New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-11

vocations for which they are not par.
ticularly fitted. 1t is the old theory
oil the square peg in the round hole.
With a man diverted from his former
occupation by the loss of a leg, an arm
or some other physical disability, the
problem would be to find for him
vocation which he could pursue without
being hampered by this disability.
This, however, would be only the frs.
step. It was necessary to go still fur
ther-to analyze the mans character,
his natural inclinations, his mode OF
thought and, finally. his talents and
possibilities of development. To such
a degree did General Gorgas pursue
this subject that even a man who lost
both arms would not be left helpless
in the competition of civil life. II this
seems impractical and unreasonable,
the answer is that General Gorgas has
in the past proved himself wizard
and may do so again.
Following the psychological expert
come the practical men, who are TO de-
yelop the talents and abilities which
he has discovered. Here again the
general worked out his problem in
practical fashion. Experts in manu-
featuring, in commerce, in science, in
the arts, were summoned and secured
for practical cooperation. As has beer
the experience Of the government IN
previous Communicating OF business
and professional talent, General Gorgas
found all whom he approached ready
to abandon their personal pursuits 70
assist the government. Men who were
building up fortunes through unusual
knowledge and abilities promptly ac-
copied the tasks set them by General
Gorgas, and are now formally enlisted
in this work.
May Meet All Corners
General Gorgas has set these men
this task: As reconstructive engineers
they are expected TO rehabilitatc the
human machines turned over TO them,
so that these may go out into the
world prepared TO meet all corners in
competition land ask no favors."
Practically the programme worked
out by General Gorgas, Major Gold
thwait and Major Z. G.. Bracket twho
will be in charge of it in this country
is as follows:
The soldier with broken bones will be
taken in hand from the moment that
the ambulance doctor gets in touch
with him. The old method was TO take
him TO the first aid hospital, then 70
the base hospital, and finally, when il
was convenient, he would reach tho
hands of the expert surgeon. Now the
ambulance surgeon will tag him and he
will go direct to the orthoped.c expert.
Twelve hours is the utmost limit Of
time before the 5pecia list in recon-
struction will have him in hand. This
means that there will be American re-
construction hospitals Immediately be-
hind the front.
viii BE Returned Here
Three months is the limit of time
that the patient will be kept in such
hospital. The first endeavor. Of.
course, will be to restore him to SER
vice; but if this is impossible. and his
injuries compel his return TO civil life,
he will be brought back to the United
States and placed in a hospital nearest
his home.
These reconstruction hospitals will
be scattered all over the country. In
these hospitals the men will be kept
until they will have passed through
the various stages already detailed. and
are turned out self-supporting. self
respecting and thorough useful mem
bers of society.
England started work of this char
acter in 1916 under Colonel Robert
Jones. The country and even the cX-
ports were skeptical, but the eHpc-
rience with the first hospital was SO
extraordinary that by last July $4,000
beds were devoted TO reconstructIse
work. In that first hospital. OF fle
1850 patients 99S went back 20 tHc
army and the remaining 352 were De-.
stored TO civil life in better shape thsa
when they had left H.