Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-05
STILLS TURNED
INTO ORNAMENTS
Walter Reed Patients Bene-
fitted by instruments of
LaWbreakerS.

still after the prohibition agent confis-
Gates it?
It goes to Walter Reed Hospital,
where the copper pipes are cut up and
remolded into artistic candleSticks and
the sheet metal is cut, hammered and
polished into ash trays, finger bowls
and flower vases by disabled veterans in
the occuptional therapy division.
Thus the instrument of the law
breaker serves a good purpose in the
end, for it affords distraction for minds
and fingers from Sle degenerating
monotony of hospital life and provides
source of revenue by which the
wounded men can secure spending
money or help support their families.
Confiscated stills, wrecked carefully so
that the metal is damaged as little as
possible, are the chief source of the
hospitals copper supply. 1t costs the
patients nothing, and some OF them
have become expert coppersmiths, able
to earn a living at this trade after dis
charge.
Casket to Become Trinkets.
The other day the hospital received
a monster Still-approXimately feet
long, feet wide and 2 feet deep. 1t
probably was made originally as
casket, then converted into an appa-
ratus for making liquor, and now the
material will find its way in the form of
trinkets into many washington homes.
Occupational therapy is one of the
chief adjuncts of medical and surgical
treatment at Walter Reed. 1t serves
four purposes, say hospital officials.
The shop work keeps the minds of the
patients off their troubles, it gives them
a temporary means of earning a living,
IN many cases it provides them with
trade or hobby for after-life, and, In
special cases, it is Sugar-coated exercise
skillfully arranged to call certain
muscles into play so that the patient
is treated without realizing it. The
work in copper is only one Of a score
of activities. In the hospital shops
Regular Army colonies work side by side
with World War buck privates making
metal trinkets, weaving rag mats, fashs
Joining baskets or molding and glazing
artistic pottery. Sometimes articles OF
considerable value and artistic merit are
produced.
Makes Silver Service Set.
One Regular Army colonel, without
previous experience in metal work,
turned out a silver service set which
could hardly be distinguished from the
work of professional silversmlth as a
Christmas present for his family. work
ing in silver is one, of the favorlte oc-
equations of the patients because, while
they must purchase the metal, there Is
always a ready market for the articles.
There are tasks for all sorts and de-
grees of disability. 1T keeps fellow
from going psyche" as it was stated
by one patient in the hospital %
months who had undergone serious
operation and for months had lain In
a body cast. unable to move anything
but the tips of his fingers. Occupa-
tional therapy aides had rugged up on
his bed a special stand, by means OF
which he was able to work on leather
pocket books, and after few weeks
actually to earn money in this helpless
condition. He became an expert leather
worker Now he is convinced that,
whatever happens to him in the future:
he always will be able to take care OF
himself He is out of the cast and able
to walk around the hospital
Even when I was fiat on my back
! unable to move any part OF my booy
and unable to sleep" he said, the time
seemed to fly after I found that there
was something actually could do. Be-
fore that 1 was pretty far gone with
the idea that the world was giving me
a raw deal. don't suppose I'll do any
of this work after 1 get out; I'm a
| Regular Army soldier But at least I've
got a hobby for my old age. And l
know now that a fellow has to be at
| least dead, if not buried, before ne
reaches the stage where there is nothing
he can do"
Special Technique Developed.
Occupational therapy originally was
used almost entirely with mental cases,
where a special technique was de-
veloped. The types that come to Walter
Reed are temporary, but following
! nervous breakdoWnS" or psychoses due
! to emotional stresses, their minds are
extremely confused. They work to-
gether, mostly on mats with simple de-
signs The way in which the design Is
worked out gives a good index OF the
| progress of the patient. Even the
simplest requires some consecutive ana
clear thinking. At first the mental case
usually makes a terrible botch OF tne
simplest pattern, but he is kept at IT,.
When he shows improvement a more
difficult pattern, requiring nm 10 carry
| more details in his head, is substituted.
Thus the confused brain is retrained.
1t is taught to think all over again:
| So long as it is carrying the details OF
pattern it Is not degenerating further
| into the bottomleSS moraSS OF the
psychosis. AS soon as the patients show
marked improvement they are trans
ferred TO the shops Win the OIleI
patients. Mat making is one of the
most popular pastimes, not only be-
cause it is comparatively easy but be-
cause there generally is ready market.
The colors and designs also appeal to
the imagination. 1t is probably the
| easiest work from mechanical stand
point and can be started when the
patient is still bedridden. Basket max
ing Is another occupation which proves
popular with most of the patients, and
is of particular value for those partially
bedridden or those nearly blind. since
it can be done by the sense of touch
alone once the technique is mastered.
Painting and Sculpture.
Those with artistic talent turn to
painting and sculpture. Occasionally
real ability Is disclosed in these lines
There are some excellent Landscapes
produced by patients on the wallis and
one man has become q. successful