Arizona republican., 1921-01-08
Dr.T. Salmon Tells Committee Nation Should Provide For Insane War Veterans
Republican A. p. Leased WIreI


 WASHINGTON, Jan. Mot a cent of the money so far appropriated by congress for the care of war veterans suffering from disability or wounds in- cured in service has been spent for hospitals for the treatment of insane, the house commerce committee was in formed today by pr. Thomas W. Sal mon of New York, adviser on mental diseases to the Rockefeller Foundation. The statement was made at hearing on the Rogers bill to consolidate into one bureau the several government agencies dealing with relief for for mer service men.
 As result of this failure to provide proper facilities, Dr. Salmon added. veterans suffering from mental and nervous disorders are in many in- stances being committed by the gov ernment to institutions in which crirn- nal insane. drug addicts and vicious degenerates are segregated.
 In addition to Dr. Salmon, those who urged passage of the bill included Dr. H. A. Pattison of New York. super visor of medical service of the Ma tional Tuberculosis association; F. W. Galbraith, national commander of the American legion. and several other of ficers of the latter organization. MT. Pattison stressed the need for govern ment hospitals for the treatment of veterans suffering from tuberculosis, while Mr. Galbraith suggested the de- standardization of authority in dealing with disabled men had put many of them in a "frightfur' predicament 1 pr. salmon. who was in charge of the treatment of neuro- -psychiatric cases in the American expeditionary l force, gave a graphic description oi the plight of men suffering from shell shock and other mental and nervous l troubles. One-third of the ex- x-service men receiving treatment at govern ment expense, are neuro -psychtatriC he said, and six of each ten men so in flicted are insane.
 Insane Patients Neglected In declaring that the government was obliged to send insane veterans tS local asylums, aims houses and sani. tariums operated for private gain. pr salmon said:
 @Men so committed as a rule ar, never visited by federal officials t see whether they are properly careC lfor or whether the institutions in whicl
 they are confined are even fireproof
 or fit for human beings" He adde'
 that in some instances proprietors o
 private sanitariums were pocketing a
 profit as much as 50 cents on eacl dollar received for the care of ex
 soldiers.
 Adiudged '1nsane Paupers"
 Dr. Salmon also charged that unde
 the present method insane service me-
 must be adjudged insane paupers'' il I&ourt before they can be committed t
 state or county asylums.
 Many a mother has told me-" h
 said that she would rather see he
 son under a cross in France than t
 have him adjudged an insane paupel
 and cdkhmitted to a state institution.
 As a result of this sentiment, he added
 some men are lurking at home. afrai . to come forward, getting worse all tn
 time"
 T pr. Salmon added that this "unsee f army would not come forward unt 3 the government provides suitable in s stitutions for their care. He estimate f that 50 per cent of the men sufferin i from nervous and mental affliction a with proper treatment could be re d turned to society either well or SC = cially recovered"
 = Fixes TubeRcuIar Causes l Discussing the tuberculosis situation
 Dr. Pattison denied what he said wa e a common theory that man = service men are tubercular as a resu y of having been passed in France. Ga # has little to do with bringing on tt e berculosis, he declared.
 e The main causes Of an increase = tuberculosis among war veterans. l. Pattison declared due to an epidem e such as influenza, and measles. whlt e were prevalent in many camps durlr e the war and also to the intensive phy ;e lical training to which men were sul 10 jected upon entering the service.