228 SUKGEOKS' REPORTS CONNECTICUT FIRST DISTRICT. 



Tlic prevaleut chronic diseases of tliis section aie chiefly tbose of the respiiatoiy and digestive 

 organs; the piepondeianie being of the ioimer. The prevailing acute diseases are pneumonia, 

 typhoid fever, and rheumatism. The causes of these are jjlainly traceable to the character of our 

 climate and the occuiiation of the people. We have the extremes of heat and cold, with the sudden 

 changes which appeitain to the northeastern latitudes of our country; hence proceeds much rheu- 

 matism and diseases of the lungs. The told nights and warm days of autumn tend to the develo]) 

 ment of continued lever. 



The industrial pursuits of onr people are chiefly agriculture and manufacture. 



The disability which has given the greatest number of exemptions is hernia, and it occurs 

 chiefly among hard-working men, viz, farmers, machinists, and carpenters, and arises from lifting 

 large weights. 



I have attempted to discover imperfections in the diflereut sections ol paragraph 85. I think 

 of only one or two suggestions. 1st. There are many very small hernias, which the fortunate i>os- 

 sessors were hardly aware of until something was wanted to juocure exemption ui)on. A little 

 inguinal or umbilical bunch, which has never given the man a day's discomfort, is the sought-for 

 l>rize, and exemption is the result. Manj of these cases occur among the hardest-working men in 

 the community, who never have worn a truss, aud have never had trouble with their " rupture." It 

 is my belief that three-fourths of the exemptions for this cause should not, in the great necessity for 

 men, be granted. Discretion might be given the examining surgeon in such cases. 2d. The loss 

 of teeth, with the present perfection of dentistry, is in many cases hardly a loss at all. It has 

 seemed to me that a man who is in good vigorous health, and has a set of false upper teeth which . 

 he has used for years, is able to perform military duty. Fewer exemptions for these causes are 

 all the changes I would suggest. 



In the examination of a man, I first phii'j him erect, about twenty feet distant from me. This 

 gives me a good view of the bearing of the man, and furnishes me an opportunity to test the acuteness 

 of his hearing. It has been my custom to put the man upon oath to answer every questiou correctly. 

 He is then interrogated as to his name, birthplace, age, occupation, residence in different climates 

 and their effect upon his health, life or death of parents, constitutional diseases, and any other ques- 

 tions which may be suggested by the appearance of the individual-. He is also examined as to 

 whether he has before been in the military service. If so, his discharge must be exhil)ited, and the 

 reason for his discharge ascertained. His eyes and teeth are next examined. If anywhere in this part 

 of the examination doubts of the man's fitness for military service are entertaiued, he is rejected. If 

 not, he is then stripped, and his height and measurement of chest at expiration and inspiration 

 taken. 1 then begin with the fingers, and examine every joint in the body. I require him to open 

 and shut the fingers rapidly, to flex and extend the thumbs and wrists, rotate, flex, aud extend the 

 foKi-arm, raise the arms perpendicularly above the head and throw them to the side. While hold- 

 ing the liaiKls above the head, he is made to cough violently, and the inguinal rings and umbilicus 

 are examined for hernia. These various motions are repeated .several times. I then examine the 

 head; then thechest, b,> auscultation and percussion ; aud look for blemishes generally. He is then 

 started upon the " double quick" in a circle of about thirty feet; then hops upon each foot over the 

 saiiH^ course. If there is any constraint in any of these movements, the suspected joint or limb is 

 thoroughly examined. After the exercise, the lungs and heart are again auscultated. The scrotum 

 receives attention ; fistula, varicose veins, syphilis, and gonorrhoea are looked for. Whenever 

 doubts of the man's fitness for the service exist, I have given the Government the advantage of 

 them, and rejected him. * * * 



It is almost impossible to designate special frauds to be guarded against in the examination 

 of men. J\len anxious to join the service resort to every art to hide disabilities, and those drafted 

 are frequently unscrupulous in their efforts to secure rejection. I think the brokers have succeeded 

 more frequently in leinporaiily curing small hernias tlian in any of their other attempts to patch 

 up disabled men. This is done by keeping the parts packed in ice for a day or two, and before 

 ri'hixation takes place the men are presented for examination. Then, too, there are many cases of 

 liability to hernia in which there is no apparent relaxation of the inguinal rings at the time of 

 examination. 8iic1j men are liable to be accepted, aud then, upon the least appearance of the hernia, 

 obtain tiieir discharge. And just here comes the very great evil of the " boards of inspection," which 



