82 MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [vol.xv. 



other. At the receiving station, men suspected of mental deficiency were sent to the psycho- 

 logical board, where they were given beta, and according to their success either a brief interview 

 or an individual examination. Ninety-six per cent of all recommendations were confirmed by 

 the psychiatrist. The performance scale was little used; foreigners were few, and a verbal scale 

 worked better with the negroes. Ratings were reported within 36 hours and were entered on a 

 new card designed to accompany the service record. This card bore also a statement as to 

 literacy, and the disposition recommended. After September the entry was made directly on 

 the service record and on the qualification card. 



Cooperation with other agencies was excellent. Examinations were made regularly of 

 central officers' training school applicants, of recruits in the replacement camp to fill the non- 

 commissioned officers' schools, and of prisoners. Cordial working relations existed with psychia- 

 trists, personnel officers, and officers of the development battalion. The first request for the 

 attachment of a psychologist to the division was received from the commanding officer of this 

 camp. 



Number enlisted men examined, 74,041; officers, 1,901. Total individual examinations, 

 5,720. 



I PORT OF EMBARKATION, NEWPORT NEWS, VA. 



Dr. Bridges arrived as civilian examiner in April, 191S. Officers at Camp Stuart were 

 given group examination alpha, but the work consisted mainly of individual examinations in 

 connection with the neuro-psychiatric board. Aero and balloon squadrons were examined at 

 the aeronautical general supply depot and concentration camp at Morrison. Dr. Bridges was 

 recalled to the Office of Surgeon General in May. 



Capt. Paterson and Lieut. Mertz reported December 1, to assist the neuro-psychiatric staff 

 in the classification of nervous and mental cases from overseas and the checking of overseas 

 diagnoses. The group method was found not to be particularly apphcable to this problem; 

 the value of individual examining was obvious, but the time allotted for classification was so 

 short as to limit the possibility of its thorough use. Capt. Paterson was recalled early in 

 January and Lieut. Mertz at the end of March. 



Additional services were the examination of medical detachments of the embarkation and 

 debarkation hospitals and of women in the detention home, Newport News. 



Number enlisted men examined, 1,435; officers, 217. Total individual examinations, 106. 



CAMP SEVIER, S. C. 



Lieut. Elliott reported from Camp Wadsworth in May as chief examiner. Lieuts. Kefauver 

 and Lane reported as assistant examiners. Lieut. Lane was transferred to Camp Wadsworth 

 as chief examiner in July. Sergts. Hawes and Holmes and Corp. Evans and later Sergt. Sprankle 

 and Corp. Wittenburg reported from Camp Greenleaf. Lieut. White was added to the exam- 

 ining force in November. 



At different times one or another of the camp infirmary buildings supplied space for offices, 

 scoring rooms, and rooms for individual examinations. Group examinations were given in 

 Y. M. C. A. halls, mess halls, and later in warehouses adapted for this purpose. 



Methods at Camp Sevier were affected by the low-grade draft received. Fourth-grade 

 schooling was made the basis of segregation for examination alpha, but it was found necessary 

 to raise this to sixth grade. Alpha and beta groups were held while the papers were scored, 

 thus obviating recall, except over the meal hour. Failures were then given further examina- 

 tion. Eleven per cent— an extraordinarily large proportion — was examined individually. 

 This was made possible by training a number of enlisted men each to give a single test of the 

 Performance or Stanford-Binet Scale. Each man examined passed the rounds and was finally 

 interviewed and rated by the clinical examiner. Psychological examinations followed physical ; 

 ratings were entered on service records and qualifications cards. Close cooperation with the 

 psychiatrists and discharge boards resulted in prompt action on the psychologist's recommenda- 

 tion for discharge of low-grade men. 



