RECRUITING STATISTICS OF SCANDINAVIAN 

 COUNTRIES 



For the Scandinavian countries the statistics of Denmark are sug- 

 gestive of an increase in the rate of rejections on account of unfitness 

 for military service from 29.0 per cent, during 1891-95 to 41.3 per cent, 

 during 1906-10. * The rejection rate has varied between a maximum of 

 47.6 per cent, in the First Military District to a minimum of 37.5 in 

 the Fourth Military District. These rates are for the period 1905-09. 

 The principal causes of rejection during 1906-10 were 2.95 per 

 cent, on account of general bodily weakness, 2.22 per cent, for dis- 

 eases or defects of the eyes, 1.38 per cent, for diseases or defects of 

 the ears, 1.5 per cent, for diseases of the lungs, 2.7 per cent, for 

 diseases of the heart and 5.99 per cent, for diseases or physical defects 

 of the feet. The rejection rate for all causes was 41.3 per cent, for the 

 period under review. The rejections for deficiency in stature decreased 

 from a maximum of 0.48 per cent, of those examined during 1891-95 

 to a minimum of 0.24 per cent, during 1906-10. 



For Norway the recruiting statistics from 1878 to 1910 are indica- 

 tive of conditions quite at variance with those reported upon for 

 Denmark. The rejection rate during 1910 was 20.7 per cent., the rate 

 having changed during the period under review from a maximum of 26.6 

 per cent, in 1880 to 18.3 per cent, in 1890. The rejection rate was 

 highest in the Third Military District (Kristianssand), or 22.9 per cent., 

 and lowest in the Tromsoe District, or 16.6 per cent. The principal causes 

 of rejection were as follows: Diseases of the extremities, 7.1 per cent.; 

 diseases of the eyes and errors of refraction, 4.4 per cent. ; diseases of 

 the lungs, 2.6 per cent. ; diseases of the ears, 2.5 per cent. ; diseases of 

 the heart, 2.3 per cent.; hernia, 2.2 per cent.; bodily weakness, 1.5 per 

 cent.; spinal curvature, etc., 1.9 per cent.; diseases of the nose and 

 mouth, 1.1 per cent., and all other diseases and defects and deficiencies, 

 6.3 percent. The average rate for all causes was 31.1 per cent, for the 

 period 1904-08. The Norwegian returns, however, are for both the en- 

 tirely unfit and those temporarily unfit, which makes a comparison with 

 other recruiting statistics of doubtful validity. The average stature 

 of Norwegian recruits has been ascertained for a long period of years, 

 having gradually increased from a minimum of 168.7 cm. during 

 1878-82 to 170.8 cm. during 1908-09. 



For Sweden the recruiting statistics are for the period 1890-1907. 

 The general rejection rate gradually declined from a maximum of 26.3 

 per cent, during 1901 to 18.1 per cent, during 1907. These rates do 

 not include those temporarily rejected, or those whose acceptance for 

 actual service was postponed. A minimum rate of only 12.4 per cent 

 was reported for the Gotland District and a maximum rate of 25.6 per 

 cent, for the Sodermanland District. These rates apply only to the 



* The rate declined, however, again during the period 1911-15 to 29.5 per cent. 



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