WOUNDED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 202, 15 May 1918, Page 7

WOUNDED SOLDIERS

TRAINING OF LIMBLESS MEN

GOOD WORK BEING DONE

The Jliuistei' of Defeuca received by the .last mail from Bugland some letters from •officers of tho N.SS.KI'. from which ho •lias made the following extracts suitable for publication. They deal mostly with the treatment of soldiers in hospital. Sir James Allen said that au Allied [Conference was to bo held in Loudon in -May, and New Zealand would be represented at the conference by General Ilichnrdson and Sir Thomas

Ueneral Bichardson writes: "Our scheme Mr dealing with limbless soldiers lms turned out p. great success. You wouhi appreciate seeing '50 of our limbless men at work every morning and atlmioon teaming various trades at Oatlands Park. Ihe men are keen, cheerful, and, best of ail, hopeful as to their future. 1 wish ,1 could do something for tho many disabled cases other than limbless, but these must be left to the people in New Zealand. M e can, however, do move, and i am now organising a very big scheme of education for the New Zealand Expeditionary I'oree, which will apply to Juoil ill hospitals as well as to all fit ".men in units. Tho object of it is to entourage the men to devote their spare tunc to improving their minds, and making themselves better citizens."

Sir James Alien remarked that the Defence authorities in New Zealand were :now holding men in hospital on pay until they were discharged, and preparations were being made to carry on in .New Zealand the work referred to by {{oneral Bichardson.

'J'ho Jlinister recently wrote to Lieut.Colonel Parkes regarding the steps that (should bo taken to secure co-ordination of treatment of tho men returned to this country after being treated m hospitals in Eugland. Colonel Parkes has replied: "AVo are endeavouring as far as possible to secure co-ordination of treatment and. particulars of past treatment, and also recommendations are forwarded ■with tho men, especially in orthopaedic cases, as to the work for which they are best suited." Sir James Allen said teat the New Zealand orthopaedic treatment at Eotorua was quite up to , date. Dr. Herbert was a very good man on this 6iibject.

Colonel Partes lias written as follows with regard to the manufacture of artificial limbs: "There will shortly be dispatched to New Zealand three mechanics ■under Sapper Cook, who have received instruction in the best methods of artificial limb manufacture both in the Unitfid Kingdom and in France. I am sure they will prove- to be highly efficient, ami I hope heforo long to hear that not only the ropair but the complete manufacture of artificial limbs is accomplished in the Dominion."