240 surgeons' reports — new york — fourth district. 



is soiiietbiug truly glorious in a nation's springing up to defend its honor and existence, each indi- 

 vidual vying with the other to make sacritiees for the common cause in a purely voluntary way. 

 While; on the contrary, there is something as truly shameful and humiliating to the mind of a true 

 patriot in viewing the spectacle of a professed volunteer enlisting for money alone, caring nothing 

 tor the feelings of honest patriotism and only looking with an avaricious eye upou the dollars he 

 shall receive, at the same time planning how he shall manage to do the least possible service for 

 his country. 



1 regard the Germans as possessing the greatest physical aptitude for military service ; my 

 opinion is formed from my own experience in the examination of men of different nationalities. 



My experience has been that the African race presents less physical aptitude for the military 

 service than any of the nationalities presented for my examination. 



As far as I am capable of judging, the enrollment-law as it now exists is good, and I can 

 devise no alterations that would be of any practical utility, or would be likely to improve 

 it. * * * 



W. H. TROWBRIDGE, 

 Surgeon Board of Enrollment., Fourth District of Connecticut. 



Bridgeport, Conn., May 25, 1SG5. 



NEW YORK— FODRTU DISTRICT.' 



Extracts from report of Dr. James O'Rorke. 



* • * My experience in the examination of men for the military service has been 



limited to the period of my connection with this Bureau, commencing May 1, 1SG3, and extending 

 to the present time. 



The number of men examined by me, as nearly as can be ascertained, is about 3,800. « # * 



This district comjirises the lower portion of Manhattan. Island, embracing the First, Second, 

 Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth wards of the city of New York. Its boundaries are: On 

 the east, the East River; on the west, the Hudson River; on the south, the Bay of New York; on 

 the uoi th, Houston street of the above-named city. It is the oldest and most thickly-builfportion 

 of the city. 



The diseases most prevalent are those induced by rum, syphilis, and bad air; with which latter 

 the numerous damp, under ground rooms, unventilated garrets, and filthy tenement-houses of the 

 district are infected. 



The inhabitants are ot a mixed character, representing aliiiost every known nationality; and, 

 as a general thing, the floating, irresponsible element, which enters largely into the composition of 

 a city-jiopalation, i)reduininates here. Their modes ot life and their occupations are such as are 

 l»eculiar to the poorei' classes of all large commercial and crowded sea-port cities. 



It is noticeable that venereal disease has disqualified a greater proportionate number than 

 other disorders. This is due to the fact that New York is notoriously the resoit of prostitutes, and 

 of abandoned characters of every class and of both sexes. 



With reference to the examination of men, I do not recommend any departure from the Regu- 

 lations of the Bureau a. ready established. I consider that all properly disqualifying diseases and 

 intirmities are embraced in the several sections of paragraph So, Revised Regulations Provost- 

 Marshal-General's Bureau; and, though great care and discretion must be employed in adopting 

 the rules therein laid down as a guide in all cases, no similar code, however elaborate, will obviate 

 the necessity of i)er.sonal accuracy, critical investigation, and the exercise of sound professional 

 judgment. . » * * 



With reference to the number of men who cau be examined per day with accuracy, my experi- 

 ence does not affoidine a proper basis for an estimate which would be generally applicable. The 

 number who presented themselves for examination, from time to time, varied so greatly each day, 



' No reports were received from the first three districts of New York. 



