The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-17
WAR RISK INSURANCE.

the bureau of war risk insurance and
some eco more to the various hospitals
and offices in the field II has expand
ed it's hospital bed capacity from less
than l.@0o TO more than 5000. and IN
a communication recently transmitted
20 congress by the secretary of the
treasury il IL estimated that at last
s 600 beds will he constantly ueceS-
sary to care for the men and women
wsa have acquired an tiiHess ar re
&C we'd an injury IN the great war
large proportion of the war risk pa
tents can he returned to health and
use fulpess. A. certain number Will re-
ouire prolonged disqualification in order
that cure may he effected; certain
ruyab Der may he brought 10 such con-
ditfon of mental and bodily health that
after training by the federal hoard for
vocational education. they Will hs ablH
to- pursue "A substantially gainfui vo-
cation Some, unfortunately. will be
doomed to life OF chroic invaltdism,
while in a certain proportion of the
cases neither recovery nor improve
u9cnt may be hoped for and they VIII
be translated into the peace of the
great beyond.
The spirit of broad minded, kindly
humanity parvades the conduct of the
gigantic medical operations described
above. The United States is divided
into fourteen districts, each with n
medical officer OF the United states
rHhic health service in charge, he hav-
ing as assistants a corps of expert
specialists consrltants. There are
neure- nsychiotristS 10 care for those
suffering from nervous and mental dis
eases There are general surgeons, oro-
facial surgeons. Neuro-surgeors and
ovt hopodists. There are highly special
ized etinictans 10 make the physical ex-
arlinatiens. as an aid TO which the SER
vice Of XRay experts. baeteriologists
and other laboratory specialists are
employed. There are special sanatoria
for the tuherculous, separate colony
for the epileptics, hospitals for the
Insane and special psychopathic tnstt-
tutions for the reception OF the suffer-
erg from Lesser mental ailments, The
bureau of war risk insurance main
tains a corps of designated examiners
Of more than ! oHa ex-medcai officers
of the army and navy operating on a
fee basis and SO nlaeed geographically
that the claimant will be obliged to
travel the minimum distance from his
home in order TO receive medical ex-
/ animation or treatment
An intimate liaison In maintained
with the surgeons general of the army
and navv so that upon the discharge
IF a soldier sailor or marine requir-
ing further treatment, he may be i'm
nj diately transferred to ar institu-
tion for the treatment of war risk In
surance patients The various mill
tary and naval hospitals throughout
tn. United States are visited from time
t. time by special boards OF medical
officers from the bureau of war risk
Insurance to examine men who hold
war risk insurance policies and who
are believed to have become perna =
nentiv ana totally disabled. II may be
explained in passing that in such cases
tire Insurance policy issued by the bu-
reau Of war risk insurance natures
from the date of the total and perma-
Enent disability. and frequently this
means that such persons receive imme-
diately a net inconsideraels sum OF
money from the bureau of war risk in
! surance at the rate of 1915 per sl,oec
of insurance held. This action ia taken
irrespective OF the insured's continu-
anee in or discharge from the military
. service.