38 



It may be an interesting digression that, on an average, 

 one only out of four or five boys was so fortunate as actually 

 to enter the Service ! ! Particulars are here out of place ; 

 but it may be explained shortly that this startling disparity 

 was due to the numerous tests they underwent as to age, sight, 

 education, moral character, general eligibility, physical 

 development, &c., prior to medical examination, to which 

 barely one-half were admitted, and one-third of these were 

 rejected. 



Age. 



By the Regulations of the Service, their age was strictly 

 scrutinized, and they knew it, as rejections for improper age 

 fell from 180 to 106 per 1,000 candidates. It was the first 

 and cardinal enquiry. Written evidence was required from 

 boys who were admitted into the Service. It was of the first 

 importance in connexion with their 



Physical Measurements. 



I may premise that, being outside my professional duty, 

 whatever I did was perfectly voluntary, and simply to sectire 

 such valuable data. Without being in any way responsible, 

 either I or a Medical Officer, not only superintended, but also 

 recorded all the measurements, ages, and numerous other 

 particulars at the time clearly and legibly in the Official 

 Register, from which mine was copied for future purposes. 



There were never at any one time more than three 

 officers, all R.N., viz., one Medical and two Warrant 'Boat- 

 swains), who were relieved according to the exigencies of the 

 Service, so that there were in all eight, viz., five Medical 

 and three Warrant. 



Nearly all the observations, some 10,000, were taken 

 under my supervision by the Senior Boatswain, who remained 

 during my whole tenure of three and one-third years. He 

 commenced this duty, for which he was specially detailed, 

 about two years previously, probably from the inception of 

 the examination of such boys. So also had the first Medical 



