Evening star., 1917-09-30
WOUNDEDSOLD|ERS
| TO Be MADE over
Elaborate Plans Worked out in
Office .of. the Army Sur
geon General.
UsEFULEss TO BE GOAL

No American soldier disabled in the
trenches is to escape every effort to
make the most of him. physically and
the Army. Mai. Gen. William c. Gorgas.
can prevent it with the aid Of his
Medical Corps.
p What the Medical Corps of the Army
proposes to do with such men to make
them realize that they are still men and
competent to take a self-respecting. re-
sponsible and self-supporting part in
life. Is called reconstruction"
The plans are elaborate, though still
in the formative stage. They mean
that the medical department Of the
Army proposes to take cognizance of
the physical condition of a wounded
soldier from the time the first emer-
gency bandage is placed upon him at
the front until he is brought back to
whatever measure Of efficiency can be
effected by careful and thorough con-
sideration of his case and treatment.
Three Parts to Program
Reconstruction" subdivides itself
into three necessary purposes. There
is, first, functional restoration, then
vocational readaption, and. third, voca-
tional training.
Functional restoration, as is patent,
deals with making the man as physical
ly fit as medical and surgical science
can accomplish. without letting him
go at a partial stage of mending. Vo-
cational readaption proposes to con-
slider the development of the physical
and mental abilities to provide him
with new skill. either to undertake
the work that he did before he became
a soldier or to fit him for some other
line of work. Vocational training car
ries this further and would give the
man the technical Intellectual knowl-
edge Of some new line OF e1 endeavor
where necessary. either in agricultural,
Industrial or profe ssional worlds.
In bringing the soldier back to ef-
fciency the idea is emphasized that in
finding himself still man and able
to do a mans work he will be less
liable to drink and other forms of dis
sipation. and will readily and by prefer
ence undertake to be wage Garner.
Another-the main thought in the plan
proposed-is to provide the man or
his way back" with COMPENSATION in
some proper measure until he becomes,
in whole or part. self-supporting. and
without disturbing any of his rights
to rewards for service and injury in
service because he Is in way to mend.
Big Hospitals in Capital.
Reconstruction hospitals are to be
constructed over the United States, as
has already been indicated in publicity
emanating from the office of Surgeon
General Gorgas. These are to be OF
various character. to meet various
phases of physical war incompetency.
whether of psychological or purely
physical disability.
In Washington 1T is hoped to have
5000 beds for reconstruction purposes
The two big reconstruction hospitals
here are to be on the grounds now oc-
cupied by the Walter Reed Hospital. al
Takoma Park and at Soldiers Home
Then. too, at St Elizabeth buildings
are to be constructed for psychopathie
cases.
In Washington, the structures which
will be put up by the Medical Corps OF
the Army for reconstruction purposes
will ,probbly be of a temporary char
ecter. Elsewhere in the United States
to save time. existing structures. II
available. will be employed as far al
possible. -s ,..,.-.
Usual therapeutic measures. medical
and surgical, special and general. will
be employed AZ well as existing facili.
ties permit from the time an injury Il
received. through the series Of hos
Ditals through which the wounded