WAR DISEASES

Otago Witness, Issue 3595, 6 February 1923, Page 42

WAR DISEASES

TREATMENT IN AUSTRALIA. (From Ole Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, January 24. In Australia there are still some thousands of men suffering in more or less degree, but most of them acutely from the effects of the terrible war years: There are at present 4216 ex-6oldiers under treatment in military or repatriation hospitals and hostels throughout the Commonwealth for injuries or diseases contracted during or since their war service. The figures tell many tragedies. Of these men—equivalent approximately to the full strength of an infantry brigade—9So are general hospital patients, 119 totally or permanently incapacitated, 240 convalescing patients, 4li suffering from tubercular diseases, 40 "arrested'’ tubercular patients, 336 mental patients, and 2000 out-patients. Some of the men have been in the hospitals since their return from active service, others have been admitted since their discharge from the forces, some of them just recently. In this connection it may be mentioned that the general experience of the Repatriation Department is that the men who have been placed under treatment during recent months are more disabled and debilitated as the result of the supervening of advancing age and complication by other diseases peculiar to the normal course of life. Tliis factor iias greatly increased the length of their stay in hospitals. A recent medical review of the operations of the Repatriation Department in regard to the treatment of patients is interesting, particularly the treatment of tubercular patients. In regard to neurotics, it was stated that industrially the outlook of these unfortunate men was extremely uncertain, but that us the result of past experience the authorities hope to be able to make 50 per cent of them employable and useful. This has been the result of the treatment carried out and of the interest the men themselves have taken in the efforts of the authorities to again restore them to normal life. Tubercular and neurotic, patients provide a good illustration of the improved methods of treating diseases which are the result of war service. Most of the men have been placed on convalescent farms, which have been continued in use to restore fitness by means of graduated work in the open aijr to mien who have undergone protracted hospital treatment, and to stimulate the habit of work in those who, mainly through prolonged illness, have lost the will to work. During last year a. scheme of payment for the work done was introduced on these farms by the department. The patient’s work was graded according to his physical fitness by the medical officer, and no matter how small his contribution to the working of the farm he received payment for it. In several instances patients had overcome their disabilities and returned to civil life, lit to take some part in civil activities. That had been rendered possible only by the prolonged care and health-giving surroundings of the farm life. Of 350 neurotic cases, 206 did well after treatment, an<] became absorbe<l in ordinary occupations, and 70 had done well at the farm, and continued to do so when suitably employed. It is an unfortunate but inescapable fact that tubercular diseases are still developing undoubtedly owing to war service. The’ majority of patients, the department’s medical review states, and the statement is borne out by other medical evidence, were not originally infected on service, but it is bevond doubt that the hardships of their military career were the factors which stimulated the disease into activity by lessening their constitutional resistance. However, the treatment that has been adopted by the department—work under medical supervision—has resulted in uniformly good results. This treatment has proved in a large number of instances that besides stimulating all bodily functions, exercise may also activate the latent focus of the disease, thus making it possible for adequate observation and appropriate treatment to be carried out. Whilst under treatment the patients receive pensions varying from £2 2s to £4 a week, the pensions being subject to review every six or twelve months, according to the classified state of their disease or disability. One striking illustration of the success of the convalescent farm system is the fact that 75 men who were admitted for treatment as “arrested’’ cases became fit in a little over a year, were admitted to Anzac farms hi New South Wales and Victoria for farm training, and 13 are now working their own farm blocks. The treatment, as the medical review admits, is expensive, even though it is Afcw only in the experimental stage. However, the department has certainly obtained some gratifying results.