FOR BLIND SOLDIERS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16507, 26 April 1919, Page 9

FOR BLIND SOLDIERS.

MASSAGE TRAINING.

A demonstration of what can be done in training blind soldiers for massago work was given in the office of the Minister of Doienco' (Sir James Allen) at Wellington on Thursday, in the presence of, Ministers of the Crown, and Major-General Sir Alfred Robin. The pupil has had eight weeks' tuition in anatomy, and in that short period has acquired what must be regarded as a wonderful knowledge of the bones and muscles of the human body. A skeleton was placed in his hands at the demonstration, and he named the various bones, and explained the position and function of the muscles with, almost complete accuracy. Those present expressed great surprise at the power of the pupil's memory, which enabled him to acquire in a very short period and retain knowledge far beyond that required of the ordinary masseur, and probably equal to that of somo doctors. It was explained that he was instructed by demonstration, supplemented by information dictated to him so that ho might record it in Braille and memorise it nftonvards. His case was not exactly that of a soldier blinded during the war, as ho had boon blind for many years, and had received training at the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, but not in anatomy. His sense of touch was particularly delicata and accurate. What ho could do could bo done, though not so quickly, by soldiers who lost their sight at the. front. Massage is ono of the occupations for which it is thought sightless men aro peculiarly fitted. There are some fifteen New Zealand blinded soldiers .in England, and two have already roturned to tho Dominion. One of tlie gentlemen present at the demonstration on Thursday 6tatcd that in Japan tho majority of tho massage practitioners "wero blind. The demonstration (says the "Post") was an example of what can be done under adverse conditions by a capable and keen, instructor, and a receptive pupil.