Evening star., 1919-04-10
MORE THAN 1900
LOST LIMBS IN WAR
125 Totally Blind, Bureau of
War Risk Insurance
Reports.

Between $500 ana 4,Veo OIHCeTS anu
enlisted men in the military service
have lost arms or legs in the war
with Germany, according to state
ment issued today by the bureau of
war risk insurance. The total num-
Der of amputations is given as less
than 1000" according to statistics
furnished the bureau. There were
125 cases Of total blindness as the re-
suit of the war. and not all of these
have been declared permanent BY the
medical ohicers in charge.
Provisions Under Act.
Under the war risk insurance act,
men who have lost both eyes; both
legs, both arms or are bed-ridden are
permanently disabled and
receive S10o a month compensation.
But men who have lost an arm. or q
leg or have been otherwise maimed
receive compensation based on $50
a month. the percentage of the dis
a abiIity being taken into consideration
and the sum paid being on the basis
of $40 for 100 per cent of disability
in the case of an unmarried man.
1t is this last feature of the law,
fixing $50 as the basis upon which
compensation shall be paid .,.9 1or aisa. "a,
members of Congress. government
officials and men in the Army them
selves They contend that the basis
of compensation is entirely too small.
and an effort will be made to amend
the war risk insurance act so as to
provide more adequate compensation
when Congress meets.
Regulars" Fare Best.
The officers of the Regular Army
who have had arms or legs amputated
will fare far better than those OF the
National Army They may be retired
on three-quarters pay and also be
entitled to receive compensation un-
der the war risk insurance act. The
officers of the National Army, how :
ever, will receive only the compensa- :
ton on the basis Of $50 month as
maximum. This discrepancy Congress
will be asked to obliterate.
Senator Chamberlain, chairman OF
the military affairs committee OF the
senate, expressed an interest in tine
matter today, and said that he had
no doubt but that Congress would
take up the question of providins
adequate compensation for the men
who have lost arms and legs and
otherwise been disabled. and also
would eQualiZe the treatment or the
National Army officers and those who
had suffered in similar way in the
Regular Army.
In the statement given out today by
the war risk insurance bureau relative
to amputations. denial is made. on the
authority of Surgeon General Ire.
land and Col. Charles E. Banks. chiet
medical officer of the war risk in
surance, that there were any cases
in which men lost both arms and
both legs.
500 Limbs Provided.
There have been more than SOC
artificial limbs furnished to .lisabled
men to date by the bureau under the
provisions of the act Of Congress-:
Upon being discharged from Wal
Department hosp ,ais As UNIT for fur
ther service, all men disabled as re-
suit OF injur- or disease suffered in
line of dutv are entitled to the bene-
Ats Of the war risk insurance act.
the statement SAYS. IF their condi-
ton demands further treatment, they
are entitled to medical attention in
( ore of a large number of hospitals row
being established throughout the
country, to be operated by the public
health service. If man is disabled
hut his condition reeds no further
4
| the bureau of war risk insurance 6
monthly compensation.
Experts Examine.
| Medical experts of the bureau make
denominations Of all who apply fol
compen sation and rate their physica
lcondition present and potential ant
determine the percentage OF handicaI
(which each suffers as q wage earnel
as q result of his disability. The rat
ling given is carefully considered il
linking the compensation which will
be paid monthly to the man and hi
dependents.
| Compensation may be fixed perma
lnently in tho case Of men who hav,
Host members In cases of organic O.
nervous disorders the compensation il
fixed only for the duration of the dis
ability. The bureau Of war risk IN
surance may make periodical exami
nations and determine the fitness o
each man and readjust his compen
sation accordingly. 1t is the aim o
the law to provide medical treatmen
which will diminish or wipe out al
disability. and this medical treatmen n
lis now being provided a large mum
ber Of disabled men by the bureau o
war risk insurance.