MEN FROM THE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2717, 11 March 1916, Page 14

MEN FROM THE FRONT

NEW RULES ORDERS ISSUED YESTERDAY General, oi'ders issued by Defence Headquarters contain information of interest respecting tlio treatment of returned soldiers. Dental Treatment. It is stated in cases wliero accident or disease lias caused a justifiable disability (the result of active service, military service, or climate, and due to causes beyond their own control), soldiers returning from. activo service will bo certified to receive such dental treatment as may bo deemed necessary to enablo them to follow their ordinary civil avocation. The decision as to whether disability exists and to what extent it should be treated rests with the Medical Board acting in consultation with a dental surgeon appointed for that purpose. The Consultant Dental Surgeon will in all cases strictly outline the nature and extent of. treatment required, and bis statement will bo signed by the President of the Board and the Consultant Dental Surgeon, and will bb made in triplicate; one copy will be filed with all tlio Board's papers, one copy will be sent with the patient for treatment, and one copy will be sent to tho Director of Dental Services. The 6oldie'r will then be allocated to dental surgeons in turn, taking the names from the roster of those dentists who are treating recruits, with the exception that if a soldier expresses a desire to be treated by liis own dentist lie shall be at liberty to he so treated. The operating dental surgeon will fill in a clium-for-navment form for returned soldiers, and forward it to the Director of Dental Services, accompanied by the one for treatment made by the board. The ,Foßs. Payment for dental treatment will be at tho following rates: — Extractions (with local anaesthetic), 2s. 6d. Fillings: Simple cavities, 55.; compound, 7s. 6d.; root fillings, 10s. 6d.; extractions under .chloroform, £1 Is. ; upper or lower dentures (each), £4 4s. Partial Plates: First tooth, £1 Is.; every succeeding tooth, 55.; scaling upper and lower, ss. Crowns: Logan type, £1 Is.; gold, £110s.; repair denture, 7s. 6d.; repair additional teeth, 10s. Bd. The consultant dental surgeon -will be paid at tho rate of £1 Is. per board at which he attends of soldiers examined by him. Returned N.C.O.'s. Warrant officers and N.C.O.'s of substantive rank who are returned ifrom abroad, and who, having recovered from wounds or sickness, are allotted to reinforcements or otherwise returned to their units, will retain tho'rank which they held in their units, and will, not be required to revert to the ranks on joining their units as in the case of other N.C.O.'s of reinforcements. Question of Leave. Instructions are to •be given to the Defence Department representative attending Medical Boards that when a soldier is recommended for discharge or return to duty the three weeks' leave of the soldier must commence as .from tho day following the day when the ■ board sits, or from the date of expiry of the previous sick-leave certificate, whichever is the later date. Recently many instances have occurred where the leave has b&n dated back soveral days, with tho result that soldiers do not got tho full benefit of either their leave or free •■ailway pass. Undor paragraph 50 of Returned Soldiers' Handbook, tho period of sickleave granted by a Medical Board must be for seven, fourteen, twenty-one, or' twenty-eight days, and at least seven days prior to expiry of this period the' papers for holding Medical Boards will lie sent to District Headquarters by Base Records Office. It must be carefully boniei in ' mind, however, that under paragraph 91 extension of such sick-leave for a period not exceeding fourteen days can at any •time be granted by an officer of the New Zealand Medical Corps, or under,certain circumstances by a private practitioner. This provision has been inserted to prevent the expense of bringing soldiers .long distances to attend a Medical Board, when it is evident to tho Medical Officer consulted that extension of sickleave is necessary. These extensions can be renewed from timo to time as considered desirable, but in no case must, a soldier be ordered to return to camp or recommended for discharge except by a duly qualified Medical Board. The.telegraphed information required in paragraph .91 to be sent to Base Records must also be sent to nearest District Defence Office, in order that this office may have the necessary information as early p* possible for cancelling , the holding of a Medical Board, which wouid otherwise be necessary. Military Hospitals. Regulations are aiso given governing tho duties'of the military commandant and principal medical officer in Hospital and Convalescent Homes having a military coiamaudant. These give the Commandant supremo military controlj and the Principal Medical Officer supreme medical control. "The above," it is stated, "may savour of dual control, but there need be no overlapping or confusion as regards .'responsibility if the officer concerned is cauAil to rigidly adhere to' ine sphere of duty to which l-.e is appimsed. Ia order that tho work of the hospital or convalescent home may be carried on with efficiency and with a minimum of friction, it is desirable that the I\M 0. should consult with the .Military Commandant at a stated hour eacli day at the office of the latter.' A'l ma'lers relating to tho hospital or convalescent home may then be discussed and joint action taken with regard to any reform or alteration in routine that may be considered necessary." Tha duties" of each office:ar» then outlined. Ak regards maintaining discip'ine, tho Crmmandant has tho powers of a fori>i.''f- - ding officer under the Army Act conferred upon him.