The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-07-23

were about seventy of these. Such pa
tents are provided with everything
the market affords, and they can or
der anything they wish. There are
two dietitians constantly in. attend
ance to provide food for them. There
are also four ward surgeons to attend
to them; in fact, nothing is overlooked
that could add to their comfort.
In the officers infirmary ward ;.bout
thirty officers who are gravely i'll are
quartered, most of whom are bed cases.
Contrary to what one would naturally
expect, these men, seriously Ill, joke
with each other all day long.
A most remarkable fact is the spirit
of cheerfulness that pervades the hos
pital, especially in the wards men.
toned
How Officers Pass the Time.
Some Of these officers are incased in
plaster casts on account of spinal trou-
BILE. All are engaged in something to
help pass the time they make baskets,
knit scarves, paint pictures, carve
wood or make dolls.
The cheerfulness of one officer.
man of Irish birth, was noticeable. He
was near death for many months, but
he never gave up hope, although he
would become delirious every night.
Finally, he took turn for the better,
and now he is up and out of bed and
has gained In weight from 90 pounds
to 121 pounds. He is so Overjoyed at
coming back" that he keeps the whole
ward in an uproar of mirth by his wit
ty sallies. Many others have regained
their health or are on the road tc it.
Another factor that has much to do
with keeping up the spirits and high
morale Of the patients Is the genuine
interest in them manifested by the
nurses. They never grumble, are al
ways at the call of the patients, and
always appear to be happy. The spirit
Of good cheer manifested by Miss
Sheehan, the chief nurse, seems to be
contagious and to have imbued itself
into those who work under her. Miss
Sheehan had the same reputation of
being able to get work done cheerfully
in the largest base center at Vichy,
France.
Again, many pleasant ways of keep
ing occupied are provided by the gov
eminent. About one hundred recon-
struction aids help the soldiers in all
kinds Of instruction, such as basket
weaving, language, typesetting, print
ing, chemistry, etc.
The Red Cross has a large building
where moving pictures are given Caily,
and where a social meeting place Is
provided for those on the road to re-
covery.
The hostess house, run by the gov
eminent, provides rooms at nominal
cost for the women relatives of the
patients, and Furthermore is active In
a social way.
Then the residents of Asheville have
been enthusiastically hospitable, con-
stantly entertaining the patients who
are able to be about and carrying can.
dy and all sorts of good things to the
hospital every day.
Such is the manner of life at gen
eral hospital 10.
Now that the war risk insurance
bureau and the public health service
are gradually taking over the patients
needing further treatment, ample pro
vision is made for their care. Those
requiring such treatment will receive
$50 a month instead of $50.
Some hardship is caused In the case
Of reserve or temporary officers reduir-
ing further treatment They are
obliged to submit to a curtailment in
pay, while the regular army officer is
either kept on in the hospital or re-
tired on three-quarters pay.
The enlisted man, however, Is great
ly benefited by the provisions Of the
war risk bureau. Those totally and
permanently disabled receive S157.5O o
month.
AS an instance of the real results
obtained at Oteen 1t may be said that
5000 soldiers have been admitted to
the hospital. All Of these did not have
tuberculosis and a few were trans
ferred to other hospitals. Yet during
the year and ten months of its useful
ness more than 5000 cases of tubercu-
losis have been treated and nearly g
900 have been returned to gainful oc-
equations. In about 1000 cases the
disease has been arrested; in 1000 1t
is quiescent; about 300 have died and
600 are still undergoing treatment