H.—lB

8

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX I.—MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION. The following table sets out the nature of the disabilities for which war pensions are being granted. In many cases a pensioner is suffering from more than one disability, but in this classification only the dominant disability is considered, so that the total number of these is the same as the total number of individuals in receipt of war pension on the 31st March. 1924. Wounds — Permanent. Temporary. Total. Upper extremity .. .. .. .. ..1,577 600 2,177 * Lower extremity .. .. .. .. .. .1,648 858 2,506 Head and neck . . .. .. .. .. ..440 289 729 Thorax .. .. . . 356 292 648 Abdomen .. .. .. .. .. .. 160 109 269 4,181 2,1.48 6,329 * Amputations — Upper extremity . . . . .. . . .. 430 8 438 Lower extremity .. .. .. . . 584 17 601 Double .. .. .. .. .. .. 39 .. 39 1,053 25 1,078 Special senses — Ocular — Totally blind .. .. .. .. .. 21 .. 21 Loss of one eye .. . . .. .. 337 9 346 Other disabilities of eye .. .. .. .. 150 33 183 508 42 550 Auditory .. .. .. .. ..261 84 345 Nasal .. .. .. .. . . . . . . 2 16 18 Respiratory system- - Pulmonary tuberculosis .. .. . .. 6 1,462 1,468 Other diseases . . . . .. . . . . . . 23 929 952 29 2,391 2,420 Circulatory system .. . . . . .. .. . . 95 358 453 Nervous system — Organic, disease. .. .. .. .. .. 27 31 58 Functional disease . . . . . . . . . . 30 827 857 57 858 915 Insanity .. .. .. .. .. .. .. '■ 2 28 30 Gastro-intestinal .. .. .. .. .. 43 271 311 Genito-urinary .. .. .. .. .. .. 43 121 164 General diseases # ~ . . . . .". . . ". . 93 848 941 Fractures (not due to wounds) Upper extremity • . . .. .. . . .. 54 28 82 Lower extremity ... .. .. .. .. 52 40 92 106 68 174 Diseases of bone .. .. .. .. .. 14 18 32 Injuries of joints (not due to wounds) .. .. .. 204 242 446 Spinal disease .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 81 90 Deformities .. . . . . . . . . .. 38 23 61 Disease of skin .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 8 11 Miscellaneous .. . . .. .. .. .. 43 101 144 6,784 7,731 14,5.15 It will be seen that pensions are classified as " permanent " and " temporary." When a disability reaches a condition which may reasonably be regarded as final and stationary a permanent pension is granted. This is desirable in the interests both of the pensioner and the Department. A man in receipt of a permanent pension has a feeling of security in regard to his pension, and he is not subjected to the annoyance and inconvenience of undergoing periodical medical examinations. At the same time he knows that, should the disability for which he is in receipt of pension become worse, he will be re-examined on. application to the Department, his pension adjusted accordingly, and any necessary treatment given. From the point of view of the Department the administrative work and expense (often considerable) associated with the constant review of temporary pensions are avoided. Wounds. —lt will be noted that a considerable number (about one-third) of the disabilities classified as "wounds" are still in receipt of temporary pension. These are cases in which inflammatory processes have, persisted or recurred, scars are painful, foreign bodies have required removal.