The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-08
NOT CENT SPENT FOR SHELL SHOCK
 VICTIMS, CLAIMED
Veterans Suffering From Men tai Disorders Committed to Institutions for Vicious
 Degenerates, Charged
By Associated Press

 Washington, January 7.--Not a cent or the money so far appropriated by Con- gress for the care of war veterans suf- fering from disability or wounds in- cured in service has been spent for hos pitals for the treatment of insane, the House committee was informed today by Dr. Thomas w. Salmon of New York, advisor on mental diseases to the Rocke- feller foundation. The statement was made at hearing on the Rogers bill to consolidate into one bureau the several government agencies dealing with relief for former service men.
 As a result of this failure to provide proper facilities, Dr. Salmon added, vet erans suffering from mental and nervous disorders are in many instances being committed by the government to institu- tions in which criminal insane, drug ad- diets ahd vicious degenerates are segre- gated.
 In addition to Dr. salmon those who urged passage of the bill included pr. H. A. Pattison of New York, supervisor of medical service of the National Tu- berculosis association; r. w. Galbraith, national commander of the American Legion. and several other officers or the latter organization.
 FRlGHTFUL PREDICAMENT Dr. rattison stressed the need for gov ernment hospitals for the treatment of veterans suffering from tuberculosis. while MT. Galbraith charged that decen- tralization of authority in dealing with disabled men had put many of them m a. "frightful predicament." Dr. Salmon. who was in charge of the treatment Of neuro-phschiatric cases in the American I expeditionary force, gave a graphic de- scription of the plight of men suffering l from shell shock and other mental and nervous troubles. One-third of the ex- i service men receiving treatment at gov ernment expense are neuro-phsychiatric he said, and six of each ten men so in- flicted are insane.
 l On declaring that the government was l obliged to send insane veterans to local asylums, almhouses and sanitariums op- erated for private gain, Dr. Salmon said ] Men so committed as rule are never 1 visited by federal officials to see whether l they are properly cared for or whether the institutions in which they are con fined are even fireproof or fit for human beings"
 He added that in some instances pro l prietors of private sanitariums were pocketing as profit as much as 60 cents on each dollar received for the care of ] the ex-soldiers.
 MUST BE PAUPERED | Dr. Salmon also charged that under the present method insane service men must | be adjudged insane paupers' in cour' l before they can be committed to state
 or county asylums.
 1 Many a mother has told me-, he said l that she would rather see her son un- der cross in France than to have hin 1 adjudged an insane. .pauper and committed 1 to a. state institution." As a result lof this sentiment, he added, somt linen are lurking at home, afraid tr
 come forward getting worse afl the time"
 Dr. Salmon added that this "unseer army would not come forward until the government provides suitable institutions for their care He estimated that 50 pei
 cent of the men suffering from nervous
 and mental applications, with proper l treatment, could be returned to society I either well or socially recovered
 Discussing the tuberculosis situation Dr. Pattison denied what he said was
 a common theory-that many service mer are tubercular as a result of havinf l been gassed in France. Gas has little tt do with bringing on tuberculosis he de clared.
 The main cause of an increase of tuber culosis among war veterans. Dr. Patti son. described as due to epidemics sucf as influenza and measles. which were prevalent in many camps during the war and also to the intensive physical train ing to which men were subjected upon en tering the service.