surgeons' RErORTS — MASSACHUSETTS — SIXTH DISTRICT. 213 



of employments suited to their ])Iiysical condition, eonj^regatiiiLT \vliei'e tliey enn find work ; 3d. A 

 propoition of the male poi)nlatiou are engaged in very Ijboiions eallings, demanding powerful 

 muscular exertion. The injurious practice of "running for the cars" until completely out of breath, 

 into which [)ersons who depend constantly on this mode of conveyan(;e are a])t to fall ; and with 

 firemeu the running, olten for long distances, to lires, with tlieir subse(|uent etiorts to extinguish 

 them, may be noticed as predisposing causes of heart-disease common in this district. 



Injuries and diseases of eyes. — The exemptions in tliis district for these disabilities, 26.1 

 per 1,000, were perhai)s larger than in many others, owing to the number of mechanics enrolled, 

 as the loss of the sight of an eye is an accident frequently occurring to this class, especially to 

 blacksmiths and workers on stt^el and iron. Of the persons who were exempted for total loss of 

 sight of right eye, a large majority informed me that the indrmity arose from injuries received 

 while pursuing their avocations. 



Diseases of Uukjs. — The exemptions for this cause were 17.7 per 1,000. Of these, 122 only were 

 for phthisis pulmonalis ; a small number compared with those for several of the preceding diseases, 

 but large when we consider the extreme fatality of consumption. 



Varicocele, cirsocele, sarcocele, and diseases of the testicles. — 11.5 per 1,000 were exempted for 

 these iutirmities. The cases of varicocele and cirsocele were either complicated with atrophy or 

 other affections of the testicle, or were so severe as to be in themselves unmistakably disqualifying. 

 A degree of varicocele or cirsocele was the most common disability on account of which exemption 

 was claimed. I think there were not more than 25 per cent, of those who presented themselves 

 for examination in whom this affection did not exist to some extent. Several veteran volunteers 

 presenting themselves for re-enlistment had enormous cirsocele, but they assured me that they 

 experienced no inconvenience therefrom. Cirsocele affecting the rigbt spermatic vein was found 

 but in one instance ; a proof of its extreme rarity in that situation. 



Deafness, including purulent otorrhea. — 10.8 per 1,000 were exempted for decided deafness, &c. 

 I have been unable to trace the connection of the occurrence of dealness in the persons exempted 

 therefor with the occuiiatious in which they were severally engaged. 



Affections of brain and mind, including insanity, epilepsy, idiocy, &c. — Cerebral diseases and 

 affections of the mind were not nnmerous. This may be attributable to the fact that a large 

 majority of the persons examined were engaged in mechanical occupations, or such as do not 

 ordinarily tax the mental faculties severely. The number of eXemi)tions for mental unfitness were 

 9.3 per 1,000. # * * 



The number of men that can be accurately iuspecte<l in one day by an examining- surgeon, 

 (without the aid of an assistant,) I may state, as the result of my experience, ought not to exceed 

 si.vty, or an average of eight for each working-hour. Should this number seem small, it must be 

 borne in mind that, although in many cases a correct opinion of a recruit's ability to perform mili- 

 tary duty can be formed at a glance, as where there is loss of a hand or foot, yet time is con- 

 sumed in taking the man's description, ascertaining his height, weight, girth, expansive mobility, 

 &c., and in filling his certificate of exemption ; so that, when a record of these particulars is 

 required to be made, from five to eight minutes must necessarily be occupied even by the most 

 casual and rapid examination. # * # 



In general, it is easier to examine drafted men than voluntary recruits and substitutes. The 

 former are only too anxious to display their infirmities to their full extent, and are prone to 

 exaggerate them. 1 have known but one case where a drafted man, i>hysi(!ally unfitted for the 

 service, has atteaipted to conceal a disability. A drafted man will sometimes attempt one of the 

 deceptions, which, in the hands of the practised malingei'er, too often ])rove successful, but I have 

 never found an instance in which the artifice was not so clumsy as to be readily detected. The 

 chance that in the examination of a volunteer recruit an artfully-concealed defect may escape the 

 surgeon's scrutiny is greater than the i)rol)ability of his being deceived by the unskillful portraiture 

 of disease drawn by a novice in the art of simulation, and such the dratted man must be, except 

 iu rare cases where the lot has fallen upon some veteran impostor. 



Of course, the surgeon will be doubly upon his guard when called to examine a drafted man 

 who has once been in the service, and who may have served an api)renticeship at malingering. 

 The voluntary recruit during exaniiuation usually maintains a discreet silence, at least until lie 



