Evening star., 1922-07-09

T has been said that one Of the
principal organs of that gigantic
institution k nown as the Z. 8.
Veterans Bureau. formerly the bu-
| reau of war risk insurance. is the medi-
cal division. AS a matter of fact, it
might also be said that this division
| is one of the main veins of the system.
When a disabled veteran Of the world
| war files a claim with the government
his fate. to a certain extent, is in the
hands of the medical section Of the
bureau, for it is this division that passes
| on the claimants disability and de-
cides whether or not the disability is
due to his world war service.
In order that the veterans MAY be
given the best of care and attention
expert physicians and specialists have
| been brought to the bureau. These
medical ''sharks'' furnish expert aid to
Col Robert u Patterson. medical de-
partment Of the Regular Army. who
has been detailed to the bureau and
placed in charge of this division.
There is no doubt that this division.
! numerically relatively small group,
performs conscientiously and with un-
| assuming faithfulness a task gigantic
in its proportions and perplexing in its
aspects, yet of outstanding and para
mount importance both to the tax
payers of this great nation and to the
disabled world war veteran in whose
interest this great work is being done.
X \
WHILE every one knows of the Vet
erans' Bureau. very few know the
early history of the bureau and espe-
cially of this great division. Shortly
after the declaration Of war with Ger
many, Congress by enactment Of legis-
lation established the bureau Of war
risk insurance to provide for the dis
bursement Of certain benefits Of COM
pensation-insurance and treatment for
the boys in service who became dis
abled as a result of their military or
naval service. The establishment of
this institution was the acknowledge
ment of obligation to the men who suf-
fered while serving. typical Of the char
acter of the American people, who have
lost the power of providing for them
selves. either through glorious accidents
of battle or the less spectacular and
camp life during periods Of emergency.
This law provided that under certain
circumstances an ex-service man would
be entitled to financial succor and medi-
cal treatment. The establishment of
a bureau carrying out these provisions.
particularly at time when there was
a dearth Of skilled and unskilled cleri-
cal, technical and professional workers.
was a tremendous problem which was
solved only with great difficulty.
THE early days of the bureau found
L a small group tucked away in a
corner of the main Treasury building
here in Washington. which was subse-
ouently Transferred to the National Mu-
scum building, rapidly increasing in
size, with two physicians the sole medi-
cal representatives of the bureau. After
several months two additional physi-
clans were added to the personnel.
The first half of the year 1919 saw
further increases of ten or twelve
medical officers scattered about in spare
corners of the Arlington building. to
which the entire bureau later moved.
poring over medical directories to dis
cover the names and addresses Of spe-
cialists in various parts Of the coun-
try, to perform professional services In
treating the bureau beneficiaries. Hav-
ing found the name Of physician whose
qualifications appeared to be satisfac-
tory, the medical officers In the bureau
were then compelled to attempt to In
terpret the intricacies and mysteries OF
railroad guides to determine the proper
routing Of claimants to be examined and
treated, and to issue transportation,