Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-12-16
LOCAL tLkS LODGE
 HELPS BUILD HOSPITAL
First Reconstruction Hospital Will Be Donated by Fraternal Organiza-
 tiOn-Will Cost $25O,0OO.


 tion-Will Cost $25O,0OO.
 The Elks War Relief commission has announced that the government has accepted gift of $250,00 from the Elks to provide great reconstruction hospital = the first in the United States-where maimed and disfigur- ed American soldiers and sailors may receive the best of expert attention and occupational instruction.
 The local lodge, No. 149, will do- nate $82O toward the erection of this hospital and has recently made the first payment, $40. The remaining assessment of $40 will be paid within the near future.
 ! The statement issued from the New York office of the commission reads in part as follows:
 First Hospital in Boston. l "The first reconstruction hospital where our soldiers will be re-educated in occupations which will best fit them not to become burden to society, will be erected in Boston. It will consist of a complete unit of twin ward hos pital racks: mess hall and post ex- changes. This was definitely decid- ed upon today at a meeting of the Elk's war relief commission, composed | of John K. Tener, chairman; Joseph T. Tanning, secreary; Jerome B. Fishl CT, James R. Nicholson, Edward Righ- tor and Fred Harper, grand exalted ruler, following conference with Surg Gen. Gorgas.
 Parker Hill Site Chosen.
 "The site will be on Parker Hill, Boston, contiguous to the Robert B. Brigham Hospital. The instiition will serve as the model standard maker for similar plants to be established throughout the United States. The buildings will be thoroughly modern in architecture, light and cheerful, and will have a we'll trained and especially efficient professional staff.
 "Ex-Gov. Tener, chairman of the Elks' war commission, said:
 "In the beginning of the war, ex- cept for Germany, the nations in the conservation of their men conducted their work upon the lines that had held in all previous wars. Disease was to be prevented as far as possible and the treatment of the wounded con- sisted in saving life, with the expec- tation that discharge from the army wit hsome sort of pension would be their future if any permanent impair ment of function remained. No medi- cal or surgical thought apart from the saving of life was given or consid- cred necessary.
 "Within a few months however, it became evident that the mere saving of life, unless it was followed by or associated wit hattempts to restore function to the damaged part, repre- sented waste that was so great that the ver-- existence of the nation was jeopardized. Associated with this, the pathetic condition in which most of these young men were placed with the greater part of their lives to live, bound by their physical handicap, was too overwhelming not to make it ob- vious that something more than mere life saving was called for"
 "The government officials are par |ticularly grateful to the Elks for this magnificent gift, which will tend to minimize the suffering and disabilities caused by the war;" said Maj. Elliot G. Bracket. director of military ortho- pedics, with headquarters nthe sur geon-geenral's office. Ut is fine thing for the nation and is of incalculable consequence from the standpoint of happiness of the soldier. The need of this same rehabilitative work as fac tor in solving our civil and industrial problem has been evident for sometime and already attempts have been made to meet the need through the estab- Ilishment of such work. It will result lin one of the lasting contributions which can come out of the disasters of this war;" added Dr. Bracket.