Evening star., 1943-04-14
Plastic Surgery Eroses Scars,
Returning Fighters to Front
Modern Appliances at Walter Reed Halt
EorIy-Stoge Cancer, Ease Deafness
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Some wounded heroes of this war
are having battle scars virtually
erased and some are being re-
habilitated for return to the fight
through plastic surgery.
Men with certain types of early
stage cancer are being enabled to
return to the battle line after treat
ment by powerful X-ray.
Aviators with swollen adenoids
who become partially deafened by
dive bombing's effect on these Or
gans, are having their adenoids
shrunk by radium so they can get
back in action quickly. -.
Soldiers with injuries to the jaw
which once would have required the
wearing of rigid plaster casts, now
can work their jaws almost normally
during treatment, with the aid of
appliances rigged from elastic bands
and even coat-hangers. =.
Short Wave Aids.
Veterans of the African campaign
are receiving heat treatments for
injured limbs through the emana
tions of short wave radio trans
mitters near their hospital beds
and it's even possible that the
"broadcasting" 15 meters) aimed
at hero's leg can be picked up
as static-on your radio set. .
These are a few samples of the
things which American military doc
tors are accomplishing and which
were disclosed for the first time in
comprehensive detail today at Wal
ter Reed Hospital at the Army Med
ical Center.
Soldiers are being brought from far
flung conflict areas-from Africa
from India, from Alaska, from Ice
land-because, with the advance OF
airplane transport of war casual
ties, the Medical Center is linked to
the front lines by the long range of
the hospital plane.
Recently, group of officers and
enlisted men was brought to Walter
Reed from a station hospital in In
dia-1O,0O0 miles away, but little
more than 100 hours as big plane
flies.
Doctors at the front line are doing
great job, the Medical Center Of
ficers declare-pointing out that
they're being aided by such develop
ments as a new, mobile X-ray ap-
paratus which can mark and cal
culate the depth of bullet or a
piece of shrapnel in wound in one
minute. Weighing only $50 pounds
the apparatus can be transported
deep into battle area by airplane if
necessary, and can be assembled in
short time by a couple of men
There also is a smaller unit for
actual use in airplanes.
Salvage Human Bodies.
But here, at the medical center,
there is equipment for more extern
sive treatments.
In the words of Brig. Gen. Shelley
U. Marietta, commanding general of
the center, the mission her is ito
save lives and salvage human bod
les"
Take a walk along the corridors
at Walter Reed and this is what
you'll see. 80.
Patients who are convalescing
wear maroon pajamas. mono
grammed with the initials of the
Medical Department, which make
them look like college boys in fra
ternity house. There are no dreary-
looking, ill-fitting bathrobes that
make man look sicker than he is
Doctors say that maroon just hap
pens to be the official color of the
Medical Department, but they admit
the duds brighten up the landscape
A boy wounded in the invasion at
Oran cranks big exercise wheel in
the physical therapy gymnasium
to bring life back again to his weak
ened arm. Another strengthens his
injured back by pulling at rowing
machine.
Another lad whose hand was
burned in Africa holds the injured
hand in a whirlpool bath" that
not only gives heat but stimulates
the joints.
Many Mental Complications.
In the occupational therapy room,
man whose leg was torn by shrap-
mel when Yanks raced along the
African beaches is busy weaving a
Colonial rug. Close by him, anothe,
soldier makes a clay and very
uncomplimentary-head model ot
Hitler.
There's also workshop for
neuro-psychiatric cases. The Army
Medical Association has estimated
that nearly one-third Of the casual
ties coming back from the zones are
mental or nervous breakdowns OF
have some mental complication.
In another room, technician
fits an artificial leg into shoe for
soldier whose leg was amputated
The doctors say fewer amputations
may be necessary in this war, due
to development of sulfa drugs which
combat infection.
Now, step into the plastic surgery
department.
Here's man who suffered terrific