266 surgeons' reports — new york — nineteenth district. 



of our people are farmers, and are necessarily exposed to more severe labor, such as heavy liftiug, 

 sti'ainiug, &c. 



In regard to the "sections" of i)aragraph 85, Eevised Eegulations Provost-Marshal-General's 

 Bureau, I would respectfully suggest tbat some change be made in section 20, as,- according to our 

 rendering of it, a man with only one eye-tooth would be held; and it is obvious that such a man would 

 be worth nothing in the army. I should think that a soldier has need of at least two front teeth 

 contiguous and two molars, meeting a corresponding number in the otlier jaw. I would also recom- 

 mend that some standard of weight, proportioned to height and age, be adopted. * 



* • 



One surgeon could examine, by working eight hours, -.xhout forty men per day. 



Very little fraud was practiced here beyond that of falsehood. Some few old men, with their 

 gray hair and beards colored, were presented, and Indians with their hair curled ; and we have 

 found pieces of lead in the pockets of some light recruits and substitutes, and in one instance 

 leaden soles were found in the shoes; but these tricks were all detected by weighing the men naked. 

 Drafted and enrolled men exaggerate greatly, but I am not cognizant of any frauds being practiced 

 by them. 



Judging from my experience, I should think that American-born men were physically as well 

 adapted for military service as any. It is true that I have rejected more men born in the United 

 States (40 per cent.) than from those brought from Canada, (30 per cent.;) but this can be 

 accounted for by the fact that the men brought from Canada were picked men; those bringing 

 them not caring to risk any that were not acceptable. Of the English, Irish, French, and Germans 

 I have rejected about 45 per cent. Of course, these estimates are not very accunite; for substi- 

 tutes were born in any convenient place outside the United States. All things considered, I 

 should think that the American presents as great physical aptitude for military service as any race 

 of men. 



From my experience with the colored race, I should conclude that they are i)hysically well 

 adapted for military service. The majority of those presented were large, stout, and robust, capa- 

 ble of enduring almost any amount of exposure and fatigue, and seemed well satisfied with the idea 

 of a soldier's life. 



In reference to the enrollment-law, I would say that, having been connected with the ofiBce so 

 short a time, and having had so little experience therewith, I would respectfully refrain from 

 expressing any views upon its operation, much less offer any suggestions or recommend additions 

 thereto. I would, however, sugt;est an addition to the "Medical Record," which could be quite 

 easily kept, and would establish more clearly the intellectual statistics of the Arm^-. I would recom- 

 mend that two additional columns be made, headed as follows: "Can neither read nor write;" "Can 

 read, but not write." * » » 



A. M. VEDDEE, 

 Surgeon Board of Enrollment, Eighteenth District of Neic Yorlc. 



Schenectady, N. T., June 14, 18G5. 



NEW TOEK— NINETEENTH DISTEICT. 

 Extracts from report of Dk. George Douglas. 



« 



My duties as surgeon of the board of enrollment in the nineteenth district 

 of New York commenced July 20, 18G4, since which time there have been examined by me, of 

 recruits and substitutes, two thousand four hundred and thirty-seven ; of drafted men, three hun- 

 dred and eighty-two; of enrolled men to be stricken from the roll, about two thousand. * # * 

 The nineteenth district is composed of the counties of Chenango, Delaware, and Otsego. 

 (Jiieuaugo is an interior county, lying southeast of the center of the State, is centrally distant 

 ninety-four miles from Albany, and contains eight hundred and ninety-eight square miles. Its 

 surface is a hilly upland, broken by the deep ravines of the streams. The highlands consist of 

 two principal ridges extending north aud south ; the first lying between Unadilla and Chenango 

 Kivers, and the second between the Chenango and Otselic. The summits of these ridges of laud 

 are broad and rolling, aud of nearly uniform elevation throughout the county. The highest points 



