XXXVill INTRODUCTORY. 



of the feet, even though not fetid, is to exempt when excessive. Flat-footedness is 

 established as a disability when it is impossible to insert a finger between the sole and 

 the eronnd from the inner side of the foot. 



The official instructions conclude with a table of such obvious disqualifications as 

 do not require the action of the surgeon. This is for the guidance of the recruiting 

 officer, and it will be observed to consist mostly of striking defqnnities or losses of 

 limbs. 



INSTRUCTIONS TO THE AUSTRIAN MILITARY SURGEON. — 



At the general examination the surgeon will direct the recruit to place himself on 

 level ground, at the distance of a few paces, with his face turned to the light. The feet 

 will be closed so that the heads of the first metatarsal bones will touch, as well as the inner 

 condyles and knees. The arms must hang loose, and the body be erect. The surgeon 

 will examine the general appearance and the proportion of the limbs to the entire body. 

 He will also at this examination observe if any skin-disease be present. 



The points that indicate a robust constitution are these : «. The head erect ; strong 

 neck ; healthy color of the face ; bright eyes ; good teeth ; hard and red gums. h. A 

 broad and well-foi-med thorax ; strong muscular shoulder-blades ; slow, deep, easy 

 and quiet breathing, c. Strong and regular pulse, d. Firm, elastic skin ; powerful 

 muscles ; strong bones ; firm step ; generally correct proportion of the body ; and the 

 free use of all the senses. 



After the general inspection of the recruit, the surgeon will proceed to a special 

 examination of all the parts of the body. 



He will first observe whether the head be not uncommonly large or misshapen ; 

 on the scalp he will search for elevations or depressions, eruptions or tumors. 



He will observe the shape of the forehead and the appearance of the whole face. 

 Particular attention must be paid to the eyelids, their mobility and capacity for suffi- 

 cient dilatation and complete closure ; the cilia, their position and direction ; the func- 

 tions of the lachrymal organs, in regard to the secretion and evacuation of tears. Each 

 eye must be examined separately in regard to itself, as well as in its relation to its 

 fellow, as to position, size, elasticity, and general condition, the perfect clearness of the 

 light-conducting media, and their free and undisturbed function. He will also test the 

 power of sight, and by trials and judicious questioning ascertain whether myopia or 

 presbyopia exist. 



To find whether .the nares. are well dilated, he will cause the recruit to - breathe 

 strongly and repeatedly through the nose, and through eaqh nostril separately ; he will 

 observe that the nose is not disfigured, and that no tumors or polypi exist in the cavity.. 



He will see that the lips are healthy; that the maxilla is easily moval)le; that the 

 teeth, the gums, the tongue, the palate, the uvula, the tonsils, and the pharynx are in 

 normal condition. He will detect the presence of false teeth or an artificial palate, and 

 observe if there be fissure of the palate or diseases of the tonsils or fiiuces. At this 

 part of the examination he will take note of the existence of foetor of the breath, and 

 of the pi'esence of defects in the organs of deglutition and speech. 



In the examination of the auditory organs, the surgeon will olxserve tlie external 

 ear, and carefully examine if the auditory canal be not occluded, or if there be any 

 discliaro-e or ulceration. Ho will sntisfv himself as to the acuteness of hearing, for 



