surgeons' reports MASSACHUSETTS — THIRD DISTRICT. 199 



acute. Cause: api>liciition of C;ivenne popper. 2d. Preteiuhul incoiitiiieiice of urine. Tlie follow 

 ciiMie for examination with -shirt wet, and exhaling strong amuKiniaeal odor ; he confessed tiie impos- 

 ture. 3d. Two cases of simulating skin-disease, one from the application of crotoa oil. This man 

 brought certificates to the effect that he was troubled with chronic skin-disease, and exhibited both 

 legs covered with the eruption from the knee to the ankle, as coi loborating evidence. The other 

 case was evidently caused by an application of acid — probably sulphuric. Several men presented 

 themselves wearing trusses, and handing in eertiticates that they had hernia. Finding in eadi 

 instance the ring of natural size, and the tendinous structure surrounding it of natural firmness, I 

 passed them as sound, telling them that $300 was a small a«iount to i)ay for the relief they must 

 experience in finding they had been needlessly alarmed. 



As to " what nationality presents the greatest physical aptitude for military service," my expe- 

 rience lias not been sufficient to enable me to form an oi)inion satisfactoiy to myself. The Germans 

 and Frenchmen presented as substitutes have been superior men, but, of course, cannot be taken 

 as standards of their races, as they were specially selected tor this purpose. In mere jjhysique, 

 perhaps tlie Irish might be adjudged to have the adviintage of such Americans as we have in thi.«. 

 district ; but as regards aptitude for arms in all its relations, 1 should by no means deem the Celtic 

 race superior to the Saxon or Anglo-Norman. 



In answer to the question as to the " physical qualifications of the coloied race for military serv- 

 ice," I will say that the number of colored men presented for examination was not sufficient to Justify 

 an o[)inion ; but an experience of some months' practice among this class, some years since, in 

 Demerara, enables ntvto give a decided opinion that the negro is generally of good jihysique, and, in a 

 climate suited to his constitution, not more liable to acute attacks of disease than the white man, and 

 fully as able to support fatigue and endure hardship. I think the negro has every physical quali- 

 fication for military service. I refer to the pure, or nearly pure, black ; for although I have known 

 some muscular and healthy mulattoes, I am convinced that, as a general rule, any considerable 

 admixture of white blood deteriorates the physique, impairs the powers of endurance, and almost 

 always introduces a scrolulous taint. * * # * * * 



H. B. HUBBAED, 

 Surgeon Board of Enrollment Second District of Massachusetts. 



Taunton, Mass., June 15, 1SG5. 



MASSACHUSETTS— THIRD DISTRICT. 

 Extracts from report of V>ii. JosEPn II. Streeter. 



* * * Including the recruits for the Veteran Reserve Corps, (of the estimated 



number of whom there is norecortl,) there has been examined in this office, from July 14, 18C3, to 

 April 12, 1805, a total number exceeding 10,000 men. * # * ^ 



This district comprises the Fourth, Seventh, Eighth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth wards of 

 Boston, the city of Roxbury, and the town of Brookline. The largest portion of territory included 

 in this district, viz, tlie Fourth, Seventh, and Twelfth wards of Boston, the towns of Roxbury and 

 Brookline, presents an uneven surface, with abrupt elevations. The soil is extremely porous, in some 

 portions overlying an extensive, stratum of rock formation, insiuiiig good surface-drainage. 



The marshy portion, bordering upon the water-line, is constantly being-reclaimed for the erection 

 of dv.-eIling-houses and manufactories by an admirable system of grading with clean gravel and loam, 

 which are brought a distance of several miles from the city, over a railroad- track constructed ex- 

 pressly for that purpose. Suitable portions of this new-made land are reserved for public squares. 

 This diversified surface, in connection with a good system of underground sewerage, cleanliness of 

 public thoroughfares, and the reclamation of marsh-land constantly in progress, secures immunity 

 from miasmatic diseases, or the extensive visitations of epidemics, such as i^revail in other popu- 

 lous communities where these favorable conditions do not exist. 



The diseases most prevalent among the adult population are tuberculosis, acute diseases of the 

 resjiiratory organs and abdominal viscera, and rheumatism. The prevalence of these afl'ections 

 is mainly due to the peculiar characteristics of the climate, viz, alternations of temperature in 



