SHOCKS OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3141, 20 July 1917, Page 6

SHOCKS OF WAR

MENTALLY AFFLICTED SOLDIERS.

DEMAND FOR IMPROVED

TREATMENT

DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT

A discussion arose in tlie Houise of Representatives yesterday afternoon regardin" the treatment oi neurasthenic soldiers. Dr. Thacker (Christcb ifrch East) protested that returned soldiers who were suffering mentally from the 'effect of shell-shock should not he plowed in the ordinary mental hospitals. Steparato institutions should bo provided, where tlie men who had suffered mentally in tho cause of their country could receive proper attention. Mr J. Paviie (Grey Lynn) said tho returned soldiers who had suffered mental derangement deserved special treatment. They "would not get it unless Parliament pressed the point and insisted upon tho rHit thin? being done by the unfortunate men who "had. been affected mentally by the strain of war. ■ "Mr. C. B. Poole (Auckland East) said that most of the returned soldiers now in mental Wpitals were suffering merely from nerrp-sliock. and thqy should bo ffiven carefill treatment in separate institutions. | .T Young: (Wailcato) said Ito nn-; derstood the mentally-deranged soldiers! were not mired with ordinary mental patients. But lie urged strong y that. special homes should be established for these men. A very suitable property lintl,. teen offered to tho Government for this ; purpose by the Leninin-rton Town Board near Cambridge. .Mr. loung added that recruits who became mentally deranged, in camp should be 'Cared for properly. Ho . quoted the case of a young man who was rlisflhai'god from camp as hpmtf snlyerfc in fits. The man vr*s not returned to his home, and his pareiits lost swht of linn until thev received a. demand from the Mental Hospitals Department for a contribution -towards his support m a mental hoMHtal. (Eden) referred to the returned soldiers who were «ufl'crin£ from nervous, complaints that renderefl them S for steaW work but did W iustifv thair committal to any soit of institution. These men should not -be discharged before they were ready to ckrn 11 Mr w" (Wnnganui) said, that manv men -were discharged far too "oon They arrived m *ew Zealand looking brown and liappry afte their sea voyage, and they were passed by tho doctors as fit f or discharge when as a matter of fact they wfcie nervous wrecks. W was cruel to commit any of the returned soldiers t<v ord'eary mental hospitals, ivhere tho would bo likely to have, a most in" effect upon m<'n who we'w sufteiin„ from the after-pflefik of shell-phoel:. Ihe men needed careful and kindjy attention in "in-Hit and hopofnl environment. Mr 1. M AYilford (Hutt) said that a case of nerve injury was fe.r more diffi/.„if in fMiri* thnn o- shattered limb. A verv large institirffon had been established for such cases in Tnd-ii, and special efforts had been nwdo yti pro* mo for the mentally-shaken solditrs in 1 ranee, where the sufferers 'were fcnrefnllv clarified arcordine to anltecedvnt.s and menial condition. The Gdvorymont had onlv a handful of these nte,n to deal with, and it should not delay making adefiuate provision for them. Tl|o men needed cheerful surroundings and comfortable quarters under suitable discini'lie m order to restore their nerves -Ihe men were often discharged far too soon. .1 ho House would vote t'fce Government anv money required for 'tho curative treatment'of these cases.

The Defence- Minister.

Tho Minister of- Defence (Sir .lames Allen) said that the treatment of the neurasthenic cases presented very great difficulties.. He had arn-en much attention to the matter, and had collected all the information he could secure from ofhcial sources. He had mseived from England during tho Inst few days the report of an expert, who had recommends very strongly the discharge of neurasthenic patients at the earliest possible moment, in order that they might bo p removed from military surroundings. Hie expert said that special institutions provided the best treatment for some of the men. while others were benefited most by treatment near their own homes though not by their own relatives. They required to be induced to turn tneir thoughts from militiwy matters. Hie House could rest astjired thht neurasthenic patients were discharged only tor their own good. Their subsequent treatment was in the hands ot the lublie. Health Department. Experience was being acquired every d)iy regarding the care and cure of these Jmon. Mr. AV. T. Jennings Cl'aumarunui) said that tho public demanded that proper provision should be mi*de for these men at once. They should not be sent to tho ordinary menial hospitals. It would bo easv to" find a suitable home for thorn. Dr. A. K- Newman (Wellington East) said he had made inquiries on the subject ill England. A spceial institution might not be good for the men. They required their attention diverted from their own troubles, and they should not ho encouraged to regard themselves as invalids. They liad a better chance of recovery if they were distributed among normal people. They should not be sent to work too soon, since they often looked fit: while still far from well in reality.

Hon. G. W. Russell in Reply.

T'he Minister of Public Health (Hon. G. W. Russell), in reply, said that the problems mentioned by members that afternoon had been receiving the careful attention of his Department since the early stages ■of the -war. Directly tho first;neurasthenic case was reported among the returned soldiers, an establishment was provided for the care of such cases under the personal supervision of Dr. Trubv King at Karitanc. and.to it wero attached the best men available in tho mental hospital service. Returned soldiers whose mental condition necessitated treatment were forwarded to Knrilane, vliere they led a pleasant, open-air life, and received expert attention of tho kind they mniired., in ovdbr thai they might be restored to health without entering the ordinary Pi'ental hospitals. A similar institution in Auckland, the Wolfo Home, had been set .mart for returned soldiers, but it vn« not at present required. The fntal number of returner! soldiers received in the ordinary mental iiosnifnls had be"'t thirty-one, of whom F pv"ii hid been discharged and two had These were me" who had lo be placer u™'er restraint for the nrotectiou r,r ami the co'nni'r'ily. PnrtvI'D! 1 hnmi i'nw>ir*d i" iu'Htetio'is. of "-''on' l>ve><tv-rine had linen discharged. The-, wore mil- «iii--fonn <nen in the«e v'stitutmns on .Tnlv ■. Of the men in C'e nienf--.il he-Miilels n ,;lv seven were i>* nres"pt under restraint. and he imdersfo"d 'hat '»i™ of (lip men hn'i h"en held as refractory. TTone was entertained of recover}- in all

e'lsfs. rlirl no!- thinlc it desirable to multiply :...sli(-!itio"" f"' l th» treatment «f neurasthenic soldiers. TV worst thing that ,W'n <W WP" fn «TOnn n lP »v. in insHtntinns wboro *bev could ove v I'hw* t vr, nblAs. TTh idon. RH rasrs +lip<lnot rea"ii* A tn be np'W '"Hwtf rnodicnl cn ««t.vicinn. wn« ih-vn PS n<? no^ c 'b]p nr<*fnr«bly 11v npnnle if nnnnh-r flhtrWs. oryilrl Kr-I*l- - nnd yof.nv°''

I, n y> n ImqifoHnn Min pi rt P'° in nclrin»» Pnvliniyimif fnv p»>v

Tiionev that mirdit 1-n -rorruivor' To,- p.» prWiimto lr"fitme"t o f these soldiers. TTe ..npprrnis^ l fl'l'l" ,1 " 1 nf

jlipnip PIW n-niiM 1". 111.-"*'- try I'IPT-P"™ no tl" 1 wa'' nronTecsn.i lio was making his plans aee^dinirly.