The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-21
. NATIONAL
 SPOTLIGHT
Uncle Sam
 Dusts Off The Doctor Books
BY MILTON BRoNNER

l AGNNgANAANAGAMW
 Washington, Oct. 2l-Thoroughly alarmed by the frightening fact that almost 50 per cent of the men call- ed for Army service have been phy- sically or mentally unit, the gov- ernment has begun 8 nationwide rehabilitation program.
 At Q recent press conference, President Roosevelt revealed only the Arnys direct part in the pro- gram. Brigadier General Lewis B. Hershey told him nearly 100000 men had been rejected, but it was estimated 100000 of these could De cured of their disabili- ties and then taken into camp. These will be retained under or ders of teh local selective service boards and will be visited by treveling teams of specialists, Where they decide a mans ail- ments are quickly remediable, he will be given care by local doc- tors and dentists at the govern- ment's expense.
 President Roosevelt said he ex- peeted to promote long-range program calling for cooperation by states, counties, cities and towns to remedy 6 condition in which possibly 50 per cent of all the population is unfit.
 McNUTT
 MOVES IN
 One part of the rehabilitation pro- gram will be in charge of Paul v. McNutt, administrator of the Fed eral Security Agency, who, among many other duties, presides over health welfare, and related activi- ties. When he revealed figures on re- jections by the Army, defects and the percentages were as follows: bad teeth, 20.e; bad eyes, l3.7; heart and artery diseases, l0.6; venereal dis eases, 6.3; musculo-skeletal defects, 6:8; mental and nervous defects, 63; hernia, e.2; ear defects, 4.6; bad let, 40; lung troubles, 2.9; all other causes, l7.7.
 Shortly after he studied these figures, McNutt appointed e com mission of seven physicians and surgeons to examine the facts and to make recommendation. About six weeks ago they reported to him, urging among other things that hereafter If men are classi- fled as unfit for military duty distinction should be made if the defects are remediable.
 When this is the case, they said the letter R should be placed after the mans classification in- dex. Also in the printed forms for reports by doctors for the local draft boards, space should be left for the examining doctors to state whether in their opinion defects were remediable or correctable. These things would serve as guides to authorities in Washington.
 In cases where the men were deemed not easily cureable, the doctors recommended that a space should be left in the reports for rejected men to state whether they were willing to undergo treatment to alleviate their de- fleets, whether they were able to pay for such treatment. The com. mission recognized that many men probably could not afford to pay for surgical or dental care and therefore they suggested that fed- eral financial aid might be neces. Sary.
 PROGRAM
 INCOMPLETE
 Out of the million young men al- ready rejected, the President plans for the Army to take care of 200,- 900, McNutt will try to work out c plan to take care of most of the re- inaining s0o00o and the future re. jects as the Army calls up men for examination. But many weeks will elapse before 0 program Is fully evolved.
 Tn the first place, the local se- lective boards all over teh country will be asked to send to Washing ton fuller details about the re- jected men. After these facts are collated, McNutt with physicians, surgeons and dentists will outline 0 bill for Congress with an esti- mate of the expense of such @ big rehabilitation program. The cost end of 1t will be submitted to the President and the Budget Bureau. If approved, e rehabilitation bill carrying an appropriation will then 90 to the House Appropria- tons Committee.
 The big difference between the 100000 deemed remediable and thus At for future military serv- ice, and the balance of o00,0o0 will be this: the former will be subject to orders by the selective service boards and will have to undergo remedial treatment. The others will not be forced to take such treatment even if & federal aid bill is passed. If they take the free treatment, offered them, 1t will be voluntary.