182 surgeons' reports — new Hampshire — second district. 



seems to be bat little (laiip;er tliat the surgeon will he imposed upon by such false statements. Men 

 who have hernia become skillful in reducing and retaining it while being examined, but violent 

 coughing is likely to expose the deception, and, occasionally, jumping has brought down the tumor. 

 Attempts to conceal the blindness of an eye are often made, but testing the eyes sei)arate!y never 

 fiiils to detect the deceit. 



It is difficult to distinguish any marked difference in the apparent physical aptitude of the 

 Irish, French, Scotch, American, and English for military service. I am inclined to regard the 

 Irish, French, and Scotch as having tjje most desirable height for a soldier, the largest vitality, 

 and consequently the greatest power of endurance. Tliey have sinewy limbs and close joints. Tlie 

 American is too tall, and has a flat chest. The Englishman is inclined to too great weighty and is 

 clumsy. The German inclines to too much fat, with loose, muscular fiber, consetiuently to vari- 

 cose veins and large abdominal rings ; he has also too large legs, with flat and deforined feet. But 

 few Italians have presented themselves ; they were of desirable stature, and excelled in symmetry. 



My experience in tlie examination of colored men is limited. A few only have offered them- 

 selves, and most of those were of mixed blood. Of those presenting, the stature has been good, the 

 development of tbe chest and muscles large, but the feet were too flat. They appeared like strong 

 men, and I see no valid reason why they should not make efiicieut soldiers. 



* * * I am not aware that I can make any suggestions, or recommend any 



changes, which will add to the efticieucy of the enrollment-act. Tbe greatest difficulty in keeping 

 a correct enrollment is experienced iu ascertaining when young men become twenty years of age. 

 Whenever enrolled men are aliens, nonresidents, or have arrived at the age of forty-tive, the board 

 are pretty sure to be impressed with the fact; but when young men reach the age of twenty, both 

 themselves and their friends become mysteriously reticent upon the subject. # * * 



JEREMIAU F. HALL, 

 Surgeon Board of Enrollment First District of New Hampshire. 



PoRTSMOUTn, N. H., Jtine 15, 1SC5. 



NEW HAMPSniEE— SECOND DISTEIGT. 

 Extracts from report of Db. Eobt. B. Cakswell. 



Tbe second congressional district of New Hampshire is composed of tbe counties of Hillsborough 

 and Merrimack. 



The largest river running through it is the Merrimack, which is formed by the union of the 

 Pemigewassett and Winnipeseogee. 



The whole district is well watered and wooded, abounding iu good farms and excellent pas- 

 turage. Except iu the valley bordering the Merrimack Itiver, where there is considerable iuter- 

 vale and some sandy i)laiu, it is very billy, rocky, and even mountainous. The western portion of 

 the district is nearly made up of the range of hills connecting Mouadnock iu Cheshire County with 

 Kearsarge iu Merrimack County. The distinguishing geographical characteristic of this district is 

 the large number of its lakes and hills. 



The prevalent diseases of the district I shall arrange, in the order of their degree of prevalency : 

 tubercular phthisis; chronic rheumatism, and sciatica, (which may be classed with it;) rheuuuxtic 

 diathesis, or tendency to acute rheumatism. Tbe causes conducive to these diseases are iu part 

 climatic, but mostly dependent upon the habits and indulgences of the people, and may be divided 

 into four classes, viz: 1. Vicissitudes of climate ; 2. Impure air; 3. Personal uncleanliness; i. Igno- 

 rance of hygiene. 



* * * The people are industrious, temperate, and frugal, being for the most part 



small farmers, mechanics, manufacturers, aiul tradesaieu. They succeed, by hard labor, strict 

 economy, and teuiperate habits, iu obtaining a comfortable and honest liveliliood. * * * 



Tbe reasons why hernia in its various forms, and loss of teeth are more prevalent among those 

 "liable to draft" than any other i)articular diseases or disabilities are not as apparent as could be 

 wished. There is no doubt as to the fact. When we get beyond the cbai)ter of accidents in account- 

 ing lor this, \v(! shall he constrained to resort to theory. If a i)eculiarity of physical organization 



