CAUSATION PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 36, 11 August 1923, Page 13

CAUSATION PROBLEM

SOLDIERS' ILLNESS

CONNECTION WITH WAR

Though 8111 names have disappeared in three years from the soldiers' pen-

sion list, these figures are very much less, in percentage of the aggregate, than are the corresponding figures shown by the soldiers' pension authorities m Canada. When a soldi ci ceases to draw pension in New Zealand, the door is not shut to his applying for reinstatement. Nor is the door shut to a ducharged soldier's applying for pension - even if he has never drawn any allowance and never previously reported anysickness.

Of course, some evidence is required connecting his present disability (partial or total) with his war service

NEGATIVE CASES.

There are some doubtful oases -in which medical judgment ; can neither deny nor affirm that the discharged soldiers condition, is due to war service.; iortunately, there are also som« types of illness in which: medical judgment can positively support, the discharged soldier's application for' Eeiision, even though at his discharge* thera is nojindication of phygical trouble, ---.i

One or two individual instances :.inay be quoted to illustrate what is regarded as satisfactory evidence of connection between illness and war service. :. -. A soldier!has pleurisy, followed ~by pneumonia, in-1917. He is returned to active service as recovered. He is discharged'after the Armistice as all-right: In 1923 he develops T.B. As this is such • a common sequel to what he suffered;~from in 1917, connection across" IHat "gap - of years is accepted by the :;pehsions authorities as established. Her-JK"foUy pensioned.' : - — ■-■-

Another discharged soldier "reports in' 1923, for the first time, a condition bordering, on T.B. He was discharged in . 1919 as all. right, but it is alleged that in 1920, 1921; and 1922 he was fighting - his present trouble in an incipient. form, but would not report." If satisfactory evidence is forthcoming on this V" point, he may get his pension. Where > any discharged soldier develops a phthisical condition within tw.q, sears (say) of discharge, and where, .there is; no evidence negative to the tneory>—of connection with "war "seTvice,""tne '"" tendency of, the_pensions.authorities" isi ' to give him the:;benefit of the dgubfe^ZS It is not so easy to establish~a"pre--; sumption that. rheumatism,' -•beginning --... in 1925, is duefto. war.service..l.Can..any doctor affirm that a" thing like this^has"'• its root in the war? Can aiiy- doctor affirm that it has not? - —'-'■ ~~^Z~"~."

THE ROOTS OF TROUBLE.

While the soldier must - always- hare- ■ - the benefit of the-doubt, it is neither ■■-■■ financially-possible, nor ethically.rdwir-l-'" able, _to put' into practice; .fax-fetched".*.T theories- of causation: It is possible ' that ■in 1925 a discharged soldier -will' —- contract rheumatism,"• the seeds of'which'-Tr^ were laid not' in France -. but; in; the " South African War;' indeed, there is something to be said for the theory that „-• his rheumatism has. its . roots (through., his grandfather); in the Crimean War. ' But -its roots might' equally well haTe ■ originated iomewhere else: " '

Much light could be thrown and much guidance: could be,,pTen ii standards could be drawn up,. to illustrate those post-war troubles that are connectibU with war service, those that are not connective, and those that occupy a middle position; also, what iort of evidence is needed to establish connection.

But whether medical science and practical administration will find - such--standardising' possible, is. »noth«r.'ques-"". tion. ■ ■ ■ -■ -

The problem of the causation of bodily- states may be too intricate to bo made amenable to written rules. .And that remark applies with still greater force to . nerval states and mental states.

If the Government can make' any satisfactory advance towards a legislative solution, so much the better. Mean--while, the best alternative seems" tobe the sympathetic discretion of;the;pen sions authorities.