshed. The main hos
pital Is %improyised, a large roomy
school building, well lighted and aired.
In front is a large bronze monument
erected to three young ~Frenchmen-
franes-tlreurs-executed by the Ger.
mans In 1870 for sniping. Singularly
enough this monument Is unscathed.
Professor Brockenheimer. in charge,
and Doctor Luetkenmueller, chief u r
geon, explained the work. They ARE
for 2.l00 severe cases, but the light
wounded are given first aid treatment
and sem back to the home bases. as
this Is too close to the actual front
to permit keeping any wounded that
can be moved. More than a score OF
cases, French and German alike, where
trephining operations had been nee.
cessary, we're shown. II was a singu-
lar picture. Through the windows
came the deep. low bass note Of dis
tant guns killing, smashing. tearing,
mining the human "tenpins.' Here
.ney were being patched up. Nurses
sat by bedsides OF friend and foe alike,
bathing fevered brows and teaching
%pale-faced bearded men to speak the
most simple words, telling them the
names Of objects and putting words
together into sentences.
What is this?" asked Professor
Brockenheimer, holding a pencil be.
fore a bearded warrior from whose
skull he had cut Il splinter Of steel.
The lips trembled. Then came the
feeble answer: Pencil"
/ held out a cigarette and asked
what II was. The man 3 fps moved
and a look came on his face which
seemed to say that he knew what ii
was but couldn't say. Then Professor
Bockenheimer came TO the rescue.
WHAT do we do with this?" he asked.
An apparent tremendous mental EFFORT
and then the reply: Smoke
Correct" said the professor. nov
what Is it?" This time the brain and
tongue worked and the answer was
correct.
Hours have to be spent by the
nurses teaching these men all over
again" explained the professor. 1t
requires unendlng patience and per.
severance"
Many cases OF plastic surgery , ere
shown. Men with most OF their frees
smashed away were being brought
back to life with parts OF their bodies
being grated on to cover the terrible
gaping holes. Many would be much
better dead, but the doctors feel Il is
then duty to ave all they can.
"Wo do not ask the wounded
whether they want to live or die.
explained Professor Bockenheimer
Al the main French hospital Profes.
sor Manasse Of Stuttgart was In
charge Here. too. nurses were teach.
ing men to talk again and terrible
wrecks OF humanity we're being
patched up.