Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-12
FLORENCE WElLSMAN FULTON
On Oceupational Therapy


nCCUPATIONAL therapy. the now social
~ service growing out of the war. is be-
coming paying profession, with excellent
prospects, and it is proving boon in insti-
tutons where difficult conval lcscrnce or sub
normal mentality must be. included In the
problems Of doctor and nurse. This IL the
view Of Miss Florence Wellsman Fulton
formerly president of the Plastic Club, who
has developed first during the war and later
for civilian pursuits several successful
classes Of therapy aides. as she calls them'
"Occupatioual therapy." she said. had
its origin about 1TS0 with DR.. BENJAMIN
Rush. He was among the first In fhiIa
delpha to suggest that work of some k,nG
would he Of advantage for various classes OF
patients. This was started, of course IN
the insane asylums.
MANY doctors thought this really WASH
necessary. particularly the old pnakeT
physicians. Later on work was combined
with outdoor exercise, including walks
gardening and various outdoor games
Music was found to be usually very soothing
and helped insane cases particularly
"Dr Kirkbride. whose name still is asso'
ciatcd with the Pennsylvania Hospital for
the Insane, introduced many innovations OF
ihis kind about 1850 From that time on
necdlework and various crafts we're en-
ployed as aids to recovery or 10 keep pm
ticnts contented All work with sharp ~, IN
struments of course. was supervised. The
tradition of having much of the old house
hold craft done in these institutions con
tinues. When ] last visited the home for
feeble minded at Elwyn they were still
making their own mattresses.
Nurse Wrote Book
"Ten years ago Miss Susan Tracy, Of
Boston, a nurse, wrote book on Invalid
0ccunotions Out Of this book has grown
The present branch of the healing art, In
wartime, Of course, the need was made most
apparent. There were men with nothing to
took forward to. Time hung heavy on their
hands. They could not expect any one they
knew to visit them.
came from Boston, New York and Philadel-
phia to answer the call. Nearly all OF those
In the first two classes went overseas. The
courses lasted from six weeks to three
months.
women who were designers, artists, model
era were able to go back to their civilian
occupations, In which there had been little
work during the war. a few returned and
continued their work for the Ill and the
mentally deranged.
"Phiiadelpha's work in this direction is
one Of the few surviving examples OF war
work which has been continued and which
has progressed. When ! took charge Of It
II was because | happened to know a little
something about the crafts. When | was n
girl I was often Ill and tried always TO
Keen busy, for that kept my mind off myself
and kept me reasonably happy.
Later | had an operation performed
unon one ear. ! was inclined to be very
nervous Nfter it and irritable. ] took up
hookbinding IN Florence, which proved a de-
li9htful occupation. ! went to London and
continued IT, From these experiences |
knew the value of therapeutic occupations
occupations that would content the mind ana
assist the body to build back to normal, or
as nearly as possible normal.
with different types the kind OF work to
he done differs. We have found, for in
stance, that with Italians they are usually
very suspicious of any work except that with
which they have been familiar.
Lace. Making Pleases
"Where illness or nervousness or an alb
normal mental condition is to be met we
have found that lace making suits them
hest, because nearly everybody makes lace
IN Italy Work on looms, weaving girdles
scarfs. fabric for bags and that sort OF occu-
nation pIeases irritable and subnormal
Women, The movement of the shuttle Is
regular and soothing, They can watch their
work grow. From this they get both salts
faction and n curative effect.
$50 far 1t has been practicable to give
women who are interested In this type of
work seven months of work in the various
crafts and two months intensive training
Part of this time they spend living at the
Friends Asylum, so that they become accus-
toned TO institutional conditions. Really,