162 REPORTS OF EXAMINING SURGEONS. 



have bad to coiitciid with iu the discharge of your duties, and iiialie any suggestions as to the best 

 :netho<l of avoiding or overcoming these difficulties in lutiue. 



S. What nationality presents the greatest i)hysical aptitude tor military service. 



9. Your experieuce as to the pbjsical qualiticatious of the colored race for military service. 

 10. Your views as to the operation of the enrollment law as it now exists, with recommendations 

 and suggestions in reiVrence thereto. 



The above queries are given as a general guide lor the preparation of your " Keport.'' It is not 

 supposed that they include o// points of interest and v.ilue to this Bureau, and you will incorporate 

 such other facts as yon may consider important, as it is intended to publish such portions of your 

 "Eeport" as may be of special interest or value. This subject being one of much impoitauce, the 

 "Report" should be carefully prepared, and forwprded as .soon as practicable. 



If not completed at the date of the termination .>f your services as surgeon of board of enrollment, 

 please complete and lorward it as soon thereafter as convenient. 

 I am, doctor, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



J. H. BAXTER, 



Surriion TJ. S Vohtnteers and Brevet Lieutenant- Colonel, 

 Chief Medical Officer of the Provost-ManihnlOeneraVs Bureau. 



In response to this reqtiest, reports, in most instances both copious and conii)rehen- 

 sive, were received. The terms ofservice of many surgeons had expired when the circuhn-s 

 i-eached them; but, with a courteous and disinterested zeal wliich I take pkmisnre in thus 

 [jubhcly acknowledging, they, nevertheless, performed their parts in .the completion of 

 the medical records of the Bureau. 



These reports supply a connected and generally graphic account of the physical 

 characteristics and the social and hygienic condition of the iidiabitants of the non- 

 rebellious States.' The physical description includes the geological forniat ion, mineral 

 resources, and meteorological phenomena of the locality, with, in some instances, 

 passably full particulars of its flora and fauna. The records of social economics por- 

 tray the prevailing occupations, comparative wealth, number of schools and churches,i 

 and other details of like import. Tn view of the rapidly changing condition of ourl 

 communities, these statistics may, perhaps, in some future day, prove of service to the 

 historian. The portions of the reports of most importance to the medical profession 

 are the accounts given of the prevailing diseases of each district, with the accompanying 

 explanations of their etiology. The topography of diseases receives fre(pient illustra- 

 tion, though necessarily to a limited extent, in local medical journals ; but the esjjecial 

 value of these reports lies in the tact that they furnish a comprehensive view of the 

 nosogeography of the whole belt of Northern States, taken simultaneously by competent 

 and trustworthy observers. As every congressional district was separately described 

 by a resident physician, it is clear yvhy the task, which to individuals would have been 

 unwieldy and almost impracticable from its extent, became facile of performance. It 

 is only Grovernment machinery that is capable of application for such general observa- 

 tions. In the event of a future war of such magnitude as to require the enactment of 

 a conscription-law, it cannot but prove of importance to find on record these details of 

 actual experience. 



The C£uestion of the best mode of obtaining the recruit is one of unceasing interest 

 and concern to a powerful nation. The proposed re-organization of the French army, 

 which became inevitable after the Prussian victories, led to ver}- extended discussions, 

 not only in the French Chambers, in the scientific societies, and in the medical journals of 



' Fi)i- a list of iho States and Teiritoiies iu whicli the ciirollmeut law was eufoicctl, see page 13 of tbis volume. 



