The following is an exerpt from a booklet for medics and doctors entitled, "DISPENSERY PRACTICE of the 486th BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)". Several generic topics of healing are discussed, including this on a well known pschological disorder prevalent among military men. |
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GOLD BRICKS (MALINGERING) J. W. B. It doesn't take the new soldier long to discover that if he can fool the Medical Officer, he
can escape certain obnoxious duties. Even if he is returned to duty he has, by merely reporting to a time-consuming Sick Call, evaded a portion of the tasks intended for him. Consequently,
those whose sunny dispositions cloud quiveringly at the thought of, and whose bodies shrink shyly from, horrid toil form a frequent and doleful line at Sick Call whenever a bit of
unpleasant labor looms on the horizon. These sad and misery-wracked creatures are known as " gold bricks." The extent of their misery is limited only by the fertility of their imaginations
and the frequency with which they are detailed to undesirable duties. Efficacy of treatment is directly proportional to its crudity, not to mention barbarity.
The lad whose pitiful hacking cough increases in volume and pathos the nearer he gets to the Medical Officer, and which occurs, Sir, just before a tour of guard or K.P. duty, will
be immensely benefited by a slight overdose of the nastiest cathartic available. Shortly after taking this, under the sympathetic eye of the Medical Officer to assure thoroughness
of medication, the soldier's innate sense of guilt and, perhaps fear of committing a slight social indiscretion, will effect a diminution if not abatement of the cough. In more stubborn
cases it may be necessary to repeat the procedure until the point is made. Low back pains bloom in gay profusion before tent pitching exercises. Experience will
show that such ailments yield to massage with methyl salicylate and kerosene, providing a bit of carelessness in how low to pour the medicaments is- employed. It frequently takes
a ten-second man to catch the work-hungry, dispensary-shy gold brick after such a rejuvenating and invigorating treatment. A note of caution needs be sounded; be dead sure the soldier is malingering before employing such heroic measures as mentioned. Even the chronic malingerer may become ill. By far the greatest number of soldiers perform their duties, pleasant and unpleasant, with only the "griping" which is a normal soldier's inalienable privilege. But a sorry few attempt to escape work by the gold-brick route. Such soldiers are good material for such medical horseplay as the limits of harmlessness will permit. |
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Copyright © 1998-2024, 486th Bomb Group Association. |
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