The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-02-14
MEDICS PUZZLED
BY DOCTOR VAN
His Cure of Shell Shock Cases In
France Astonishes
Physicians.
never STUDIED MEDICINE
Sergeant AccomplIshes Wonderful Re
suits in Treatment Of Patients Sui.
ferino From Nervous Affilc-
tions-Says He 10 Not
Hypnotist-

tions-Says He 10 Not
Hypnotist
Paris.-"Doctor" Van isn't docto
really-that is, he has never been In
side medical school. He is not com
missioned officer, either. Two day
after war was declared In America h
enlisted In one of the cities of the mid
die West and came over as q private
He is sergeant now. His experiences
driving an ambulance first, and after
that in the front line and then in vari
GUS camps In France until he was sent
to base hospital as a patient-would
fill several diaries, If he keeps such
] things, which I doubt.
But there are q great many men in
that base hospital who owe their re-
turning health to him after they had
been in bed for weeks, and even
months. Now, although they admit
| that he Is well again, they will not let
| him go from the hospital, because a
transfer is a long and tedious busi-
ness to bring about, and they need him
there to help out with the patients.
He was out Of bed only day or SO
himself when he came across two boys
In one of the wards who had been in
the hospital since April They had been
shell shocked, and in all those months,
from April to September, they had
grown scarcely any better.
Asks Leave to Try.
Captain" Sergeant Van said one
morning to the doctor in charge of the
ward, do you mind If I see what
can do for those men there? I think
/ may be able to help them out bit If
you don't mind"
The captain looked at him interest
eddy. If it had been any other man the
captain would have been Indifferent,
perhaps. But Sergeant Van has a way
with him.
"Oh, 60 ahead, van," the captain
agreed. do anything you blame
please"
Next morning on his rounds the cap
tain stopped beside the bed of the first
Of the two men who had been shell
shocked.
FLOWS it coming this morning,
DOys?" he asked.
"F-f-flne, SIR" was the answer, a lit
lie unsteadily given, perhaps, but the
captain did not notice that. He sat
Town on the bed and looked at the boy
n amazement. Those were the first
words he had spoken aloud since the
lay he came to the hospital, uncon-
ciOus, five months before.
At that moment Sergeant Van hove
nto sight from the diet kitchen. He
ad plate of milk toast-a plate the
oy in bed followed with an Interested
axe.
beg pardon, sir" Sergeant Van
aid, saluting, "but must ask you to
AIT until my patient has had his
reakfast before you talk with him."
The astonished captain allowed him.
iii to be waved from the bed to the
earest chair and watched In amaze
ent the boy devour the toast. His
ands shook so from shell shock that
could scarcely manage it, but he
as propped up and fed himself, with
cry appearance Of keen interest In
food. The day before the boy had
It been able to swallow anything but
luid food. and he couldn't have held
e spoon.
The captain beckoned Sergeant Van
the end Of the ward.
did you do that?" he demanded.
Yes, SIR" admitted Sergeant Van.
How in blue blazes''-began the
,tain and paused for lack Of words.
TIL show you II you like, SIR"
I would like" ordered the captain.
AstonIshes the Doctors.
% Van showed him, though the doc
couldn't quite make It out at that
what Van did. He stroked their
DIS a little and massaged their
bats bit, and all the time he
ed to them in the quietest voice in
world. Ten minutes after he be-
the boys were asleep. naturally,
tout tremor in the bodies that
been nerve-wracked for weeks.
doctor looked at Sergeant Van
lessly and left shaking his head.
NO weeks later Sergeant Van held
inic before major general of the
ical corps and several majors and
more captains and lieutenants-
men of reputation in America as
ors. Two Of his subjects were the
over whom he worked that first
ming. They came into the clinic.
Keyed and straight and rudGy az
etes from the field.
ley passed tests that the doctors
int pass themselves.
nee then the shell shock cases have
In Vans hands. The doctors
Q their heads and wonder.
the camp and the hospital they
him the "hypnotist."
isn't that hypnotized them at
he will tell you. II just tell them
they are bigger than their nerves,
that they can control them IL they
? want to. And l show them how.
believe 1t because I tell them It
and then, you see, they are WELL"
the doctors continue to wonder
ny that Van has discovered the
really successful treatment for