214 surgeons' KEPOBTS^MASSACHUSETTS SIXTH DISTRICT. 



sees bis rejection probable. He may then becoine vobible in his protestations of being a " sound 

 man." The ihat'teil luau, ou the con;rary, has a dolelul history to lecouut of the iuliniiities which 

 unfit him for military service, and usually appears armed with a certificate to that effect from his 

 family or attending physician. In i)roving an opinion of his physical condition, the surgeon will 

 often derive assistance from the drafted man's own statements, since, in his anxiety to make out a 

 good case against himself, he is apt to overshoot the marlc. In short, as a rule, the drafted man 

 may be assumed to be able-bodied until proved otherwise. The volunteer recruit, ou the other 

 baud, may be presumed to labor under a concealed di.squalilication, which it is the surgeon's busi- 

 ness to search lor, and, if possible, detect ; to do which will require the exercise of all iLe skill and 

 acumen be may possess. * * * 



There are many cases of hernia, the diagnosis of which for the time being may be rendered 

 difficult, if not impossible, by the employment of certain precautionary measures familar to those 

 ^ho make a business of preparing recruits for inspection. In such cases, when the disqualifica- 

 tion is suspected, its detection can be accomplished only by great care ou the part of the examining 

 surgeon, and often at no small expenditure of time. 



For the reasons given, 1 have been able to conduct the examination of drafted men more 

 expeditiously than that of volunteer recruits or substitutes. The surgeon who properly examines 

 Jifty of the latter class i)er diem, for weeks and months consecutively, will find his physical and 

 mental energies fully taxed, and will, 1 think, have accomplished all that may reasonably be lequired 

 of him. 



Frauds attempted hy drafted men to escape, and by substitutes and recruits to enter the service. — 

 These were few in number, seldom attempted, the artifices employed clumsy, aud the detection of 

 them easy. 



Several specimens of urine, which had been sophisticated, were brought by drafted men on 

 pretense that they were suffering from disease of the kidneys. The microscope repealed the 

 extianeous character of the deposit, and a comparison of the urine voided in my presence with that 

 previously ottered aided in exposing the deception. In one instance, a draltcd man ]>rocured a 

 specimen of urine voided by a person dying of Bright's disease, warmed it in the sun, and presented 

 it to me, stating that it was his own, passed a few moments before entering the inspection-room. 

 I directed him to micturate in the ofitlce ; he declared his inability to do it so soou after having 

 emptied his bladder. Finding that he would be detained until he succeeded in uriaating, in a few 

 moments he discharged a pint of healthy urine, confessed the obvious attempt at fraud, and was 

 held to service. 



Partial anchylosis of one of the large joints was occasioually pretended. These cases pre- 

 sented no difficulty, except in one instance, in which the joiut had actually been fractured. This 

 occurred on the first day of tlie inspection of drafted men at these headquarters, ou which day l.JO 

 men had been ordered to report for examination. Finding that the admiui-stration of aether would 

 be required in order to arrive at a correct opinion, I referred the case to the provost-marshal, who, 

 to avoid delay, i)ut the man upon his oath. He swore to a disability, which, by the following 

 morning, was proved not to exist ; he was arrested and held to personal .service. 



Ifl the case of recruits and substitutes, extreme vigilance was sometimes necessary to detect 

 a concealed hernia. One man was passed with this disability upon him, (although subjected to rigid 

 examination,) who doubtless had been treated by those means which, when skillfully employed, 

 render the detection of hernia temporarily impossible. * * * 



My own views in reference to the difterent sections of paragraph 85, Revised Regulations, Pro- 

 vost-Mar.shal (leneral's Bureau, coincide entirely with tlio.se of the Chief INledical Officer thereof, 

 as stated in the Appendix to the Annual Report, dated November 15, 1SG4, and I shall venture to 

 express them nearly in his own language. 



I do not recommend any change in the list of diseases and infirmities governing boards of 

 enrollment in the exemptiou of drafted men, believing that, with a proper construction and under- 

 standing of the list as now given in the paragraph mentioned, all drafted men who are really unlit 

 for military service can be exenqited in accordance with its provisions. * » « 



To the inquiry, " What nationality presents the greatest physical aptitude for military ser- 



