Zl-i surgeons' REPOETS NEW YORK TWENTY-THIRD DISTRICT. 



Tbere are uo diseases peculiar to the district; ouly such as are usually found in bigli uoithern 

 latitudes are prevalent, with isolated cases of intermittent and remittent fever along tiie valley of 

 the Mohawk. The district has very rarely been visited by any epidemic. The winters are cold and 

 the climate variable, and, as a consequence, the indammatory aftections common to such vicissi- 

 tudes of climate are often met with, especially in spring-; in the valleys, they are asthenic in char 

 acter, but, on the high lands, much more active. 



Of the reasons why any particular diseases or disabilities have disqualitied a greater ratio per 

 thousand for military service, I am unable to speak, as I have had very little opi)ortunity for obser- 

 \ation in that respect, and should be obliged to depend entirely upon the experience of others. 



In -reference to the diflerent sections of paragraph 85, Reviseil Regulations Provost-Marshal- 

 General's Bureau, I can ouly express the opinion that they comprise all chat is necessary. They 

 are carefully arranged, and I can recommend uo changes. * » * 



The number of men that can be examined per day d«!peuds, of course, upon the class of men 

 presented; from fortij to jiftij would, perhaps, be a fair estimate of the number that can be exam 

 ined with accuracy. 



As I hare examined no drafted or enrolled men, I am uuable to point out auy frauds practiced 

 by them to escape the service; and in the examinations of recruits and substitutes my experience 

 here has been so limited that it is of little value. 



The class of men1)reseuted at this office has been very inferior. Mere boys of fourteen to six 

 teen years, representing themselves as eighteen, and old men of fifty and even sixty, who could 

 recollect only forty-five years of their lives, were often seen. How many enlisted, or tried to enlist, 

 under assumed names, it is of course impossible to tell ; in making such attempts, tliey were often 

 detected, but no serious obstacles have been encountered. In one or two cases, recruiting-agents, 

 and others interested, have determined that men should be accepted after they had been rejected 

 by the surgeon, and have appealed to the provost-marshal for his interference ; but their success has 

 never justified a repetition of the attempt. » # * 



The greatest physical aptitude for military service, as presented by different nations, according 

 to the statistics of this office, is slightly in favor of the Germans. 



As to the qualifications of the colored race for military service, I do not feel justified in exjjress 

 iug an opinion, as I have had no experience in examining them. 



Of the operation of the enrollment-law, although faults may exist, if the law be properly under- 

 stood, and honest, capable officials attend to enforcing it, the interests of the Government will be 

 jjiotecfed, and justice may be done to all. 



I have one suggestion to make in regard to the appointment of officers, more especially the 

 provost-marshal and surgeon : in my opinion, they should always be regularly eoiumi-ssioned officers 

 of the Army, who have no local interests where they may be assigned to dutj'. Officers who will 

 see that the interests of the Government are protected and the rights of every citizen at the same 

 time respected are essential ; and, in this way, many obstacles with which boards of enrollment 

 now have to contend would be very easily overcome. Surgeous of the Army, thus assigned to 

 <luty, might at the same time be of great .service in attending to all extensions of leaves of absence 

 and lurlonghs in the district; thus preventing, to a gre;it extent, the abuse of furloughs, which too 

 ofteu exists under the present regulations. * « * 



J. O. STANTON, 

 Surgeon United States Veteran Volunteers, (First Army Corps,) 

 Actim/ Surgeon Bo<ir(l of Enrollment Twenty-first District of New Yorh. 



Utica, N. Y., May L>(), 1865. 



NEW YOEK— TWENTY-THIRD DISTRICT.' 



Extracts from report of Du. John H. Knapp. 



* * * Duiing the early period of the examination of recruits, uo record was kept, 

 consequeutlj' the uuinber of examinations of rejected men cannot be reported with certaujty; but, as 



' No report rccoived from tin; twouty-sec-ond district. 



