surgeons' reports — CONNECTICUT SECOND DISTRICT. 229 



hiive, iu my opinion, been tbe cause of niucli unnecessary trouble to boards of enrollment, and have 

 deprived tbe Army of many good men. This system of inspection and easy discbarge seems to me 

 to have been bad in every partietilar. 



Tbe Governments, both General iind State, have authorized payment of large bounties to a 

 class of men, many of whom arc devoid of honor, principle, or the least regard for tbe interests of 

 tbe country. They perseveringly and with apparent bonesty ])resent themselves to boards of 

 enrollment, learning the arts of avoiding rejection until success results. They do this witii the 

 purpose of securing t-heir discharge as soon as they re;ich the rendezvous. A mere blemish, that 

 has been thoroughly investigated and proven to be of uo consequence, is magnified to a very severe 

 disability, and the impostor receives an honorable discharge, witii well-lined pockets. If tberujirc 

 any men who deserve at the hands of Government severe dealing they are these. 1 would 

 respectfully suggest whether it would, uot have been better to have formed battalions of such men, 

 and used them for fatigue or the more unpleasant garrison-duty, thus relieving better men. 



From my limited observation in camp and field life, as well as my ex|)erience in my present 

 office, I would give prefereuce to Americans as soldiers over other nationalities. Perhaps there is 

 but little difference physically between Americans and Irish ; but, when considered physically and 

 mentally, I wonld prefer the former. 



The colored race, so far as I have had to do with them iu examinations, would rank, I should 

 think, after Americans and Irish. It has been a question with me whether they would bear the 

 exposure and hardships of lield-life as well as others, but I believe experieuce is settling tliis matter 

 iu tbeir favor. 



I believe the eurollmentlaw, as it now is, is as t)erfect as it can be. * * * 



J. S. CURTIS, 

 Surgeon Board of Enrollment First District of Connecticut, 



Habtfoed, Conn., Jime 8, 1865. 



CONNECTICUT— SECOND DISTRICT. 



Extracts from report of Dk. E. A. Park. 



* * * I have examined at this oflBce about 9,760 men. This is the extent of 



my experieuce in the examination of men for military service. 



This district covers in territorial extent nine hundred and forty-flve square miles, and contains 

 a population of about one hundred and forty thousand. Its surface is generally hilly, especially in 

 its northern portions, and more level in the southern section, approaching the waters of Long Island 

 Sound. The central valley of Connecticut commences in this district, between East and West 

 Haven, and, runuing in a northeasterly direction, intersecting the Connecticut River near Mid- 

 dletown, furnishes the geologist the idea that it may have been at some period the natural bed of 

 that river, before it forcibly broke through the mountain of primitive rock below Middletown and 

 made for itself a new channel in a southeasterly direction to tiie sound. 



The district is drained for the most part by three rivers and their tributaries, running in a 

 southerly direction, and emptying tbeir waters into Long Island Sound: the Connecticut in tbe 

 eastern, the Housatouic iu the western, and the Quinnipiac in the central portion of tbe district. 



The soil is generally better adapted to grazing tban tillage, with patches of arable land ; but 

 on the margin and in the vicinity of its rivers and streams and along the southern border is more 

 alluvial in its nature, easy of tillage, and quite productive. Agriculture and grazing may be said 

 to be the chief occupations of the district. At Portland and on the east are extensive quarries of 

 red sandstone or freestone, the working of which furnishes employment to large numbers of people. 



Tbe cbief city of the district is New Haven, numbering in population nearly fifty thousand, 

 having a large foreign commerce, and, being extensivel.\ engaged in manufactures, it furnishes employ- 

 ment, in their extent and variety, to nearly one-half its population, male and female. Tbe district 

 also contains the city of Waterbury, with a population of eleven thousand ; Meriden, with a popula- 

 tion of eight thousand ; and Naugatuck, with a population of three thousand. All three cities are 

 largely concerned in manufactures. Derby, Ausonia, Middletown, and Centerville are also engaged 



