The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-08
FINDS INSANE
.YANKS|CNORED.
Rockefeller Medical Expert, at
Hearing, Charges Country Has
Forsaken Mentally III. =,

Not cent OF the money 30 Tar
appropriated by Congress for the
care Of war veterans suffering from
disability or wounds incurred in serv-
ice has been spent for hospitals for
the treatment Of insane. the House
Commerce Committee was informed
yesterday by DR.. Thomas w. Sal
mon. of New York. adviser on mental
diseases to the Rockefeller Fovnda-
ton.
U<FAIR TO SOLDIERS
The statement WAS made at
bearing on the Rogers bill to con-
solidats into one bureau the sew
oial Government agencies dealing
with relief for former service men.
As o result of this failure TO pro-
vide proper facilities. u: Salmon
added, veterans suffering from men
tai and Nervous disorders arc in
many instances being committed by
the Government TO Institutions in
which criminal insane. drug addicts
and vicious degenerates are segre-
gated.
In addition to DR.. Salmon, those
who urged passage OF the bill In
cluded DR.. II. A. Pattison, OF New
York. supervisor OF medical service
OF the National Tuberculosis Assoc
citation: T.. w. Galbraith, national
commander OF the American Legion.
and several other officers of the
latter organization.
TUBERCULOSIS VICTIMS.
Or. Pattison stressed the need for
Government hospitals for the treat
ment Of veterans suffering from
tuberculosis, while Mr.. GalbrAith
charged that decentralization OF au-
thority in dealing with disabled
men had put many Of them in .
"frightfui' predicament.
DR.. Salmon. who was in charge OF
the treatment of neuro-psychiatrto
cases in the American Expeditionary
Force. gave graphic description
of the plight Of men suffering from
shell shock and other mental and
nervous troubles. One-third OF tho
former service men. receiving treat
r2ent at Government expense are
neuro-psychiatric, he said. and sfH
of each ten men afflicted are in
sane.
Declaring that the Government
was obliged to send insane veterans
to local asylums. almshouses. and
sanatariums operated for private
gain. DR.. Salmon said:
MEN UTTERLY FORsAKEN.
Men so committed as a rule arc
never visited by Federal officials
to see whether they are properly
cared for or whether the institu-
tions in which they are confined are
even fireproof or fit for human be-
irgs. He added that in some In
stances proprietors of private san
atoriums were pocketing as profit
az much as so cents on each dollar
received for the care OF former
soldiers.
DR.. Salmon also charged that, un-
der the present method, insane serr-
ice men must be adjudGed insane
paupers" in court before they can
be committed to State or county
asyiums.
MANY a mother has told me-" he
said, that she would rather see her
son under cross IN France than to
have him adjudged an insane paur"r
and committed to State institution.
80 PER CENT CURABLE.
Dr. salmon estimated that 80 pc"
cent of the men suffering from ner'-
Gus and mental Affections, with
proper treatment, could be returned
to society either we'll or socially re-
covered.
Discussing tho tuberculosis situa-
. ~, 7.
was common theory that many
sery,cc men arc tubercular as result
OF having been gassed in France. Gas
! has little TO do with bringing on tu-
tcrculosis. he declared.
The main causes of an increase or
! tuberculosis among war veterans l'r.
pattis,n described as due TO epidcm-
ico such as influenza and ms aSlcs.
which We're prevalent in many camps
during the war. end also TO the nten-
s,iyc physical training 20 which men
were subjected upon entering the
service.
The United safes is doing more
alons the line OF vocational rchaol1-
tation Of fornIc" service men than any
other country in the world. the SEN
ate Educational Committee said IN
report yesterday accompanying a Dill
u.Lich ,,ould extend training benefits
10 Americans who served in the allied
armies and ais, to widows and chill