The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-05
Lose THEIR SPEECH
Many Soldiers in Hospitals I'm,
able to Talk.
Men Recovering From Severe Wounds
Must Be Taught to Talk 40 chii-
dren-can't Frame Words--
Physicians Explain Work.
BY KARL Il. Won wlEcANp.

NOHiteu FreSS stan COrreSpCndent.)
Laon, France.-Today / 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 brains.
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 to partial normality.
This is the third time that Laon has
been in possession Of the Germans,
drst In 1914 and again in 1870, but
this time only was the city taken with.
out fearful bloodshed. The main hos.
pital is improvised, a large roomy
school building, well lighted and aired
In front Is large bronze monument
erected to three young Frenchmen-
francs-tireurs-executed by the Ger
mans in 1870 for sniping. Singularl,
enough this monument is unscathed
!. Professor Brockenheimer, in charge,
and Doctor Luetkenmueller, chief sur
geon. explained the work. They care
for 2,100 severe cases, but the light
wounded are given first aid treatment
and sent back to the home bases, rs
this is too close to the actual front
to permit keeping any wounded that
can be moved. More than q score OF
cases, French and German alike, wherv
trephining operations had been neo
cessary, were shown It was a singu
lar picture. Through the windows
came the deep, low bass note Of dis
tant guns killing, smashing. tearing.
manning the human "tenpins." Here
they 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 pencil be-
fore bearded warrior from whose
skull he had cut splinter of steel.
The lips trembled Then came the
feeble answer: Pencil"
l held out a cigarette and asked
what 1t was. The mans lips moved
and look came on his face which
seemed to say that he knew what 1t
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; now
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 unending patience and per
severance"
Many cases Of plastic surgery were
shown. Men with most of their feces
smashed away we're 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 1t is
their duty to save all they can.
I'VE do not ask the wounded
whether they want to live or die"
explained Professor Bockenheimer.
At 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 were being
patched up.