NEEDS OF EX-SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 June 1920, Page 5

NEEDS OF EX-SOLDIERS.

PLIGHT OF TUBEBiCULAR MS*.

PREMIER PROMISES AflfllffMMCßi.

By Telegraph.—Pier; AuocUtlon, Wellington, Last Night. Many matters of vital importance to tubercular men from the Nev Zm]*#* Expeditionary Force were brought befotV the Prime Minister to-day by ft deputation from the Returned Soldiers' Conference.

In reply, Mr. Massey said there wenl many dilliculties in connection with ihs repatriation of soldiers, and probably the questions affecting T.B, men Vera the most difficult of all. Tlwj Government had a duty to perform, andi it would do it. to the beat of its abiUty H If the suggestions made could be give 9( effect to they certainly would be adopt* ed, for the needs of the soldiers wore in very sympathetic hands. Mr. Massey added that there ,ha<l been suggestions that some men had suf« fered hardship in connection with thcif pensions, and therefore the Government eontempluted setting up ft special board —an appeal board, if they liked to call it that—to deal with such matters. The • Oovermnent would do everything possible to assist the men who had fought' for their country and were now in need of assistance.

CURE FOR GAS POISONING

In connection with tubercular cases, some of which were caused by g:u poisoning, tin; Kritish medical Press liai recently been devoting attention to the results of a new treatment for soldiera suflering from the effects of gas poisoning. Tliis important research was under* taken by Mr. Joseph Bareroft, F.R.S., tin wtfll-known physiologist, of Cambridge, and his co-workers, with the object of relieving the symptoms, often of several' years' duration, from which these nun suflered, nnd if possible effecting a complete cure of their disability. The treatment consists of the continu* ous administration of oxygen over a period of several days. It had been ob» served that certain animals in the phy-. siologieal laboratories at Cambridge occasionaly suffered from symptoms siinilaj) to those complained of by men who havq been gassed. It was found that if these animal* were placed in a sealed chamber anj breathed oxygen of a high concentration for a certain time, all their symptoms disappeared when they were remove! from this chamber, Patients witli chronic poisoning were treated Jn a similar way. OXYORK CHAMBER. The treatment consists of keeping the patient in a chamber containing an atmosphere of -10-.V) per cent, oxygen. The poisoned air—eai'boji dioxide and aqueous vapor--which lie exhales, is removed by passing the air over soda lime and calcium chloride, .lie remains ip iheehamber for iti out of {lie 2-1 hours for iivo davs. He bleeps in the chamber every night, leaves it after breakfast, and returns to it just before tea, *

I lie ot gas poisoning are briefly: .sliovinoss of breath, after slight, e/lurt, sleeplessness', brenthtpssnes.)* uf night, with sudden ill! aeks of Ktlffofaliori, rapid heart action, headaches, giddiness and fainting, general debility, and ccri tain nervous symptoms. These symptoms all disappear nt th«> end of the treatment. The patient is' able to vim without distress, he sleeps) well, he 110 longer complains of ajwav* being tired, he. is full of ener<rv and abla to do a full day's work.

The economic value of siuh a treat* ment will be appreciated when it irf known that thousands of soldiers invalid* ed from the Army are at present sitfTer' ing for the effects of gas poisoning, and their disability is such that they aro drawing pensions ranging from 30 to 100 per cent. . '