216 SUKGEOKS' EEPORTS MASSACHUSETTS EIGHTH DISTRICT. 



mentioued the sudden cliauges in tbe temperature and humidity of the atmosphere ; luiasira 

 exhaled from sluggish rivers aud the esteusive meadows upou their borders, and the many suiall 

 lakes that dot the suriaceof the district. To these natural causes 1 would add the occupation ot a 

 large portion of the laboriue-class iu cotton, shoe, woolen, aud paper manufactures, as tending to 

 produce feebleness of constitution, and to develop scrofula, phthisis, and other tubercular diseases. 

 About seveuty-iive per cent, of all deaths, registered from 1850 to ISCO, were from diseases in two 

 classes : zymotic and tubercular. 



The occupation of tbe inhabitants of the district embraces almost every branch of industry 

 known to civilized nations. About one-third are engaged in agriculture. Tiie gjeat manufactories 

 of cotton, wool, and iron in Lowell; tbe extensive manufactories of shoes in Natick, Ilopkinton, 

 Holliston, Marlborough, and mauy other large towns of the district ; the large paper, cabinet, and 

 straw-works iu others, together with other branches of mechanical industry, give occupation, in 

 whole or in part, to the other two-thirds of the populatiou. * * * In general intelligence, 

 mental, moral, and religious culture aud refinement, the people of this district are probably not 

 surpassed by any iu the State. 



Locality aud occupation have a marked effect ou physical developmeut, health, aud disease; 

 hence, iu any district where a large proportioti of its iuliabitants are engaged iu the sedentary 

 occupation of shoemaking, iu cotton manulactures, aud kindred employments, a large ratio per 

 thousand will be disqualified for military service by reason of feebleness of constitution, tubercu- 

 losis, varicose veins, bicmorrhoids, aud chronic ulcers. Of the whole number exempted (1,013) in 

 tliis district under tbe draft of 18G3, 307 were rejected for the above causes. 



I have found no difficulty in classing all cases of exemptions under the list given in paragraph 85, 

 Revised Kegulations. i>fo change occurs to me as necessary to be made. * « * 



SeiTiiti/Jice meu per day is, I think, about tbe average number that can be examined with 

 accuracy. 



Three cases only occurred to me where fraud was evidently intended by drafted meu. Two of 

 them, by application of some irritant, probably crotou-oil, to the flexures of joints and calves of 

 tbe legs, had tried to imitate scrofula, or salt-rheum. Tbe other mau pretended deafness. Tbe 

 fraud iu each case was easily detected. Many others attempted to influence the decision of tbe 

 surgeou by exaggerating slight defects and infirmities that really existed, aud by presenting certifi- 

 cates of physicians who had examined or attended them at some [irevious time; but all such cases 

 were so transparent, with the subject before me, as to aflbrd but little or no embarrassment iu the 

 discharge of my duty. 



The data obtained from the draft and recruiting iu this district are so limited that tbe com- 

 parison of i)bysical aptitude for military service between ditfeient nations can hardly be made. 

 JMost of those representing other nationalities than American were exempted on account of alien- 

 age, aud the few that have been examined as recruits and substitutes do not fairly represent the 

 general mass of their countrymen. * 



But very few colored men have been examined at this office ; but so far as my experience goes 

 I am able to speak in high terras of the physical qualifications of the race iu this country for mili- 

 tary service. ♦ * * 



DAVID S. FOGG, 

 Sun/eon Board of En roll in cut ISeccnth District Mannachunctts. 



CONCOKD, Mass., June 14, 1805. 



MASSACHUSETTS— EIGHTH DISTRICT. 

 Extracts from report of Db. Oramel Martin. 



The total number of examinations made by me was 7,797. * » » 

 This district is rich iu soil and abundant iu agricultural productions. The streams are swift 

 and large, whirling all kinds of wheels of industry. Its iuliabitants manufacture uuicbinery, agri- 

 cultural implements, guns, pistols, cannon, cars, railroad-iron, cotton and woolen goods, carriages, 

 and almost everything that adds to the convenience, comfort, or luxury of man. 



