306 surgeons' reports— PENNSYLVANIA SEVENTH DISTRICT. 



than auy other iu the programme of paragraph 85, and to account for this may properly be the object 

 of my effort. Among the causes indaciug and predisposing to this disability are: ihenniatism in 

 its acute form ; working men and boys beyond their strength, and, in the case of the latter, the 

 early practice of onanism ; intermarriage of blood-relations ; in short, all influences which deteriorate 

 or vitiate organic forces. 



Section 3. The applicant claiming exemption for epilepsy is in a majority of instances subjected 

 to great embarrassment in view of the requirement of the regulation. Most of these cases are 

 given over by the physician, alter a time, as immedicable, and it is so understood by the sufferer 

 and his friends ; and thus the paroxysms are permitted to pass over without the patient being 

 seen by the "doctor." I would suggest that the existence of epilepsy being established, its con- 

 tinued recurrence should, by the testimony of non-professional persons, be held sufficient. 



Section liO. My own opinion with reference to loss of teeth as a disqualilication is, that all that 

 is required is that the man should have teeth so situated as to enable him to masticate food with 

 comfort to himself. 



Section 23. Making hernia imperatively a disabilify, and leaving to the examiner no discretion, 

 I think neither wise nor just. 



Section 33. Making loss of ungual phalanx of right thumb a disability seems to me, when com- 

 pared with what is necessary to disqualify in loss of fingers of same hand, simply a technicality. 

 I have always felt that the Governmt nt could profitably claim such persons, and without doing 

 them a wrong. As it does not relieve a man while iu service, it should not invariably lelieve him 

 as a drafted man. * * * 



From sixty to eighty men could be reliably examined in the time designated as a day's work. 



I think it would be safest to ignore all testimony of physicians or friends in the case of the 

 drafted or enrolled man, recruit, or substitute, and to let him be examined and pronounced upon 

 under the application of such tests as science and experience have furnished the expert or examiner. 



My experience does not warrant me in conceding to auy nationality the award of highest 

 qualifications on the score of either physical or mental fitness, as I have examined and pronounced 

 upon models in many. But I believe the merging of ethnical peculiarities in the American type 

 will meet the highest requirements for an American soldier on American soil when the conflict is 

 between freedom and tyrann\r ; and that no foreigner indilierent to the issue can bear comparison. 



I know no reason why, all things being equal save complexion or color, negroes should not be 

 equally qualified with the other races for military duty. As a race, they yield with deference to 

 authority, are imitative over other races, and have given the evidence of susceptibility lor every 

 form of culture to which primordial types lay claim. 



The enrollment-law makes a demand for military service of all persons between the ages of 

 twenty and forty-five. It js the result of my experience that very few men at the latter age are fit 

 to endure the hardships of the soldier's life; on the other hand, minors of eighteen, weighing from 

 one hundred and twelve to one hundred and fifteen pounds, and of proper symmetry, are far more 

 eligible, and have higher capacities of endurance. The former flag under change of habits, while 

 the latter, elastic and recuperative, yield themselves cheerfully and profitably to the new relation, 

 with the compensation of invigorated life-force. # # # 



WILLIAM GOESON, 

 Surgeon Board of Enrollment Sixth District of Pennsylvania. 



NORRISTOWN, Pa., June 15, 18G5. 



PENNSYLVANIA— SEVENTE DISTRICT. 



Extracts from report of Dr. li. H. Smith. 



• • * My experience in the examination of men for military service began in 



the autumnof 1861, during the formation of the Ninety-seventh Ivegiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, 

 at West Chester, Pa. # * * Having been connected with that regiment from September 

 .30, 18G1, to March 29, 18G3, sixteen months of which time were passed in South Carolina, my oppor- 



