VILLAGE CENTRES FOR DISABLED EX-SERVICE MEN. (To THE EDITOR Of
THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—The Village Centres Council have now good hopes of being in a position to open their Centre in Hampshire early in the New Year. I think perhaps your readers may be glad to know what it is exactly that we propose to do for the discharged, disabled men, both on the medical side—that is, in restoring strength of body and nerve—and in the way of pi-eparing them for civil life. Possibly, also, some who read this letter may desire for the men's sake to assist the Council in the immediate realization of their great work.
To those who understand the facts the position is sufficiently serious. The termination of the war has not diminished the need for Village Centres, but increased its urgency. The number of men discharged disabled before the great offensives of the present summer is stated as 421,877. Of that total it is estimated that more than 100,000 are now suffering from those forms of curable disability for which the Village Centre. is especially designed. When the casualties of 1918 are taken into account the figures will be even more alarming.
The Village Centre will provide for many types of disability : for large numbers of men from the orthopaedic hospitals, for whom surgical skill has done its best, but who still require patient restoration of function and training of mind and limbs; for large numbers also of neurasthenics who have gained all that is possible from the special hospitals, and who need only physical remedies and open-air training to make them men again; and lastly, for the large class of invalids (temporary invalids) who will never get well in the towns, or who desire to be trained for country u-:.cupations.
I am indebted to a distinguished Australian medical officer, Colonel A. Honman, for recent statistics of the work accomplished in Country Centres in France and Italy. The figures show that there is an astonishing advantage to men broken in the war in giving them combined treatment and training in the open air. What I may term the " agricultural cure," under expert medical guidance, brings about both mental and Physical restoration far more surely and quickly than the ordinary treatment of the hospital and convalescent home. Even men with open wounds are now sent into the fields, and it has been established that heal- ing and return of power are hastened by appropriate daily work. In a few months most of the men are in a position to take up- regular work, fit and trained and sound in limb. Could there be any better proof of the principles enunciated by this Council fifteen months ago that the men needed : (1) combined and simul- taneous treatment and training; (2) expert medical direction for both; (3) a Country Centre I
There are in addition two features of the Village Centre to hieh the Council attach considerable importance as necessary adaptations to English life and character : (1) provision of cot- tages and gardens for the use of families of men who are likely to remain for a prolonged period at the Centre; (2) arrangements for giving the men a voice in the management of the place.
After many inquiries, an ideal estate with facilities for the immediate accommodation of one hundred and fifty men was secured in May last-. A strong local Committee has recently been formed in Hampshire, with representatives from the various War Pensions Committees. Support has been offered and promised from. many quarters. I am permitted to say that the British Red Cross Society, which has always taken a special interest in efforts for the effectual restoration of the disabled, has plans for the curative side of the Centre under very sympathetic consideration.
The Council have determined to lose no time in opening the place for one hundred and fifty men. A considerable fund has been collected for this purpose, but a few thousand pounds are still needed. His Majesty has sent a gracious message of sympathy, with a donation. Any sums, large or small (kindly made payable to the Secretary, Village Centres Council), will be gratefully acknowledged by the Hon. Treasurers, the Right Hon. Sir Frederick Milner, Bart., and G. E. Bromley Martin, .Esq., 5 Little College Street, Westminster, S.W. 1.—I am, Sir, &e.,
R. FORTESCUE FOX,
Qhairman of the Executive Committee. 3 Little College Street, Westminster, S.W. 1.
[We all owe it to those disabled in the war that they should not only be restored to health, where that is possible, but that they should be restored as speedily as possible. The scheme of the Village Centres Council enjoys universal approval; it hate been most carefully and scientifically thought out by experts. We com- mend it to our readers with complete confidence.—ED. Spectator.]
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