TREASURY DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON

BUREAU OF
WAR RISK INSURANCE

December 27, 1918.

From: Chief Medical Advisor.

To: His Excellency the Governor, State House, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Subject: Accommodations for Insane Soldiers and Sailors Discharged from the Service.

1. With the demobilization of persons discharged from the military and naval forces of the United States, now rapidly proceeding, there will be discharged a large number of persons suffering from mental disease, and it will be a problem of the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, which is responsible for furnishing such cases medical and hospital treatment, to properly place these unfortunate men in suitable institutions.

2. It is considered highly desirable that they be returned, not only to their own states, but to institutions located as near as possible, to their former residences. This particularly applies to men having family connection associated with their home localities for a considerable time.

3. Information is requested as to the number of available beds or vacancies in the institutions for the insane in your state so that this Bureau can have some definite knowledge as to the possibility of placing these men for treatment immediately upon discharge.

4. If the available hospital accommodations in your state are not sufficient for any marked increase of patients, have you any funds under your control which could be utilized for the purpose of extension in providing additional hospital facilities for mental cases? If not, would you be willing to lay the matter before the next session of the State Legislature with recommendations that appropriations be made for the purpose of providing the expected treatment in state institutions?

5. In order that you may understand the situation, this Bureau has unofficial information that about 50,000 mental cases are already under observation in the army and, while many of them may be temporary aberrations or mild cases, yet this cannot be predicated as a final judgment on results.

6. It is to be understood by you that these cases are a charge upon the Government of the United States through the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, which is obligated to furnish hospital treatment for disabled, discharged soldiers and sailors, and that payment for their care in state institutions will be made at the usual rates charged the public for such services.

(Chas. E. Banks)
Chief Medical Advisor.

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