260 surgeons' reports — new yokk — fifteenth district. 



ing diseases bave been made in tins distrif^t. They were mostly comprised in attempts to magnify 

 some local wealuiess or disability, which, it' admitted, would not exempt. The fraiuls attempted by 

 recruits and substitutes in order to enter the service have been mostly in regard to age; endeavor- 

 ing, by the aid of hairdyes and the arts of the barber, to get up the fictitious appeaiance of being 

 under forty-five. Ordinary discernment, however, easily detects them. If the i)opnlar clamor 

 against marking rejected or accepted recruits could be -withstood, it would have its benefits in this 

 direction. The only otlier thing I think of is by having photographs made in established cases of 

 attempted fraud, and their distribution among the several districts of the State or adjoining States, 

 with accompanying particulars. 



The native-born American seems to me to present the greatest physical aptitude for military 

 service. The Irish are the next. 



The physical qualifications of the colored race for military service, from the limited number of 

 cases observed in this district, are pronounced decidedly good. 



The enrollment-law operates in some cases harshly, as, for instance, in cases of poor families, 

 dependent on the single exertions of parent or son. The principle, however, of substitution, and 

 the aid of towns, counties, and States, have prevented what might otherwise have been an oppress- 

 ive result. As a general law, I can suggest no change in it that would not detract from its 

 efficiency. 



As a check on dishonest or negligent examining-surgeons, and as a matter of safety and justice 

 to honest ones, recruits and substitutes should have a second examination while at rendezvous, and 

 not wait for regimental boards in the field. If thrown out at such second examination, the man 

 sliould be returned to the district in which examined, or in some way the surgeon first examining 

 should have an opportunity to apprise himself of the identity of the man, or otherwise convict 

 himself of error. 



S. O. VANDERPOOL, 

 Surgeon Board of Enrollment Fourteenth District of New York. 



Albany, N. Y., June 1, 1865. 



NEW YORK— FIFTEENTH DISTRICT. 

 Extracts from report of Dr. O. L. Hubbell. 



* * * I was appointed surgeon of the board about the 17th of Ajjril, 1863, and 

 entered upon the duties of the ofhce soon after the first of May of the same year. 



The first and only draft that has taken place in this district occurred on the 15th of July follow- 

 ing. Our operations were then somewhat suddenly suspended by the draft mob and riot, which took 

 place here almost simultaneously with the one in New York City. Although a great amount of 

 property was destroyed in the city, the provostmarshal's office was not molested, owing to the fact 

 that the rioters knew we were well supplied with hand-grenades from the Watervliet Arsenal near 

 by, and had a sufficient number of good, loyal men ready and willing to use them. 



The rioters were almost all Irish, emp'oyPi^ i'l tlie rolling-mills and iron-works of this place. 

 But a small proportion of this population have ever enlisted here, and many of them are known 

 now to be bounty -jumpers. * » # 



The whole number of drafted men examined 3, 354 



The whole number of recruits and substitutes 5, 027 



The whole number of enrolled men , 1 , 373 



Total number examined 0, 754 



* * * The district is composed of the counties of Rensselaer and Washington. 

 Rensselaer County is iiuite hilly and mountainous, well watered, and healthy. Washington Countj' 

 is more level, equally healthy, and one of the richest agricultural counties of the State. There is 

 no malarial region in the district, and there are no special causes existing to produce a tendency to 

 any [)artieular class of diseases. With the exception of the city of Troy and some of the large 



