surgeons' KEPORTS — CONNEGTICUT THIRD DISTRICT. 235 



alluvium in tlio lattor. In some portions of the district, particularly the soutbern, tbe land is so 

 excessively rocky as to l)e suited only tor i;'.aziii,s;'. 



The climate is remarkably salubrious. There are no diseases wliicli may be coUvSidered endemic. 

 Phthi.sis pulmonalis is probably the most prevalent of chronic diseasi s. This can only be ascribed 

 to the ordinary existing' causes ; the vaiiable weather and sudden changes of temperature, which 

 occur particularly on the coast, as well as the habits and occupations of the inhal)ltants, a large 

 portion being engaged in maiuifa<'turing, both alike contribute to its inducition 



Of acute diseases, typhoid fever is most frequently met with. It generally occurs in the autumn 

 or early part of winter. It is more prevalent in the country-villages tluiii in the large towns and 

 cities. SouH' cases are sporadic, but it generally i)revails as an epidemic. When it invades a house- 

 hold, every member is liable to an attack, varying in severity according to the individual idiosyn- 

 cracy. 



Like tyi>hoid fever in the fall, pneumonia is, of acute diseases, most common in the si)ring. 

 There are no special causes conducive thereto other than those which exist elsewhere. 



Remittent and intermittent fevers are never met with except in the form of a relapse in ]>ersons 

 who have received the materies morJii into their systems in other localities. 



Diarrhea and dysentery prevail to a limited extent, during some seasons, In the summer and 

 early part of autumn. The mortality from this source is comparatively small, most cases yielding 

 readily to appropriate medical treatment. 



Within a few years past, diphtheria hns, in some parts of the district, particularly in the country - 

 towns, occurred as an epidemic. Its victims have been ;ilmost invariably children or adolescents. 

 Adults are occasionally attacked, but in general readily recover. The disease is unquestionably 

 infectious in its character. The therapeutical measures resorted to in its treatment thus far have 

 proved of little avail. The severe cases generally prove fatal under the most approved system of 

 medication ; those of a less malignant type will recover under a pure air and a good diet, by the 

 unaided eflorts of nature. 



The inhabitants of the district are intelligent, industrious, and, for the most part, eminently 

 moral and religious. A system of free education everywhere exists, and but few persons can 

 be found umible to read or write. By far the greater portion are engaged in agricultural pur- 

 suits; the remainder are chiefly manufacturers aud seamen, the former being more numerous than 

 the latter. # # # 



My experience in the examination of drafted and enrolled men leads me to the opinion that 

 there are no i)articular diseases or disabilities existing in this region which disqualify a greater 

 ratio per thousand than ordinarily for military service. 



With regard to recruits and substitutes, but few of whom, especially during the past year, have 

 been residents of the district, syphilis, in its i)rotean forms, has been the chief disqualifying cause. 

 The class of men who latterly have presented themselves voluntarily for enlistment, prompted by 

 the high national, State, aud local bounties, and from whom I have bad to select suitable material, 

 have been, for the most part, a depraved, uni)rincipled set. The low state of morals of these 

 men is a sufficient explanation of tbe prevalence of syphilis among them to such an inordinate 

 extent. # # # 



Paragra])h 85, as at present revised, is about as complete a .system of instructions as the sur- 

 geon can have to guide him in the examination of drafted men. There are but few changes that 1 

 would recommend. 



The first change I have to suggest is in the phraseology of section 3 — epilepsii. In determining 

 whether a drafted num should be exemi)ted for this disability, the surgeon has to rely mainly upon 

 the affidavit of the family-physician. I am of the opinion that the ])rivilcge aflbrded by tbe section, 

 as it now read.s, is open to abuse. I would advise that the physician be required to certify, under 

 oath, not only that he has attended the man in the disease within tbe i)rescribed time, but also to 

 des(aibe minutely the character of the fit, am} all the symptoms attending it, that the surgeon may be 

 eiuibled to judge for himself whether the disease really is or is not of an epileptic nature. 



Section 12. Total loss of sight of right eye. I would change this to total loss of sight of either 

 eye. In nearly every ca.se which has come belore me, the left eye has been more or less afi'ected, 

 either sympaXlu^tically or by reason of the additional duties im[)osed upon it. 



