The sun., 1919-09-23

has been the endedUor to deal toith
MANNED and blinded soldiers so us to
ut them to reenter civil Hfe IN such q
tDdy as to be not only most helpful to
the community but as little hksome as
possible to Themselves. As Canada hds
been consptcuo,Sly SUCCESSFUL along
these lines the Cdnudtdn Section Of THE
SUN has invtted the minister IN special
charge Of that york to glue some do-
count OF the methods adopted IN the Do
ntiHion. Beloto totlI be found the closing
portion Of the paper cowrteousIy sent to
THE SUN:
ny Sir JAMES A. LOUGHEED.
Minister Department Of Soldiers Civil
Reesta bHshment, Ottatoa, Canada.
written especially for tho Caradidn
Section Of THE SUM-
SECOND ARTICLE.
The medical services of the depart
ment do not end with merely medical
and surgical treatment and the provid-
ing of artificial limbs and appliances.
but an outside nursing service has been
established for the purpose OF following
up such cases as have been discharged
from the hospitals with a view to see
Ing to 1t that home treatment. which has
been prescribed, is being properly car
ried out and that the conditions under
which the patients are living are con-
ducive to their permanent cure.
The most serious of all the problems
presented is that concerning the disabled
man. The physically fit are capable Of
taking care of themselves and must face
the future on their own merits, but the
man who has been wounded and MANNED
Is handicapped. Many of these have be-
40 lien al thof
tc resume former occupations. To only
provide these men with an allowance by
way of pension would afford solution,
but such a method would have two bad
features. First, the individual would
become mere dependent; second, the
country would be deprived of the SER
vices OF a productive worker, and both
conditions would result in lowering the
social standard and causing an economic
loss
These men are paid PENSIONS II is
true; but the purpose Is, in measure.
to Offset the physical handicap and to
amplify such amount as may be earned
so that a comfortable competence will
be secured. It was felt that these men
must be taught that only in rare cases
does a man become so helpless that he
is unable to perform any work. Thus
the plan of industrial retraining was
formulated, and men were advised as
to newt occupations that could be fol-
lowed by them, having due regard to
their mental and physical capabilities
and the degree of disability sustained in
| each individual case.
No Standard for Procedure.
ton. There was no previous experience
vvh m In a. CT
| applicable to the peculiar needs of Ca
| nadians. But Canada is essentially the
| land of the pioneer. Her citizen soldiers
| had learned quickly to master and OPP
| crate the strange and dreadful weapons
OF modern war. To apply the same In
| telligence and energy to reconstruction
and development In peace, therefore,
should not present any greater difficult
| ties.
With this spirit the new organization
| became permeated and the vocational
branch is now dealing successfully with
the unusual condition.
AS already explained while the for
| mer members of the forces are in insti-
tutions under direction of the depart
/ ment, ward occupations are provided for
those who. on account of their injuries,
are confined to their beds or to the hos
/ pital wards They are taught handi-
| craft work of various kinds. This work
is not meant to train the man for earn
ing a livelihood. but is encouraged
rather because II diverts his mind from
his disability and gives him light exer-
! else In this way II assists wonderfully
in the soldiers recovery.
| Then follows occupational therapy
conducted in the hospitals. This is in
| tended mainly to help in the cure of the
| patient, but II often serves as the
groundwork for a course In Industrial
retaining. BY now the patient may be
| in condition to resume his former occu-
| patton or TO take up some new calling
| for which he Is fitted. II so injured as
result Of war service that he cannot
follow his previous occupation or trade
| the vocational branch of the department
will train him in a new occupation. For
this purpose vocational schools have
been established throughout the coun'
| try and full advantage has been taken
of existing technical schools and the
applied science departments of the vari'
| GUS Canadian universities.
Some Trained I'm Shops.
| Moreover with a view to training men
directly in the industries they intend to
follow, arrangements have been made
with many Industrial organizations
! throughout Canaua, more imam l,VUO OF
which cooperate with the department In
offering practical instruction under this
form of apprenticeship. A great ad-
vantage OF this method is that 1t in
variably secures immediate employment;
for the man at the expiration OF his
Institutional period, for by that time
he has learned the peculiar methods OF
the shop and has become more useful
to that plant because OF the training
he received there.
The period OF instruction averages six
months, and this can be Increased In
special cases. This may be though,
too brief, but 1t must be remembered
that the man brings an adult mind t.
his new work and receives the benefit
OF an intensified course OF instruction
while the ordinary apprentice of mino,
age spends a long period in gathering
his knowledge. frequently in a hap
hazard manner.
| The diversified character of the train
ing offered will DO realized when II is
stated that instruction is being Offered
In moro than 400 trades and callings.
By means of a follow up system, Il
has been ascertained that 95 per cent
| OF those who have been granted indus
trial retaining courses by the vocational
branch have been successful, and have
become self-supporting in q new trade
or occupation.