ILLNESS. 359 



The general physical examination of all the men in Squad B was nega- 

 tive. Examinations were made on January 5, 13, 19, and 27, 1918, 

 when all the men were seen. No changes were noted in the per- 

 cussion of the heart area. 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



In view of his extensive experience as a clinician and his practice in 

 medical examinations. Dr. H. W. Goodall's observations and com- 

 ments on these men as the research continued are significant. These 

 are given in a letter written a few weeks after the close of the 

 research, and reproduced here. In partial explanation of this letter 

 it should be stated that Dr. Goodall said to one of us that he consid- 

 ered these men were in no condition to endure severe muscular exercise 

 as, for example, trench fighting. It was in response to our request 

 for an elaboration of this statement that he made the following 

 conaments : 



" According to my notes the attention of the men was considerably fixed 

 upon their low diet on the 10th of November. There was no evidence of 

 any particular physical weakness at that time. On the 24th of November 

 it seemed to me that they moved around with considerably less energy, and 

 on the 8th of December they all complained of not feeling specially well. 

 There was a distinct sense of fatigue on muscular exertion, they found it 

 difficult to study, they were thinking of food all the time. After the Christ- 

 mas holidays, however, they complained very little, and seemed much stronger 

 and better. It was on the 8th of December that I told you I did not believe 

 these men would be fit to do work in the trenches." 



ILLNESS. 



With a group of 25 college students under observation for 3 to 4 

 months it would be expected that a certain number of minor illnesses, 

 colds, slight infections, etc., would occur. These appeared in both 

 Squads A and B and apparently as often in Squad B prior to 

 dietetic restriction as in Squad A. In the personal histories, however, 

 emphasis has been laid only upon those slight illnesses which were 

 observed with Squad A. The extraordinary severity of the winter and 

 the necessity for many of the men in Squad A to increase their clothing 

 materially perhaps make it all the more surprising that a larger number 

 of colds and minor illnesses did not occur. The question of constipa- 

 tion, which was present more or less as a result of the reduced and 

 somewhat concentrated diet, was readily controlled in most cases by 

 the use of bran and has been discussed in detail in the section on diets. 

 The only serious trouble was with Tom, who stated that he believed the 

 condition which made his operation for hemorrhoids necessary was the 

 result of straining at stools during the reduced diet. 



One of our first diflficulties experienced with the two squads was the 

 distinct tendency for the men to overeat on the free Sundays permitted 

 once in two weeks. This resulted almost invariably, especially at the 



