Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-08
TRAINING FOR coNvALEscENTs.
Problem of Caring fir Tubercular Sol
diera Solved In Canada.


dien Solved In Canada.
Boston, June S.---InduStrial training
while convalescing in hospitals has
solved the problem Of caring for tuber-
cular soldiers in Canada. according to
Capt. J. R. Byers, of the Canadian army
medical corps. Addressing the annual
meeting Of the National tuberculosis
Association here today. he said:
when I was called upon in 1916 to
direct the treatment of some Of Can
ada's returned tubercular soldiers. I
found that on account of the excite
ment. danger and adventure Of their
life at the front. these men were not
only Indifferent to ordinary methods
Of treatment but openly rebellious
against such methods. recommended
to the military hospital authorities a
new mode of treatment along vocation
al lines. This recommendation was
| adopted and the results have been
much better"
| In describing the new plan. Captain
Byers stated that the subjects taught
included for bed-conf1ned patients,
needle-work raffia, drawing: for sit
ting -up patients. basketry. -stenography,
penmanship; for walking patients,
wood carving, light cabinet making.
modelling. stenciling, leather-w work. toy
making. twpewriting. and designing.
Academic instruction. and civil serv
ice courses are interwvoen with the
vocational work
LAS compared with the general APP
athy under the old system there has
been enthusiasm under this new regime.
characterization has been reduced less
than per cent, and instead Of refusal
Of treatment there has been application
for extension Of treatment to permit
courses to be completed. Mental and
moral condition have been improved to
surprising degree. Each mans mind
has been pleasantly occupied, his nerv-
GUS system soothed and his mental
powers enhanced While thus far no
great percentage Of men have been
given a complete industrial training a
fair proportion have been fitted for
civil service positions.
These results have convinced the
Canadian government Of the benefit OF
the plan. which has now been extended
to every hospital in Canada under the
department Of civil re- establishment.
Soldiers disabled by tuberculosis
should be restored to complete physical
usefulness Just as we'll as one who has
had his leg shot off" said Col. Harry T..
Mock Of the surgeon generals office
speaking here today before the annual
meeting Of the National tuberculosis
Association. "The rehabilitation Of
these men," he continued. Includes
their mental and physical training until
they can be re-established as useful
members OF society.
TN reclaiming those in military serv-
ice who have contracted tuberculosis
and in securing their complete rehabili-
tation instead Of allowing them to lie
around sanatoria doing nothing except
reading and playing cards and becom-
ing generally hospitalzed. It Is planned
to Start their rehabilitation during this
period when their physical reconstruc-
ton is taking place. Patients in bed
or in wheel-ehairs will be taught GER
tain useful trades or occupations. When
discharged, II It Is necessary. these
men will he placed In special vocational
schools where they will either be
taught new trade or made more pro-
flcient In their cd one. The surgeon
general plans to keep close supervision
over every tuberculous soldier until he
Is full reclaimed"