New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-01
Surgeon General Tells of
Elaborate Plans for IRE
construction" Work
Many Will Be Saved
Men Will Be Taught Occupa-
tions That Will Make
Them Self-Supporting
[Stdf CorresD0ndence1


WASHINGTON, March 31.-Elabo-
rate plans for the reconstruction of
disabled American soldiers were an
nounced to-day by Major General
Gorgas, surgeon general of the army,
with approval Of the chief of staff of
the army The following hospitals will
be used in beginning the work of physi-
cal reconstruction:
General Hospital No. 2, Fort Nc
Henry, Md.
General Hospital No. 8, Colonia, N. ].
General Hospital No. a, Fort Porter,
NY.
General Hospital No. 6, Fort Nc
Pherson, Ga.
General Hospital No. 7. Roland Park,
Baltimore.
General Hospital No. 9, Lakewood,
N. j.
General Hospital No. 10, Dansvlle,
NJ Y.
General Hospital No. ID, Fort Ogle-
thorpe, Ga.
Army and Navy General Hospital,
Hot Springs, Ark.
Walter Reed General Hospital, Ia
coma Park, Washington.
Letterman General Hospital, San
Francisco.
Base hospital at Fort Des Moines,
Iowa.
Base hospital at Fort Riley, Kan.
Base hospital at F ort Sam Houston,
Tex.
From time to time other hospitals for
the reconstruction work will be added
to this list. Individual hospitals from
h Fla,
selected will be equipped, either
throughout or in one or more wards,
for special work in cardiovascula dis
eases, tuberculosis, neurological and
other head surgery cases, orthopedics,
amputations, insane cases, war necrosis
(and other neurological cases), blind,
deaf and speech defect cases, general
medicine, general surgery and other
specialties to be added
Insane cases will be cared for at
General Hospital No. 4, blind and deaf
at General Hospital No. 7, epileptics
and neurotics at General Hospital No.
for amputation work at Walter Reed
and Letterman hospitals.
General Policy Outlined
The following is the statement of
policy recommended by the surgeon
general:
THAT hereafter no member Of the
military service disabled in line of
duty, even though not expected to re-
turn to duty, will be discharged
from service until he has attained COM
plete recovery, or as complete recovery
as it is to be expected that he will at
tain when the nature Of his disability
is considered
"Physical reconstruction may be de-
fined as the comoletest form of medical
and surgical treatment carried to the
point where maximum functional res
toration, mental and physical, has been
secured. To secure This result, the use
of work, mental and manual, will be
required during the convalescent period.
This therapeutic measure, in addition
to aiding greatly, in shortening the con
valescent period, retains or arouses
mental activities, preventing hospital
ization,' and enables the patient to be
returned to service or civil life with
the full realization that he can work in
his handicapped state and with habits
of industry much encouraged, if not
firmly formed"
At each hospital where reconstruction
work is carried on there will be spe-
cial "educational" officer, whose func-
tons are thus indicated in the approved
recommendations:
educational" Officers Duties
"The duties of this officer are to ar
range for and supervise, under the di-
rection of the commanding officer of
the hospital, the means provided for
the use of therapeutic work, such as
curative workshops, classes, etc; to act
as technical ADVISOR to the commanding
officer on this subject, to recommend
the development of necessary means to
keep patients employed SO far as it is
possible to do so, to make the necessary
records of work done in his department
and to have immediate charge of any
special training of a vocat ional nature
which can be given with the means at
hand.
Reconstruction aids" consisting of
women trained in special features of re-
work and enlisted men, are
being provided.