surgeons' REPOUTS NEW HAMPSHIRE SECOND DISTRICT. 183 



renders a mau more liable to one disease or disal)ility than another, that disease or disaUility is 

 certainly hernia. There is no pathological roiidition of the system that has so j;reat a, tendency to 

 produce hernia as habitual constipation of the bowels, a condition altogether too freijueutly tol- 

 erated in conseiiuence of ignorance ot its present as well as ulterior pernicious effect upon the 

 system. 



I have no recollection of ever having heard any ex|ihination of the reason why so many people 

 have poor teeth. It is a misfortune more strikingly manifested in (if indeed it is not peculiar to) 

 the American i)eople. I have a theory of my own, however, which is, that the teeth, as much as 

 any other part of the body, need a certain amount of exercise for the maintenance of a healthy 

 condition; failing of this, in consei]uence of tiie i)ernicious habit of swallowing the food witliont 

 thorough mastication, the teeth rot from inaction. Other causes, such as eimr in diet, or peihaps 

 injudicious medication, may, and probably do, have more or less influence in producing the diseased 

 condition. # * * 



I should say that the thorough examination of fifty men would be a good fhiij's work ; but it 

 could be done, with due diligence and freedom from interru|)tion. 



I have no hesitation in expressing my decided preference for the negro as possessing in a su- 

 perlative degree " the greatest i)Iiysical aptitude for military service." * * * * 

 A good ear for music and the power of imitation are the most important clemeuts upon which is 

 based a natural aptitude for military service. In the drill, they are iudisi)ensal)!e. The ear for 

 music in order to correctly appreciate the divisions of time; the power of imitation to aid in ex- 

 ecuting the various and difficult movements required in the mannal of arras. And there is no race 

 in the world more musical and imitative than the negro. What constitutes " the i)iiysical quali- 

 fication" of a man " for military service," is mainly muscular development and power of endurance ; 

 and here again I shall decide in favor of " the colored race." 



I have been struck with admiration at the wonderful display of symmetry, blended with mus- 

 cular power, in many of these tawny sons of a common parentage. And can there be two oi)ini()ns 

 as to his power of endurance? Does not the infamous and cruel history of the race sufificiently 

 attest it? It has become his nature to obey. The necessity of this obedience forms the founda- 

 tion of all the little he was ever taught. It has been forced into him by the branding iron and 

 knotted lash of his inexorable teacher. Yes, the negro h;'s already learned "the first duty of a 

 soldier." 



In this consideration, it is understood the opinion of the surgeon is to be predicated upon his 

 experience, and when I refer to the negro I speak of the class that have been presented to me for 

 examination ; albeit there were few who had not blood of " the first families " in them. 



In section 3, (epilepsy,) it says, "Tlie fact vmst be est iblished by the duly-attested adUtlavit of 

 a physician in good standing, who has atteinled him in the disease within six months inunediately 

 preceding his examination by the board." It has been found that iu nine out of ten cases of epi- 

 leptic drafted men, there will have been no medical attendance whatever for years. And yet these 

 men are confirmed epileptics, and should be exempted. 



Section 20. " Total loss oi all X\\q front teeth, the eye-teeth, nnA first molars, even if only of one 

 jaw." I am convinced that drafted men have been improperly exempted under this section. Many 

 soldiers, who have served three years with credit to themselves and benefit to the country, have 

 presented themselves for exaniination for the jiurpose of re-enlisting as veterans, whose teeth have 

 been defective as described; and yet these men, if drafted, would have been exempted by this 

 section. * # # 



Section 33. Mainly for the same reasons I should not exempt a drafted mau who had lost onlif 

 the "ungual phalanx of right thumb;" neither for " total loss of any two fingers of same hand," 

 with the exception of index and middle fingers of the right. 



Section 3. I would recommend that all relating to the " affidavit of a physician, &(!.," be stricken 

 out, so the section wt)uld read : " For this disability the statement of the drafted man is insKfficient, 

 and the fact must be established by the duly attested aflidavit of such other persons as the board 

 may think necessary." 



Section G. I would recommeud that the word "developed" be strick<iu out. 



