INTRODUCTORY. XXXVII 



passed in the reserve. In Austria proper the age for entering the army is fixed at 

 nineteen years. The Croats are enhsted at twenty years. 



The minimum of height for the different corps of the Austrian army is prescxibed 

 in the law on national defenses, approved December 5, 1868, and has not been changed 

 since that date.' The inch is Vienna measure, and slightly exceeds the English inch 

 in length. The Austrian foot consists of 12 inches, and is equivalent to 0.316111 

 metre, or 12.446 inches English. 

 *- Artillery : minimum, 61 inches, (63.26 inches, English.) 



Engineers: minimum, 64 inches, (66.37 inches, English.) 



Pioneers : minimum, 64 inches, (66.37 inches, English.) 



Hospital-attendants: minimum, 59 inches, (61.18 inches, English.) 



Inftxntry: minimum, 59 inches, (61.18 inches, English;) maxinmm, 66 inches, 

 (68.44 inches, Enghsh.) 



Cavalry: minimum, 61 inches, (63.26 inches, English;) maximum, 68 inches, 

 (70.52 inches, English.) 



Train-attendants: mininmm, 60 inches, (62.22 inches, English;) maximum, 66 

 inches, (63.44 inches, English.) 



The instructions to the Austrian military surg-eon insist upon great delicacy and 

 humanity being shown to the recruit under examination." If he should declare him- 

 self to be afflicted with a disease that cannot immediately be recognized, he may be 

 sent to a hospital for observation. If the disease under which a conscript is laboring 

 appear susceptible of cure, he may be retained in hospital for four months, with the 

 hope of obtaining that result, but he cannot be compelled to submit to a surgical oj)er- 

 ation. In the process of examination of the recruit absolute nudity is not imperative, 

 the rather vague direction being given that entire stripping will only be ordered when 

 a thorough examination cannot be made without it. 



The instructions for the medical examination in detail are very comprehensive and 

 minvite, but, in general, resemble those authorized by the French government. The 

 measurement of the circumference of the chest is to be performed while the man's arms 

 are extended horizontally from the body, and at the moiuent of comjileted expiration. 

 The tape is to be passed over the nipples. The minimum of circumference admissible 

 is 29 inches, which is equivalent to 0.763918 metre, or 30.075 inches, English. Any 

 smaller girth causes positive rejection, even though it be accompanied with the lowest 

 legal stature. 



The first table of diseases comprises those which are not incompatible with military 

 service. The general direction concerning them is that they must be such as will not 

 Interfere with mental or bodily activity, or with the free use of the organs of the senses 

 and of locomotion. The next table includes such disabilities as are temporary in their 

 character and will admit of cure. 



The third table exhibits those maladies which permanently exempt. It will be 

 seen that all forms of hernia exclude, though relaxed inguinal canal does not. Loss of 

 the index-finger or of the thiuiib exemfjts ; other mutilations of the fingers will not 

 release from service, if they do not hinder the management of a horse, the employment 

 of the man as a sailor, or his usefulness in some military capacity. Incurable sweating 



' Instruction ziir ausfiihniiig dcy wehrg(!set:c. I'Jmo. Wiou, aus dor kaisorlicb-kiiniglichcu liof- uud staiits-druck- 

 erei, 1861). BcUatjc IV, p. 3^3. 



- ftp. fit., p. :i.'i;). licilnije III, liiHiriiction ziir iirztlidien niilrysiiclnniri dir tfchrpfirhtiyi'ii. 



