The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-07-18
Re-Make the Unfit
nv ~. ARLINGTON BRUCD
Author ~ "rhe Riddle of Person
Ailty." Psychology aud
Parcuthood." etc.

Not long ago II was suggested by
r. T.. Rittenhouse, specialist in life
conservation. that health camps"
should De established. not merely
Tor the benefit OF men returning dis
eblcd from the battlehclds of Eu-
rope, but also for men rejected cor
discharged from military service as
physically unfit
What is 90 DO done with these
men" Mr. Rlttenhouse pertinently
asked Are they TO be returned TO
their homes and industries. and be
permitted 10 continue 20 dcteriorate
PIN sically without an effort being
made 20 conserve them
III We can afford 10 spend time
and money raising the man.power OF
those wEo go 20 fight our battles
IN this war, can we not AFFORD 10
spend some tirle and money IN rails
ing The man-p power Of the impaired
group Of whose physical needs We
have acquired offcial knowledge?
Gould our government make a
better investment than 20 establish
physical reconstruction camps where
this army OF sub.standard men could
receive proper nourishment. physical
training and medical attention ."
50 far as am aware, Mr. Ritten-
houses suggestion has evoked llttle
public discussion In ought 10 he
widely and favorably discussed.
/ Wi bout unnecessary delay provi
zion should be made 20 give effect
20 u on "a large scale
The great need OF the times Is for
men physically and mentally ht II
he world h 10 De set free from the
German menace. the indicators 81
democ racy. whether fghting in Ei
rope pr lahoring In America. must
be no ~ hght and 20 labor intelli
gently and hard
And those now now unfit should
ne made ~ so far a. II Is humanity
possible 10 DO this
Examinations by life insurance
companie- Indicate that az least 81
per oeut OF American workers need
medical attention 20 some extent
This means that for reasons OF
physical impairment 80 per cent Of
The workers are not able 20 work a.
maximum OF efficiency
some of the 30 per cent are so i'm
paired in health that their recon
sfrucfiOn is out OF he question. But
this d. not true OF the great ma
jori'>
Taken in hand promptly they
could he raised once more 20 physi-
cal fitness by a brief sojourn in a
health camp There they could also
learn how 70 keep NJ after leaving
The camp
besides which. on leaving II they
would one and all be- missionaries
10 preach 20 others gospel Of
right living that would save thou
sands from the experiences they
themselves have undergone.
A. things now stand. many man
who suddenly discovers that he is
physically unfit Is helpless 20 re-
build himself He has not tho neces-
sarv knowledge and no cannot afford
special medical care
The result ia that no continues
10 work AZ low efficiency rate. con
snucs 10 3eteriorate. and dies long
5efore his time
y ed'ess tragedies Ike his could
ard should oe averted They bear
heavily both on The victim and his
relatives aud on the nation Al
large For The strength and pros.
perry Of every nation clearly de
pend ON he health ~ tho indvid-
uals who make up the nation
Health con .oTvation is therefore a
national need ar all times. Today
il ls "a vital national need And he
propos "a health camps offer a sim
PIE wav OF meeting A.