326 
THE NATIONAL NUESERYMAN 
Nursery Work for the Disabled Man 
By Gilbert 1. Stodola. 
Furnished to tfie \atio)i(il Xu7^,seryman, Flourtown, Pennsylvania, by the Publicity Bepartnient of the Bed Cross 
Institute fur Crippled and Disabled Men. 311 Fourth Avenue, New York City. 
CII.XBLES B. BABNES, Editor Department of Public Education 
O NK of liie many problems which we arc already 
being called iijjon to solve, as a result of the 
great w^orld w ar. is that of hel])ing those of our 
soldiei's w ho come hack disabled, and unable to return 
to their previous vocations on that account. It is needless 
to say that the most we can do for these jnen, who have 
offered their all for us, is little enough in return for the 
sacrilices they have made. According to the Vocational 
Uehabilitation Act recently enacted by Congress those 
disabled in the military and naval forces of the United 
lem in characteristically efliicient fashion and in various 
parts of the country has established reconstruction hos¬ 
pitals. There are, in connection w-itli these, classes in 
different trades and crafts, including agriculture, horti¬ 
culture and related lines. Thus, after the disabled man 
is restored to health, he is trained in some useful occupa¬ 
tion and wdien he is prolicient employment is found for 
him. 
Some years ago a settlement camp at which I was 
spending the summer employed a young man of about 
Back from Ed'ance minus an arm, and being “re-educated” as a gardener while he waits for the new arm 
which will be provided for his refmbilitation. 
States have been placed under the joint authority of the 
Surgeon General of the Army and the Federal Board for 
Vocational Education. The Surgeon General has juris¬ 
diction from the time the person is injured until he is re¬ 
stored to good physical condition, when he receives his 
honorable discharge from the service. The Federal Board 
then offers his vocational re-education and training 
wTiich will enable him to return to useful active employ¬ 
ment and the U. S. Employment Senice co-operates in 
finding him a job. 
The War Department has already attacked the prob- 
tw enty-tw 0 as a cook, who, I noticed, limped a bit. Other- 
w ise he seemed to get about without difTiculty and ap¬ 
parently performed his duties satisfactorily. I w^as as¬ 
tonished, therefore, to learn later that he had lost both his 
legs above the knee and wws dependent upon artificial 
limbs. 
It is wonderful how‘ nature adapts itself to changed 
conditions. This is strikingly shown in the way in wdiich 
a man w ho has lost an arm or leg, or other part, wdll ac¬ 
quire the ability to use his remaining facilities so efll- 
ciently that, he becomes for practical pur])oses almost as 
