EX-SOLDIERS AND T.B.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17178, 23 October 1923, Page 1

EX-SOLDIERS AND T.B.

DOCTORS’ OPINIONS AS TO CAUSE. Per Press Association. WELINGTON, October 23. The War Funds Council is now receiving applications for relief from soldiers suffering from sickness who are not in receipt of a pension Many are afflicted by T.B. which they maintain was caused, or aggravated, by gassing or pneumonia while on active service. The council therefore obtained the opinion of two doctors on the question . Briefly, their opinion is that if tuberculosis is going to develop as the result of gassing, it will do so within five years. Where men have stated that they were slightly gassed, but did not report at the time. the. doctors do not believe it has anything to do with the contraction of T.B. afterwards. They are also of the opinion that a. soldier who contracted pneumonia before the war and served in the army for more than a year and was discharged as fit hut afterwards became a sufferer from T.B. cannot claim a pension for war disability. The executive hopes that these opinions will he used by patriotic societies when considering claims, hut at the same tme, hopes that soldiers will receive the most sympathetic treatment possible, compatible with circumtances.