surgeons' reports M.\V VoKK TWENTY-FOURTH DISTRICT. 277 



teeth. This disqualification sccins to prevail iiuK^li uioiv cxtcusixc'ly aiiioii}; thf jicopk' of some 

 localities tliau it does in otliers. It lias been observed tliat al);)ut 20 |)er cent, of enrolled men in 

 some subdistricta are exempt, according to tbe regnlations, from this cause alone; and tbis state 

 of things has been noticed more particularly to occur iu those districts where miasmatic diseases 

 prevail. The early decay of the teeth has been attributed by some medical men to the employment 

 of certain drugs and mineral medicines, usually prescribed in diseases of that character: and, 

 from investigation, the opinion seems to be well grounded and substantiated by facts. 



The twentieth section of paragraph 85, Regulations Provost-Marshal-General's Bureau, in iii\ 

 judgment, should be stricken from the list of exemptions, or be so modified as to give the examiner 

 some discretion. As it now stands, men are held to service who have but one or two front teeth, and 

 no other teeth in the same jaw ; while, ou the other hand, others are exemined who have no front teeth, 

 eye-teeth, or first molars, but with a good set of giiuding-teeth. In my oitinion, a man without any 

 teeth iu one jaw is about as fit for military service, eaieris puribuit. as another man who has only 

 one or two front teeth with no others in the same jaw. Men with few or no teeth at all seem to enjoy 

 good health, and attend to their usual avocations, and several tiiat I know of who went out in tbe 

 early stage of the present rebellion have served faithfully and creditably iu the field. Besides, men 

 without natural teeth usually have artificial teeth, aud even if they had none they might be detailed 

 ou special duty, where they could find food as suitable to their condition as though they were at 

 home. # * * 



The number of men that can be examined per day with accuracy, in my opinion, is about _/(/'^^- 

 More than that number have been examined by me on several occasions iu cases of emergency. In 

 the months of January, August, and September, lS6i, when there was a perfect rush of volunteers, 

 two bundled and fifty in one day have been examined; but, under the present regulations, not more 

 than half that number could be examined bj- myself and assistant with any degree of accuracy and 

 couveuieuce. 



The principal frauds luacticed by drafted and enrolled' men, which have come under my 

 observation, are the following: having the requisite number of teeth extracted to procure exemp- 

 tion; causing sores to be made on the legs with caustic; feigning obscure diseases, such as amau- 

 rosis, nenralgia, sciatica, deafness, stammering, stiffness of the joints, bsemorrhage from the lungs, 

 disease of the heart or kidneys, &c. ; and conspiring with ph\sicians, lawyers, and others to obtain 

 exemption by furnishing false certificates and affidavits. To the disgrace of the profession, 1 am 

 pained to confess that many physicians of high standing both in the profession and the community, 

 either from excessive cleverness or for a consideration, lent themselves to this disreputable practice, 

 and by such means many persons obtained exemption from the first draft, who, when the large 

 bounties were offered, enlisted, took the bounty, and have since performed the duties of a soldier 

 with credit. So universal aud disgusting did this practice become during the first draft that little 

 or no attention was paid by me to certificates of disability from physicians or others during subse- 

 quent drafts; but all cases were decided ou their merits, trusting to experience and my own judg- 

 ment. I know of no remedy for such scoundielism, and I have adopted the following as my motto 

 in the examination of drafted men : "A man who is capabl" of performing an ordinary day's labor 

 is capable of performing all the duties of a soldier." 



The principal frauds practiced by recruits and substitutes consist iu giving false -statements 

 in regard to age, nativity, residence, or in concealing, or attempting to conceal, defects, such as 

 hernia, stricture, hismorrhoids, disease of the eyes, joints, &c. ; in coloring the hair, or substituting 

 another man for the one accepted. Very little reliance can be placed on the statement as to age or 

 nativity of recruits and substitutes. Owing to the large local bounties offered for recruits and 

 the high premiums paid for substitutes, all manner of frauds and deception are practiced; aud, 

 in my judgment, the only way to remedy the matter is for the Government to offer a reasonable, 

 uniform bounty throughout the States, and to prohibit local bounties; to allow any man, of proper 

 age aud qualifications, to serve -as a substitute for another; to bani.sh substitute aud bounty 

 brokers; and then, if the requisite number of men are not forthcoming, to put the draft in force 

 at once. 



As far as my experience and observatiou go, I am of the opinion that the American, or 

 Mrirt'rstil Yotilcee race, ))Ossessi>s the greatest aptitude :Hid qu:;lifie:itioM for military service. 



