surgeons' reports — MAINE THIRD DISTRICT. 175 



Farming is the principal occui)ati()n pursued in iliis district; tbe ratio of farmers cxannned in 

 this office beinjT nearly three to one of all other occupations. * * * 



Our farmers are, for the most part, temperate in liabits, industrious in business, economical in 

 expenditures, and illiberal in their dealings with others. * * # 



During the season of harvesting, the farmer, too economi< al in the emjiloyment of help, is apt 

 to overwork himself and his assistants in order to secure his crops in good condition. His scene oi' 

 labor being at a moderate distance from his dwelling, he seldom lakes with him an\ extra clothing: 

 and, after working himself into a proluse perspiratfon, he either sits himself down to rest in some 

 cool retreat or wends his weary way homeward. In either case, there is a sudden check given to 

 the cutaneous perspiration, and oveiaction and oppression of some internal organ is ai)t to ensue; 

 and singular indeed would it be if a succession of sucli indiscretions did not result in organic 

 lesion. As of all the internal organs those concerned in the circulation are the most overworked 

 during such violent exercise, it follows that the linigs, and especially tlie heart, are the most likely 

 to succumb. This, we believe, may, in part at least, acciount for the fact that a large proportion of 

 our disabilities are chronic diseases of internal organs. That diseases of internal or'gaus constitute 

 a large percentage of iniirmities among other and less laborious occupations may, in part, be 

 accounted for by the fact that, when a farmer contracts a disease which unfits him for the hardships 

 of farming, he often leaves it for a less laborious emi)loyment. 



Of the fevers with which we have to contend, tyi)lioid is the most common, and is especially 

 prevalent in the latter part of summer and the early part of autumn. Pneumoiua is perhaps the 

 next ujost freriueut in occurrence of the sporadic fevers. Malarious fevers are not endemic here. 

 By malignant epidemics, we are seldom visited. The most severe one with which we have had 

 experience is dii)htheria, which raged in the year 18(J(», with various degrees of virulence, in almost 

 every part of Somerset County ; occasional cases continuing to occur up to the present time. I am 

 not aware that locality, temperature, or mode of life had much to do with the disease, as I observed 

 it in atmospheres wet or dry, hot or cold, in localities high or low, and among the well-fed and 

 cleanly as well as those of lower habits of life. At times, it would attack every member of a 

 family where it entered ; and, at others, it would prove fatal in one or more cases, leaving the other 

 members of the family intact. * * # 



"Mental imbecility" is supposed to embrace all grades from the condition of owe non compos 

 mentis to that of the actual idiot. If, then, the unfortunate claimant make it appear that he is, in 

 strength of intellect, below the common level, is not his case covered by this section ? Should we 

 not, in such cases, require proof tliatthe man is incapable of obtaining a livelihood, or that he is not 

 allowed the right of suffrage nor required to pay a poll-tax ? 



"Epilepsy." — If, by the expression "Who has attended him in this disease ?" we are to under- 

 stand "Who has attended him in an actual paroxysm!" the order bears rather heavily upon many 

 cases in this district. Many of these patients reside at such a distance from any physician that it 

 is impossible for one to arrive before the paroxysm shall have passed off; and, as the attacks occur 

 irregularly and without warning, it is imj)ossible to provide for the event. Then, again, as most 

 epileptics are thought incurable, they are not often subjects of medical treatment. Would it not, 

 therefore, be more equitable to admit the affidavit of a physician, stating that, from his knowledge 

 of the patient and from common and disinterested report, he verily believes the applicant is subject 

 to epilepsy ? Let him state, also, how frequent are the attacks and when the last occurred. 



"Nearsightedness." — I am unable to see of what use to the army a man can be who is unable, 

 at the distance of a few feet or yards, to distinguish a man from a horse. Would it not be proper 

 to make some degree of myopia (;ause for exemption ? * * * 



"Total loss of any two fingers of same hand." — It is believed that a man without the little and 

 ring fingers of the left hand (which exeti>pts) can better perform the duties of a soldier than he can 

 with the loss of the second phalanges of all the fingers of the left hand (which does not exempt;) 

 also, that the permanent contraction or extension of two fingers of the left hand is as nearly dis- 

 qualifying as is their loss. May it not, on tbe whole, be suggested that the permanent contraction 

 or extension or the total loss of the third and fourth fingers of the left hand does not disqualify f 



"Loss of first and second phalanges of right hand." — Why should the possession of these 

 phalanges of the third and fourth fingers, or either of theai, on the right hand hold to service? 



