Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-02
SOLDIER WHO
Is "CRIPPLED"
IS VERY RARE
Only Four Percent of Those
Who Are Disabled Have>
Lost An Arm or Leg.

Washington, Oct. 2.-There exists
a great deal of misrepresentation in
the public mind regarding the dis
abled soldiers. There are frequent
illusions to the Crippled" soldier.
There have been movements on be-
half of various undertakings to "help
educate the crippled soldier" They
pies" means those who have lost an
arm or leg or a hand. They comprise
hardly 4 per cent of the disabled.
AS a matter of fact. says the fed
eral board for vocational education,
there is scarcely any place for indi-
vidual or organized endeavor in deal
ing with the disabled men, except in
cooperation with the regular chan
nels provided by the government.
Several campaigns have started in
various parts Of the country, their
purpose being, it has been stated, to
assist these men who have been dis
abled and to teach them to do this,
that or the other as a preliminary to
their return to civil life. To advise
the public so hat it may understand
the situation the federal board au-
thorizes this statement:
A the outset it should be under
stood that the crippled soldier is in
the vast minority. Statistics show
that out Of every million men sent
overseas approximately 10000 of
them will be subjects for re-educa-
ton.
"of the 10000, approximately 500
may be really termed cripples, that
leg or most OF h fingers of the hand,
or lost a foot and so on. Thus it may
be seer that the word Cripple is
very largely a misnomer and the
crippled and Remembered men COM
prise a minority Of those who are dis
abled,
There has been decided upon by
the United States government, and is
now in operation by the government,
a distinct, comprehensive and entire
ly ample program of completely car-
ing for these men who are disabled.
When a man is first injured he is. of
course, taken charge Of ~ the sur
geon generals department, placed in
a hospital and is given every consid-
GRAFTON and attention that medical
n surgical sciences and the unlimit-
ed means Of h government can at
ford. A great many of these men,
almost 80 per cent Of them, recover
from their injuries and are able to go
back In h ranks and perform. mill
tary duty.
~ - IN the noSplta work that so
much apprehension and confusion in
the public mind arises. While the
men are undergoing convaIescence,
steps are taken to keep them busy in
various ways, because a man who has
some sort of employment in which
he Is interested makes a speedier re-
covery. Also much Of this work Il
designed in a scientific way. as for
instance, to exercise certain muscles
which have become atrophied by non-
use. and 20 on.
Some Of these occupation. have
no value whatever aside from a6ord-
Ing entertainment and diversion to
the patients. while others have a d.
rect curative value. In this sphere
IN particular the public imagination
has run riot; uniformed writers have
distributed transformation, ana vell-
meaning people have a confused ana
scrambled idea Of rushing to the hos
pitfalls and teaching the soldiers to
make beaded bags, do embroidery.
Weave baskets. rugs ana sdch other
activities. 49,
Many Of the men undoubtedly ID
make rugs and weave baskets and
the Ike. but 1t should be clearly nm
derstood that this Ii not educating.
them. They are given this work "a
do by the hospital authorities "a or
ILA. hNEH NHHIL