CARE OF RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2650, 22 December 1915, Page 6

CARE OF RETURNED SOLDIERS

TREATMENT FOR. SHATTERED • NERVES. (B'f Telegraph.—Press Association.! Christchurch, December 21. The Hon. G. W. llussell to-day gave details of a scheme the Government has in- view. for. the treatment of returning: soldiers; suffering from •: neurasthenia and nervous, shook. The number ; .of -cases, the Minister said, . was steadilv developing, and some were at present- iu the larger hospitals; others who were • practically well physically were suffering from nervous ' prostration and shock/ In tho new scheme tlie men"were divided into three classes. First, the slightly affected, who were almost convalescent, but still showed the-result of the strain, were placed in homes in the 'country districts. People of the same' social class were dealt with as individuals, and not in classes or groups. In the second class were those who required ;* measure of scientific treatment. : They we're to bo placed at) Puketeratei, near Blueskin, twelve miles from Dunedin. There were excellent buildings and private: cottages,, and trained men were .to. be associated with the I soldiers,, dealing entirely in remedial \ measures. > Tliere . would _ be the fresh sea air and- boating exercise, and everything else possible to remove from the-mmds of the men the strain which gave rise to the trouble. The-third were the more serious class of cases to be dealt with :in* other buildings, lie was not at liberty to disclose. Their associations and surroundings would be suitable to bring about recovery. The more advanced type of montal case would not be brought, within the ordinary mental hospital treatment. He feared that in some of the oases , the men would be permanently weakened in intellect, but the intention.was to see that no man was placed within the walls of a mental hospital until every possible means had been employed to bring back.-his mental strength. No expense would he spared in the first three months after the return of the men to New Zealand to bring them back to full health. If at the end of that critical time the ca-so appeared hopeless, experts would say whether the men would have to be permanent pensioners on the .State. The whole question was being exhaustively discussed by the ablest of the State connected with the various Departments interested. _ He had received letters from medical men entirely outside the Government service, who had been asked to advise on-the prob-abilitv-'of assisting returned men after the distressing ' experiences they have gono through.