The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-07-23
}STAFF REPORTER KERRY SEES THE FIRST STEP
la IN MAKING WORLD FREE FROM WAR CRIPPIES
Wounded Yanks Run Typewrit-
er, Weave Rugs, Take Engines
Apart; One-Legged Men Bowl,
Armless Play Pingpong

Washington, D. G., July 23.--1 have
just seen the first step in the job of
abolishing forever the war cripple"
Here at Walter Reed General hos
pital, on the hills overlooking the ma
tional capital, the first of our dis
abled men have been received. And
the first step in the job of putting
these men back ION their feet" is
physical rehabilitation.
The surgeon general has recognized
that WORK is one of the very best
curative agents, and THE best method
of restoring the functions of damaged
muscles.
A special "division of physical re-
construction" has been created in the
office of the surgeon general, headed
by, Col. Frank Billings of Chicago,
one of the best known physicians in
the United States. Under his direction
all the great base hospitals are equip
ped with curative workshops At
Walter Reed l found this work in
charge OF Major B. T. Baldwin, one of
the country's leading psychologists,
called into the army because OF his
special equipment for such service.
Under the guidance of Major Bald
win went through this most modern
of ohspital departments-the curative
workshops"
"Blue Gowns" in Charge
We entered the typewriting room,
differing in no essential respect from
class in a commercial school.
At the teachers" desk sat the COM
petent young woman in charge in the
blue uniform, white apron and cap Of
the army Reconstruction aids
"blue-gowns," they are affectionately
called by the boys in the hospital
Clicking away at keyboard was a |
man with one arm. Attached to the |
stump of his missing left arm was
leather band which he adjusts him
self in few moments, and from 1t a
cord fastened to "a simple wooden de-
vice (Which he can carry around in
his pocket) fitted over the "shift key
of his machine. A pull on the cord
"shifts" for capital letter. Every
other key is struck with his five re-
naming good fingers, which are learn
ing-rapidly-to do the work OF ten.
Learns Rug.Weaving
Upstairs | watched class learning
oriental rug weaving and repairing,
taught by man who sold out the
largest rug business in Boston to en-
list as private to do this work. The
wrOk provides concentration, color,
work for the hands and stimulation to
muscles that are injured.
With Major Baldwin ! walked out
to the lawn in front OF the workshops
where a busy group-one man with a
missing arm, another with leg gone,
others shell-shock cases-were taking
apart an automobile engine.
Almost as soon as patient is out
of the operating room he gets some
light bedside work to do. AS soon as
he is out of bed he is put at play.
One-armed men play ping-pong, or
tether ball-to strengthen the muscles
of the remaining arm. One-legged
men bowl by sticking peg leg in ,
the ball-incidentally training the leg
stump to carry their future artificial {
leg. Games have been found better
than mechanical devices for restoring ,
functional disabilities. i
Work of the same character is UNI +
der way at Atlanta and Baltimore.
Z Eventually there will be sixteen
great hospitals all over the country,
at which every character of disabil-
ity will be treated. ~ /
Men returning from overseas will
be sent to the hospital nearest home,
so they may be visited by relatives I
and friends Upon their discharge
they will be turned over to the voca- :
tional educational board for final
training and placement in good job. !