MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 217 



LOSS OF TEETH AS A DISQUALIFICATION FOR MILITARY 



SERVICE. 



By Edward Bdmgaedner, Lawrence, Kan. 

 Read before the Academy, at Topeka, December 31, 1902. 



''jPHE relation of tlie teeth to the general economy is nowhere better 

 ^ shown than in the army recruiting ofhce. In the selection of 

 men for military service, a fixed standard is necessary, in order to 

 prevent the enlistment of men who would not make effective soldiers. 

 Tripler's Manual, the recognized authority in the examination of re- 

 cruits, gives "teeth white and in good condition" as a characteristic 

 of an able-bodied man. In the time of the war of the rebellion, the 

 examining surgeon was directed to ascertain "whether he has a suf- 

 ficient number of teeth in good condition to masticate his food prop- 

 erly, and to tear his cartridge quickly and with ease. The cartridge 

 is torn with the incisor, canine or bicuspid teeth." Section 20 of 

 paragraph 85, "Revised Regulations," was more explicit, stating that 

 men should be rejected who had suffered "total loss of all the front 

 teeth, the eye-teeth, and first molars, even if only of one jaw." This 

 was a very low standard, as the total lossoi a smaller number of teeth 

 than here indicated interferes with proper mastication. Still, the re- 

 ports show that nearly three per cent, of the men examined from 

 18B1 to 1865 failed to measure up to this standard. The following 

 figures are taken from a report issued from the provost marshal gen- 

 eral's bureau in 1875 : 



Nativity. No. examined. No. rejected. Percentagre. 



United States, white 315,620 10,043 3.18-20 



United States, colored 25,828 222 .8595 



United States, Indians J21 



Total, United States 341,569 10,265 3.U052 



Foreign born 159.599 2.701 • 1.6923 



Totals 501,068 12,966 2.5877 



Through the courtesy of George M. Sternberg, late surgeon general 

 of the army, I am able to present corresponding data covering the 

 period of our recent war with Spain for comparison with the table 

 given above. The directions to the examining officers are now as 

 follows : 



"The condition of the teeth is to be considered solely with reference to the 

 proper mastication of food. If there are not enough in the mouth for this pur- 

 jjose, food is swallowed without the necessary preparation, and indigestion, with 

 imperfect nutrition, and its consequent evils, are the result. If several of the 

 teeth are decayed, especially about the crown, it ie probable that before the ex- 



