The New York herald., 1921-01-08
INSANE PAUPERS'
SOLDIERS STATUS
Not a Cent of Appropriated
Funds Used for Building
Of Hospitals.

WASHINGTON. Jan. Mot cent of
money so far appropriated by Congress
for the care of war veterans suffering
from disability or wounds incurred in
service has been spent for hospitals for
the treatment OF insane. the House
Commerce Committee was informed to-
day by DR.. Thomas w. Salmon of New
York, advisor 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 former service men.
As result of this failure to provide
proper facilities, DR.. Salmon added, vet
Grams suffering from mental and nervous
disorders are In many instances being
committed by the Government to insti-
tutiors in which criminal insane. drug
addicts and vicious degenerates are seq
regated
In addition to DR.. Salmon, those who
urged passage of the bill included Dr.
II. A. Pattison of New York. supervisor
OF medical service of the National Tu-
berculosis Association; +. w. Galbraith
national commander of the American
Legion and several other officers of the
latter organization.
Need Tuberculosis Hospitals.
DR.. Pattison stressed the need for
Government hospitals for the treatment
of veterans suffering from tuberculosis,
while Mr.. Galbraith charged that decen-
nf IN, Inc if1,
disabled men had put many Of them In
r.ghtful" predicament
Dr. Salmon, who was In charge )f the
treatment of neuropsychiatric cases In
the American Expeditionary Forces,
grave a graphic description of the plight
OF men suffering from shell shock md
other mental and nervous troubles.
One third of the ex-service men re-
ceiving treatment at Government ex-
pense are neuropsychiatric. he said. and
six of each ten men so affected are in
sane.
Declaring that the Government was
obliged to send insane veterans to local
asylums. almshouses and sanitariums
operated for private gain. DR.. Saimcn
said:
Men so committed as a rule are never
visited by Federal officials to see
whether they are properly cared for
or whether Institutions in which they
are confined are even fireproof or fit
for human beings"
He added that in some instances pro-
prietors OF private sanitariums were
pocketing as profit as much as go cents
on each dollar received for the care OF
ex-service men.
Soldiers "Insane Paupers."
Or. Salmon also charged that under
the present method insane service men
must be adjudged "insane paupers" in
court before they can be committed to
State or county asylums.
Many a mother has told me-" he
sald, that she would rather see her
son under cross In France than to
have him adjudged an insane paupor
and committed to a State institution"
As a result of this sentiment, he added
some men are lurking at home, afraid
to come forward. getting worse all the
time"
DR.. Salmon added that his unseen
army would not come forward until
the Government provides suitable in
stitutions for their care. He estimated
that 20 per cent. OF the men suffering
from nervous and mental afflictions.
with proper treatment, could be re"
turned 10 society.
Discussing the tuberculosis situation,
Dr. Pattison denied what he said was
n common theory-that many service
men are tubercular as result OF hav.
ing been gassed In France. Gas has
little to do with bringing on tubercu-
losis. he declared.
The main causes of an increase of
tuberculosis among war veterans. DR..
Pattison described as due to epidemics
such as Influenza and measles. which
were prevalent In many camps during
the war and also to the intensive phys
ical trimming to which men were sub
jected upon entering the service.