WAR LEGACIES.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13182, 14 February 1936, Page 5

WAR LEGACIES.

BLINDNESS FROM MUSTARD GAS. Electric Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, Last Night. A case was reported by cablegram from England on Wednesday of a i'*an who had just lost iii s sight as the result of being gassed at the battle of Arras in 1917. The cablegram stated that this was the loth case ot “delayed action” in blindness due to mustard gas which had been admitted to St. Dunstan’s Home for blined soldiers in the last two years. As lar as is known there is only one similar case in New Zealand, that of a man who has been attending the New Zealand Institute for the Blind at Auckland daily since February of last year. He is only 37 years of ago now and he was little more than ' a youth when in the Royal Scots Regiment at the time lie was gassed He came to New Zealand alter the war and for some years his sight was all i-i gilt although he had been afiected by gas in the chest. This man started to lose his sight in 1932 and although he is not totally blind his sight is still deteriorating. Owifag to His disability lie is unable to be engaged in th© permanent occupations ot the* blind men at the institute but lie* has been taught hobby work, Braille and typewriting, and is taking lessons on the piano. He receives a lull disability pension from the Pensions Department in. London. It was stated by Sir Cl nth a McKenzie, director of the institute, that from a technical report received it seemed that nothing could he done lor such cases. Tt was stated that a good deal of pain was suffered during the loss of sight.