SURGEONS' REFORTS NEW JERSEY THIRD DISTRICT. 289 



tlio surgeons tlit'iiisclvcs would scoui to leqiiiro Unit tlic giciitcst caio slioiiU] be exercised in the 

 iiiakiug of these iipijoiiitments. Oeitiiiiil.v none bnt men of practical experience, decision of char- 

 acter, and undoiibti'd integrity and professional skill should occupy such important positions. 



As to the obstacles to be contended with, I would say that the greatest difilculty I have 

 experienced has been the want of a proper, concise set of regidations for the examination of recruits 

 aud substitutes, similar to paragraph 85, Revised Regulations Provost- Marshal General's Bureau, 

 as ap])lied to drafted and enrolled men. I would also say that the haste with which my decisions 

 had of necessity to be made, with no opportunity of revising or correcting possible errors of judg- 

 meut, has.caused me considerable anxiety and uneasiness, not for myself only, but for the interests 

 of the Government, in whose behalf I was exerting myself to the full extent of my abilities. 



In relation to the best modes of preventing hands, I would suggest that the larger inuuber 

 of cases of fraud occur from the efforts of unsuitable persons to enter the service for the purpose 

 of securing the large bounties paid in advance. I recommend that these bounties be taken 

 possession of by the proper officers of the Government, and retained for a specified length of time. 

 If, within that time, any disability shall be discovered which existed prior to eulistineut, and which 

 the man must have known to have existed at that time, let the bounty be forfeited, and instead of 

 discharging the man, as has been done iu too many instances, let bim be put at some sort of labor 

 for which he may be suited. Let it be once fully understood that this course will be pursued, and 

 the decej)tious attempted to be practiced upon exaininiiigsurgeous will diminish, if not altogether 

 cease at once. In addition to this, I should recommend that uone but competent surgeons should 

 be employed, and that the rank and pay should be made sufficiently desirable to induce lirst-class 

 men to accept such positions ; aud, lastly, that the punishment for ueglect of duty or breach of 

 trust ou the part of an officer should be very severe, and such as would disgrace him for life. To 

 disgiace a ir.edical man is the worst possible punishment that can be inflicted. Imprisonments and 

 fines are coiuparatively harmless, except so far as they lead to public disgrace. The dishonorable 

 dismissal of such a man, with the publication of the causes of such dismissal in the local papers, 

 would be one of the modes of punishment I would suggest. 



" What nationality presents the greatest ijhysical aptitude for military service?" — I answer, 

 first, young Americans, between seveuteen and twenty-flv^e years of age, from the rural districts; 

 second, Scotch, Swiss, aud Swedes ; third, Irish, English, and Germans. 



" Tour experience as to the physical qualifications of the colored race for military service.'' — 

 My experience in this respect has not been very extensive; but, from what I have seen, I should say 

 that negroes have been, as a class, physically equal to any I have examined. I suspect the fact is 

 uow pretty well established that, although a private soldier is most efficient when he unites mental 

 aud physical power with the habit of unquestioning and prompt obedience of orders, yet if one of 

 these faculties should be not si) fully developed as the others, we could better spare a certain 

 amount of mental than physical energy. In other words, I take it that in a private soldier we 

 require first-class physical development, (combined with the habit of prompt aud implicit obedience 

 of orders, and a sufficient amount of intelligence to comprehend and carry out an order. In au 

 officer, we need more brain-power than muscular development, with the habit, not only of obeying 

 orders himself, but with the ability to enforce obedience from others. Taking this view of the case, I 

 have uever seen any reason why a colored mau, whose position aud habits of life have develoijed 

 the very qualities we require, should not make an efficient soldier ; and the heroes who fought at 

 Fort Wagner, and elsewhere, during this rebellion, have proven most conclusively that they were 

 fully entitled to the name of United States Soldiers. Cowardice and bravery are, to a very great 

 extent, nuitters of habit aud education. As a general rule, all men are naturally brave iu a greater 

 or less degree; and it only requires occasion and a proper opportunity for development to bring out 

 the heroism of a race or of a nation. 



" Your views as to the operation of the enrollment-law as it now exists, with recommendations 

 and suggestions in reference thereto." — I would respectfully suggest, /(>«*, that the various laws, 

 decisions, circulars, general orders, &c., should be codified aud systematically arranged in such 

 a manner that they could be convenientl.N consulted, and so that there could be no doubt upon any 

 poiut. As the nuitter is now arranged, it is sometimes very difficult for one not familia: with the 

 various laws or decisions to get at the true meaning and intention of the makers of the law, and 

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