12 MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [vol.xv, 



[First indorsement.) 



War Department, August 25, 1917. — To the Surgeon General. 



August 20, 1917. 

 Memorandum for the Surgeon General: 

 Subject: Psychological examiners. 



With reference to the communications herewith, the Secretary of War directs me to inform you that, due to lack 

 of data as to the exact nature of the duties to be performed by the proposed psychological examiners, he is unable to 

 act upon your recommendations. Information should be furnished as to the plan of employment of the personnel, 

 the necessity therefor, and the basis which fixes the number required . 



Tasker H. Bliss, 

 Major General, Acting Chief of Staff. 



August 21, 1917. 

 From: The Surgeon General of the Army. 

 To: The Chief of Staff. 

 Subject: Psychological Examining. 



Relative to your inquiry of August 20 for information concerning psychological examining, I desire to offer the 

 following: 



1. It is deemed important that a special method of psychologically examining recruits which has been prepared 

 under the direction of Maj. R. M. Yerkes for the detection of mental defectives be used. 



2. The psychological examining must be done by special examiners, who will work under the direction of the 

 medical staff, and whose results will supplement those of the physical examiner. 



3. Until the value of the methods has been definitely established by Army use it appears desirable to authorize 

 psychological examining in only four National Army cantonments. Thus far, under the authority of commanding 

 officers in various camps, about 4,000 men have been examined by volunteer workers. The results correlate 

 highly with officers' judgments of their men and justify the further and official trial of the new psychological 

 examining. 



4. The general plan of work, and staff organization for each cantonment are briefly described in the accompany- 

 ing memorandum prepared for your information by Maj. Yerkes. 



5. It is not anticipated that the services of contract psychological examiners will be required for more than four 

 months in any single cantonment. 



6. It is further provided that if after the first four weeks of work the reports are not satisfactory, psychological 

 examining may be discontinued and the examiners discharged. 



7. A few psychologists are being recommended for commissions in the Sanitary Corps. These men will organize 

 and direct the examining in the cantonments. In each cantonment either four or five contract employees are needed 

 to assist the commissioned psychologist. There are therefore needed for immediate use 18 civil-service appointees. 



W. C. Gorgas, 

 Surgeon General, United States Army. 

 Approved August 23, 1917. 



(Signed) Newton D. Baker, 



Secretary of War. 



[First indorsement.) 



War Department, A. G. O., August 24, 1917 — To the Surgeon General. 



Inviting attention to the approval of the Secretary of War indorsed hereon, and with the request that he rec- 

 ommend the cantonments in which he wishes to begin, and the form of instruction to be given the cantonment 

 commander. 



By order of the Secretary of War: 



H. G. Leonard, 



Adjutant General. 

 [Second indorsement.) 



War Department, S. G. O., September 1, 1917 — To the Adjutant General. 



It is recommended that the following instructions be given to the division commanders at Camp Lee, Va., Camp 

 Taylor, Ky., Camp Dix, N. J., and Camp Devens, Mass.: 



1. A staff of 10 psychological examiners, either as first lieutenants of the Sanitary Corps or civilians employed by 

 the Civil Service Commission, will report to you, prior to October 5, 1917, for the purpose of conducting psychological 

 examinations of enlisted men. 



2. Arrangements will be made to conduct the examination of six companies per day (if double companies, 250 

 men, otherwise a corresponding number of men), four days per week — Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. 

 In this way a regiment will lose not more than two days from work and the company not more than one day. It is not 

 intended that headquarters, supply, and machine-gun companies shall be examined. 



3. It is believed that suitable rooms for the examination can be found, either at the hospital wards, barracks 

 rooms, or other large buildings. 



4. The method of examination will be substantially as follows: Six psychological examiners with their assistants 

 will work simultaneously in different rooms. At 8 a. m., or thereabouts, company shall be reported in sections of not 



