Evening star., 1917-10-14

-LAT FOOT. defective eyesight and
In kindred physical imperfections are
1T not the only defects which will
- throw q man out OF the ranks of
Uncle Sans Army. He must be 100 per
cent perfect mentally as well as physi-
cnfiy The nerve strain of the present
conflict is SO great that wide margin
OF emotional and mental stability Is as
essential to endurance as good heart
acticn or sound lungs.
Therefore Surgeon General Gorgas OF
the United States Army is Incorporating
tests and organizing a medical service
unique in the annals Of army medical
science. Making use of the mechanism
Of the national committee for mental
hygiene. he is organizing the neuropsy-
chopathic unit as an integral part OF
each base hospital. Physicians trained
in the detection and treatment OF all
forms of nervous disability will be in at
tendance at every training camp for the
purpose of eliminating those who show
marked symptoms OF mental disability,
and units are being organized to be sent
TO France to form a part OF the personnel
ofreach divisional and base hospital. as
well as OF stations nearer the firing line.
HSever before has the stress and
strain of warfare been so great" as
serted Maj. Pearce Bailey. NJ. r. C.. an
eminent New York physician. trained
In the care and treatment of mental
ana nervous disorders who has been
summoned to Washington to serve as
chairman of the committee perfect
inr the organization OF the psychiatric
,,,,ss hnN rh NJ y fn1lE Sar
high explosives. poisoned gases, night
BON ba rdment, fatigue and demoraliza-
tiou deliberately planned by the enemy.
bring the nerve strain OF the present
war far up past that OF all previous
wars Though statistics are not avail
able ii is safe to say that never before
has insanity and hysteria been so prev
alent among the fighting forces of
countries engaged in war, and the
ability of n man TO stand up well under
ordinary conditions of nerve strain
and tension is no index that he will
not go to pieces under the unusually
frying conditions of trench fighting.
Therefore we intend to weed out all
those who. after careful observation
and examination. do not demonstrate an
annie margin of reserve nerve force
warfare. The sitting will be continued
In France. where symptoms will come
TO light under the more trying condi-
lions of strange surroundings and
closer assoclatlon win actual nghtlng
conditions The wedding out Of the un-
nit men. both here and in France. will
relieve the strain upon psychopathic
units at the front. save the expense In
volved in equipping, training and send
Ing to France the man who is inefficient
as a fighter after he gets there and an
actual stumbling block to the success
of the troops. and will keep many men
from nervous invalidism. incapacitating
them for useful industry at home and
frequently throwing them upon family
or state as dependents.
lit is far from fair to say that every
case OF shell shock or neurasthenia is
case of malingering or stimulation. The
man OF unusual daring. who has been
chosen as dispatch rider or stretcher
bearer in the firing line. falls ort alonR
with the man who has more than the
normal quota of timidfty. The seasoned
Qfficer, who has seen service in South
Africa, breaks along with the young