Ripley County democrat., 1918-08-23
SEEMING MIRACLES ARE DONE
orthopedic Division at Camp Dix is
Saving Many Mcn Otherwise Unfit
Crooked spines, Flat Feet and varI-
GUS Joint Defects Are Hemedied--
Physical and Mental Wrecks Built
UP.


ilonths earlier the camp examining
board would have sent him back post
haste, but iinicr the new ruling which
permits the army to salvage from this
hu nm stream called forth By the draft
much Of the material that was for
inerly stamped unfit" he was ac-
cepted.
For several days he drilled with his
company In he depot brigade. AZ least
he tried to dtiil, but nothing could Eet
him to straighten up and throw back
his shoulders. TO make matters worse
his feet went ''bad' and finally he
could scarcely hobble about. Then he
was sent 10 the base hospital where
he became patient n the new ortho-
pedlc department
Experts Take Charge.
Experts Looked over his bent form
and set to woFa They massaged his
back, ala ty4n 'kakcig 1t under an
electric heater They compelled him
to undergo exercises until Ec WINGED
ut the pain Of mpscieG and ttcndons
which had been useless for years. The
crooked spine becans supple. With
a supreme effort he could stralghten
his back while in bed, but when he
sat up or walked he slouchcd In the
same old stoop-shouldcrcd posture.
"It's no use. ] can't do It," he
pleaded when 9 physical director told
him to siraishteii up and 20 through
the exercises, ami apparently he could
not Put tie experts Of this new de-
partment had stlll another card to
| play. They began to teach him self
confidence, and In a week had proved
to his own Subtraction that be could
straighten those shoulders.
He IL now At, not for q camp job,
but for q first line unit. The ortho-
pedic experts actually Inverted the
hump On his back and made II bulge
out his chest lie carries his head
erect, his shoulders tlrewn back, and
he nyw walks with b eopaleDt, easy
stride, fnr they have strengthened the
arches az his feet and have given him
special slioss 10 correct any threaten
ing defects.
Marvellous as has been the physical
change. 1t Is surpassed by his improved
mental condition. lie was inclined to
be dull listIcss, and careless, The
strai.rhtefing of his hody seems to
have given him d higher, brighter out
look on lie, and there Is snap even in
his conversation. The doctors have
made n better citizen as well as 4 good
| soldier.
"E,gts a Man On His Feet.r
The story Of this young farmer "a
| one Of many cases in which wonder
ful results have been obtained In this
new branch of the army hospital serv-
Ice. Like many Of the other projects
! planned for the new armies Of the
United States, Camp Dix has been
made the experimental center for this
! science, which aims TO "put a man on
his feet again. The orthopedic treat
ment does not confine itself merely TO
correction of foot dcfects; It applies
to Joints hi any part Of the body, A
rheumatic knee, q stiff shoulder. q dis
.lodgetl ycrtehsa, all come under the
ministratlons OF this science; SO broad
is the field covered that Lieut. Col. w,
Cole Davis, coinmandant Of the base
hospital, hes allotted FIVE wards for
patients Of the orthopedic department,
and already they are llled.
The WORK of the new department is
under the personal direction Of Cap
tain ROLAND Meisenbach Of Buffalo,
and the manner In which he has made
the lame walk and performed other
seeming miracles has convinced war
department officials that this new sci
cnce cas be made one Of The most I'M
portant factors IN the general scheme
Of rehabilitation Of human bodies. Or.
MelserJach's chief assistant Is Llru-
tenani u. 4. Blumer Of Pittshnsga.
Experts haze estimated iiaas as
p'n''y as a5 rer rent of negroes and 10
per cent Of whites called in Ihe draft
have foot defects Of one Kind or an
othHr, and 4 large number become
acute under the stress 81 continued
marching. 4 year ago tie Hat
footed" recruit wns rejected. Today
he h accepted. ana eventually lands
m Tho nrf finnnfite hnefs{ia4 fn,. !. ....,s,.e{,