Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-08-13
, uals and encourage them to enter
productive fields again"
Nature of Disability

productive fields again."
Nature Of Disability
Reporting on the nature of the dis
ability in 60 cases during the past
year, Mr.. Koonz points out that in
jury or disease affecting the leg was
the most common affection, this be-
ing noted in the cases of four fe-
males and % males, or Al per cent.
of the total. The origin of disability
in these 60 cases is shown as follows:
Employment, one female and Is
males, or 81 per cent; public acct
dent, 13 males. or % per cent; dis
ease, six females and 20 males, or 43
per cent: congenital, two females
and three males, or eight per cent.
Forty per cent. of the individuals
had attended school up to the
the seventh, eighth or ninth grade.
Four males, or seven per cent of the
total cases. had received no school
ing, while three females and IL males
(25 per cent? had completed work in
10 to II grades. Eight females and
81 males CAS- per cent? were under
81 years of age; "a per cent be-
tween 81 and 80 years; IL per cent
between 81 and 40 years; eight per
cent between Al and so years; and
eight per cent over 80 years of age.
Infantile paralysis and tuberculo-
sis of the bone are the two most
common diseases in the cases under
supervision, but the report shows a
few cases of curvature of the spine.
Selection of Vocation Asg..S'
or the greatest Importance Is the
task Of finding the vocation for which
the crippled individual is best suited
and in which he may be trained to
best advantage. The vocations for
which the individuals are receiving
training include agricultural pursuits.
poultry farming. and the raising of
small fruits. Some have been in
structed and have become proficient
in shoe repairing and watch repair
Ing, one has taken up biography, and
four young men and women were
sent to business college to fit them
for office work.
Some Of the Gases
Getting away from figures and
| coming down to cases, Mr.. Koonz re-
lates many interesting instances
where individuals crippled by acct
dent or disease are making good" in
, their vocations.
A Brldgton man who deals in tea.
coffee, spices and fiavoring extracts
and delivers from house to house by
auto truck, holds the record for the
largest compensation in the rehabili-
tated cases, his average earnings be-
| ing $3.50 per month.
Another interesting case Is that of
a French boy in Westbrook suffering
from fnfantile paralysis. He was
trained in watch. repairing, and with
loan of $1,000 he opened a jewelry
store and watch repairing shop. AL
| though he has just started In bust
ness. his earnings average from $50
to $40 per week.
Bangor was stricken with PARALYSIS
! four years ago and can move about
only pY means of a wheel chair or
| by crawling on his hands and knees.
with one-haf an acre Of land in the
suburbs and loan of $500 he en-
tered the poultry business. He spent
the money he borrowed in the build
| ing of a chicken house and started
| In with 800 chicks. This will give
him about 125 fine Rhode Island pull
| lets which will start laying eggs
about October LIST. The mans sue
cess IN this enterprise seems assured.
He Is "a years Of age and has a wife
and two children. The Bangor We'll
rare Association has cooperated in
| rendering assistance in this case.
| Ihese are only a few examples of
what has been ACCOMPLISHED through
the industrial rehabilitation project.
but as outstanding cases thew are
| effective in showing the value and
Importance of the endeavor.
The Vocational Education Board
| The State Board for Vocational
| education consists Of DR.. Augustus
.. Thomas. chairman; Hon. George
| n. Macomber Of Augusta and A. P.
| Howe OF Palmyra. Hon. Bertram 2.
Packard of Augusta is State director
| or the work. and Leroy n. Koonz of
| Augusta Is State supervisor.