Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-05-16

" UPWARDS of a million American in
dustrial workers annually suffer in
= juries of sufficient gravity to cause
% loss of time. Employers, progressing with
- the times, have taken more and more In
naterest in safeguarding their workers; they
I maintain frst-aid stations; they install safe
ty devices; they finance safety first cam
3 paigns.
pr And still the annual toll of disability con-
en'tinues, for the cleverest Of employers has
= not yet devised plan to eliminate that one
!, supremely uncertain factor-the human
regulation.
sc So it is largely to remedial measures they
are turning, and now we have the Recon
Vi struction Hospital of New York-the first
hospital to be dedicated to the care, or after
~ care, of industrially disabled or diseased
Ii5workers from any community.
From any community means just that.
s.TA At the conclusion Of its first year it was
~ found that patients had been sent to the hos
pital from thirty-three states; and work was
started on a new eleven-story building, as it
was perfectly evident that the institution
was destined to grow immensely beyond the
vision of its original designer.
E See what problems await the solution Of
!, fered by this movement.
!. The best available reports Of state COM
{ pensation commissions estimate at one mill
in industry or suffering Industrial disease.
-" In New York state alone there are $780,
!, 900 cases annually Of Industrial disability
and diseases. That is more than all the
American soldiers disabled in the late war.
An appalling proportion Of these cases
have to be discharged from general hospitals
annually, to make way for other cases, be-
fore being properly refitted for work. They
i are well enough to leave the hospital-yes.
+ But not well enough for work.
:" This constitutes Dublic problem: less.
+, The primary object of the Reconstruction
Hospital is to put the injured or ailing in
dustral worker back on his old job in the
shortest time possible to prevent the severe
ly injured man from gradually collapsing
into the attitude Of the hopeless cripple.
To this end, the injured man, according
to the extent and nature of his injury may
. receive treatment Immediately after injury;
subsequent Restorative operation, II nee
essary; and continued after-treatment.
While yet in bed he may begin occupational
therapy-a special course of treatment de-
signed to fit his remaining powers to work
that he may accomplish This provides both
I positive aid and incentive to recovery and
source of income at time when he needs
! it most.
On discharge, he may be referred to the
Institute for Crippled and Disabled Men, af-
filiated with the Reconstruction Hospital,
and there learn a new trade If he cannot re-
sumo his original occupation.
Here seems to be a reasonable solution of
a problem that is at once humanitarian and
economic. The expansion of the Reconstruc-
ton Hospitals capacity and scope, and the
founding of similar hospitals in the indus
trial centers, will mean the relief to en-
ployers Of many compensation cases other
wise indefinitely continued, and at the same
time restore to them workers experienced
and capable of production.
And finest of ALL Of course, is the reclama-
ton Of man-power for the injured i'll
man himself. That is fine stride in civili-
Zation.