236 surgeons' reports — Connecticut — third district. 



Section 20. Total loss of all the front teeth, &c., deprives the Goveriiuieut of tlie services of 

 thousands of able-bodied men. In a time of war, and during a great demand for troops like that 

 which this country has just experienced, I would not exempt persons of this class whose bodies are 

 well nourished and general health good. I would form them into regiments and brigades by them- 

 selves, and send them with rations adapted to their imiterfect power of mastication. They could be 

 used to advantage, if not iu the field, certainly in permanent garrisons. 



Sections .'Jl, 32, and 34. I would so modify these as to hold to the ser\ice all those who, though 

 they may be disqualitied from murvhing by reason of some imperfection iu their organs of locomo- 

 tion, are yet rendered thereby in no wise unfit for cavalry duty. JSumerous cases have come under 

 my observation where men have possessed some defect of the lower extremities entitling them to 

 exemption, who, in the cavalry branch, would have done excellent service. * * # 



The number of men that can be examined each day of course depends n))ou the number 

 of hours the surgeon can devote to this particular duty. Sis, oi, at most, eight hours is as 

 many as he can safely sjiend in the physical exanjinations consistenily with his other duties. 

 From sixty to eighty men is, therefore, iu my opinion, as many as he can examine with accu- 

 racy per day. * * * 



It would be impossible to describe all the devices resorted to by men in their eflbrts to impose 

 upon the surgeon. The most common subjects of fraudulent attempt on the part of dratted and 

 enrolled men to evade the service are as follows: 



1. Vnsuituhleness of age, (under twenty or over forty five.) In deciding these eases 1 have 

 relied chiefly ui)on my own judgment, lyiless the individual could bring a certified coi)y (under 

 oath) of the registry of his birth. The affidavits of personal Iriends and relatives could not be 

 depended upon. 



2. Deafness. — Of this infirmity, whether it is real or pretended, the surgeon can easily judge, 

 after a little experience, by the manners and actions of the man. 



3. Otorrhcea is sometimes simulated by the introduction into the meatus auditorius of sub- 

 stances analogous in ap[)earance to the ordinary purulent discharge. By a thorough cleansing of 

 tlie parts with a syringe this attempt at decei)tion is readily exposed. 



4. Lameness. — In all cases of this kind, unless some external manifestation exists to substan- 

 tiate their statements, I pay no regard tlnieto. 



In a few instances men have presented themselves, after being drafted, with their teeth just ' 

 extracted. Under the regulations I could do no more than exempt them. 



In one instance a drafted man, on hearing the fate that had befallen him, cut off, with an ax, 

 one of his great toes, thus disqualifying himself jiermauentiy for the service. Another excised the 

 distal phalanx of the index finger of his right iiand, supposing he would be sufdcieutly mutilated 

 thereby to secure his exemi)tion. 



Defects of vision, such as amaurosis, myopia, &c.,aie often simulated, but generally the fraud 

 is readily detected. 



The disability most likely to. escape observation in the examination of recruits aud substitutes 

 desirous of entering the service is hernia, in its incipient form. In many cases of this kind the 

 recruit can retain or force down the knuckle of intestine, at ivill, when both rings are patulous, and 

 the inguinal canal is dilated. I think it is expedient, as a general rule, to reject a recruit, even 

 though on brisk exercise no hernia can be made to piotrude and no impulse can be felt on cough- 

 ing, where the anatomical conformation of the parts are such as just stated, as the recruit can 

 easily induce a hernia on his arrival at camp. 



Eecruits and substitutes, like drafted men. attem])t to deceive the surgeon with regard to 

 their age. Men over forty five dye their hair, shave their faces smooth, and assume the firm and 

 elastic gait of youth. Half-growu, beardless boys endeavor to palm themselves off for full-grown 

 men. The surgeon, with a little care, can readily decide the question of age. I have been more 

 annoyed with boys from fourteen to eighteen than with old men. In both cases I have been obliged 

 to waive entnely their own statements, and judge of their age solely from their general physical 

 appearance. 



During the i)ast year 1 have been greatly annoyed by the presentation, by substitute-brokers 

 and others, of men who have been pi-eviousjy examined and rejected elsewhere. I have rijected, 



