FOR THE BLIND

WORK OF ST. DUNSTAN'S

HOSPITAL

The report'of the .work aceomsplished in the interests of blinded soldiers'and' sailors at St. IMnstan's Hospital and Annexes is a very interesting one. The annexes, include The College, Regent's Park; 12,-Sins-' sex-place, N.W.; West House; Portland House; 104, Queen's-J-road, Brighton; |40, Lee Terrace, Black- . heath; Brovvnbrook, Well's Wood, Torquay; and Newington House Hostel, Edinburgh. The norase at Torquay is set apart for eases which requiri a long period of convalescence, while the.Portland Place houses are used as residences for officers who have lost "their sight. These go over to St. Dunstan's to.-learn the essential things for a blind man to know. Most of the officers ■ seriously take up some useful occupation, either for pleasure or profit. The occupations include massage,, shorthand, telephone operating, boot repairing, basket and mat making, joinery, poultry farming, and market gardening. Braille is taught at once, also typewriting. Each man is giveni a typewriter as his own personal possession when he has passed the writing test, and on leaving St. Dunstan's the men are well supplied with' Braille literature. St. Dunstan's is principally staffed by members of the V.A.D., strengthened by a sufficient number of paid . orderlies and trained; nurses. In the I 'Workshops, while there are sighted foremen in each department, the instruction is mainly given by men Avho are themselves blind. The hours of work in all branches are two hours and a-half in the morning and two in the afternoon- The men at St. J Dunstan's become proficient with remarkable speed. Netting is a very favorite pastime; it is easy and profitable, and at the entertainments men often work away at it contentedly. With regard to poultry-farm-ing, the men are taught on practical and up-to-date lines, and learn to distinguish birds of different breeds almost instantaneously by touch, to manage incubators, to prepare and truss birds for the table, and generally to conduct the farm so as to ensure paying results. In connection with this, wives, mothers, and other relatives of soldiers learn the same methods at a Midlands farm, where six weeks' instruction is given free, to enable them to help efficiently when the soldier can take up work for himself. With regard to telephone operating, the soldier must, of course, be employed in establishments where the drop-shutter system is installed, and soon can tell from sound exactly which shutters have fallen. The men are taught to play as well as work. They row, swim, compete in walking and running races and tug-of-war. Push-ball is played, and physical drill is regularly practised. The hare two dances a week, one an instruction night, and the next a. "ball," where lady friends are invited. D.ominoes, cards, chess, are enjoyed, and there is a debating society with sessions which are weu attended and greatly liked. Almost every blinded soldier can play some kind of musical instrument, from the humble tin whistle to the- piano or violin. Those with good voices receive instruction in singing. The "nfter-caro" scheme for the men settled at their occupations is proceeding satisfactorily. This provides fur.supervising the men's work, which otherwise would deteriorate, j also the buying of the best raw ■ matorinlsi marketing their goods, and securing continuity of employ-

ment in massage, secretarial work, ] etc. In conclusion, Sir Arthur Pearson, chairman of the committee, asks for continued help' from; tifao Dominions, na well as the' United Kingdom, to continue and extend! tliis splendid ' Work> ■£' ' ' " ■■■ " ■ •'• ■'