The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-15
HUGHES IN PROBE FIRST OF IT!
Former Candidate for President Cornerstone of Ell
In Airplane Investigation. struction Hospital l.
He Is Conducting Amazing Re- Gift to Government
port for the Government From Over the G.
IN FRANCE 1,746 U. S. FLYERS TO BE USED As RE
But Only 126 Have Been Pro- Standard Maker TO
vided With Equipment. Ones in the Unite
Nearly $500 Trained Men Here Rebuild Human War
Now Awaiting Orders. Into Able Bodice
FIRST OF ITS KIND
Cornerstone of Elks' Recon.
struction Hospital Laid Today.
Gift to Government by Order
From Over the Country.
TO Be USED AS REAL MODEL
Standard-Maker for Similar
Ones in the United States.
Rebuild Human War Wreckage
Into Able-BOdied Men.

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Boston, Mass, June 15.-The corr
nerstone of Reconstruction Base Hos
pital No. 1. the first of its kind in the
United States and the gift to the gov
eminent by the Benevolent and Pro-
tective Order of Elks. was laid today
in the presence of a distinguished as
sembly OF citizens Representatives of
the nation, state and city, with emf
nent men of the medical profession
and thousands of Elks and prominent
citizens from all parts of the east par
ticipated in the ceremony on Parker
Hill and signalized BY their presence
and words the notable importance of
the event.
This first reconstruction hospital
which will serve as the model, the
standard maker for similar ones to be
established turnout the United States,
will give the manned and disabled
American soldiers and sailors the best
OF expert attention and occupational
instruction. 1t will rebuild human
wreckage into able bodied men and
will educate them in occupations
which will best qualify them not to
become a burden to society. The ain,
Of the hospital in brief may be SAID
to be to minimize the sufferings and
disabilities caused by the war and to
protect the community from an undue
number of crippled citizens.
10 Cost S25O,O0O.
The government thru the surgeon
generals department in November
last, accepted the reconstruction hos
pital plans as a gift from the Elks.
The Elks' war relief commission is
building the reconstruction hospital at
a cost OF $250,000. the money being
taken from the Elks' 100000 war
RELIEF fund. voted by the Elks' 1917
convention. The hospital will be ready
to receive the wounded American SOL
diers and sailors in the early Septem-
Der.
The laying of the cornerstone was
under the direction of grand lodge Of
ficers OF the Elks. The departments
of the secretary of war and the sur
geon-general were formally represent
ed. His Excellency, Samuel W. Nc
Call, governor of Massachusetts,, ex-
tended the greetings Ct the common
wealth, and the Hon. Andrew ].
Peters, mayor OF Boston, represented
the city.
Fred Harper, grand exalted ruler of
the Elks. delivered the principal ad-
dress OF the occasion, telling Of the
benevolent and patriotic purposes that
prompted the Elks to make the gift
to their country and dwelling on the
blessings that seem certain to await
the war-afflicted soldiery that court
the benefits of the institution. The
subordinate lodges of Elks in New
England were represented by E. Mark
Sullivan, exalted ruler of the Boston
lodge of Elks.
Elks Relief Committee.
The Elks war relief commission,
that has charge of. financing the
achievement of this great war work,
attended the exercises and included
John K Tener. P. G. E. r., of Char
leroi, Pa, chairman; Joseph T. Fan
ming. P. G. E. r., of New York, sec
rotary; Jerome B. Fisher, P. G. e. R..
of jamestown. n. Y; James r. Mich
ward RICHTER, P. G. z. R., of New
Orleans. La
Every device and resource known
to the medical science win be at hand
at the reconstruction hospital to re-
build every part of the human frame
Men with half their faces shot away
by shrapnel will get new 5awboncs
from their ribs and new noses ana
new cheeks from the cartridges and
tissues on other parts OF their bodies.
Rebuild Human Wrecks.
Thousands of men who would be
human wrecks without proper treat
ment will be rebuilt at the new recon-
struction hospital and taught trades
that make them economic assets in
stead of liabilities. The Hen with
fractures that have net rightly knit
ted, with stiff joints, with nerve palsies
from shock or from injury-these are
the cases the reconstruction hospital
will help. They will have had the
regular base hospital treatment just
behind the firing lines. where the first
surgical work will be done.
Manned and disfigured men will be
reconstructed by operation. by appa-
ratus, by education. Treatment will be
given not only to the classes already
mentioned but also to those that need
plastic operations to remedy contrac--
lures or defects or who need appli-
ances to supplaht a missing limb.
Those given artificial limbs will be
educated in their industrial use.
No agency of the United States army
or navy is able to supply this treat
| ment. The government has frankly
admitted it and for this reason has
assured spirit of cooperation to the
plans which were proposed to it by
the Elks
DR.. Frederic J. Cotton. one of the
originators of the idea of a reconstruc-
ton hospital in Boston and one of the
leading orthopedic surgeons Of the
country, will be in charge of the hos
pital for the government. The hospi-
tai VIII need well trained and espec-
tally efficient professional staff Its
necessary nucleus has been recruited
and is only awaiting the word to be-
gin its service.
The institution consists of q COM
plete unit of twin war hospital build
ings, vocational workshops, barracks
mess hall and post exchange
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