SUEGEONS' RErORTS— PENNSYLVANIA SEVENTH DISTRICT. 307 



tunity for observing the result arising from superficial and imperfect esainiuations has beeu 

 ample. « * # 



I am entirely convinced from past experience that if the men composing the organization 

 referred to had been examined according to tlie then existing Army Regulations by competent 

 snrgeons, one-third of those sent into the field would have been rejected. The whole number of 

 men exiimined by me was six thousand six hundred. * * # 



The Seventh Congressional District of the State of Pennsylvania is composed of the counties of 

 Chester and Delaware. 



Chester County is located in the eastern part of the State of Pennsylvania, and between .39° 

 42', and 40° 15' north latitude, and between 55' and 1° 40' longitude east from Washington. 

 Its longest diagonal, extending from northeast to southwest, is about thirty-six miles; and its short- 

 est, from northwest to southeast, is about twenty-five miles. It contains fifty-five townships and 

 sis boroughs; comi)rising an area of seven hundred and thirty-eight square miles, and four hun- 

 dred and twenty-three thousand two hundred and eighty-five acres. 



Chester County is one of the three original counties established and settled by William Penii 

 in 1U82, and embraced at that time Delaware County and all the territory southwest to the Susque- 

 hanna Elver. Lancaster County was separated from Chester County May 10, 1729. On the 20th 

 of March, 17S0, the legislature of Pennsylvania i)assed an act authorizing the removal of the seat 

 of justice from the ancient town of Chester on the Delaware Eiver to West Chester. This led to a 

 difficulty between the inhabitants of the two sections of the county, which was finally adjusted by 

 the passage of an act of assembly on the 26th of September, 1789, dividing the county; that portion 

 bordering iqjon the Delaware Eiver receiving the name of Delaware County. 



Chester County is bounded on the north by Berks and part of Montgomery Counties ; on the 

 northeast, by Delaware and Montgomery Counties, from the latter of which it is separated through- 

 out a great part of its extent by the Schuylkill Eiver; on the south, by the States of Delaware and 

 Maryland ; and on the west, by Lancaster County, from which it is separated by the Octoraro 

 Creek. 



Hydrography and drainage. — Chester,County is well watered, embracing within its limits several 

 large creeks, besides numerous smaller streams, many of which aftbrd excellent water-power. The 

 general direction of the principal streams is southward. The dividing ridges, or water-sheds, as a 

 general rule, run in a northeast and southwest direction. The drainage is foi' the most part perfect. 

 Springs are numerous, and, except some which rise in the limestone, talc-slate, and serpentine 

 formations, the water is soft and free from saline ingredients. The waters of the former are gener- 

 ally hard, and often brackish, owing chiefly to the magnesia they contain. The Yellow Springs, 

 long celebrated for their chalybeate properties, are situated in the northeastern part of the county 

 in an iron-region. 



The Schuylkill Eiver, which flows along the northeastern boundary of the county, is the largest 

 water-course within its bounds. It supplies the Schuylkill Canal, which passes through the north- 

 eastern extremity of the county. The country through which the Schuylkill Eiver passes is gently 

 undulating; but, in many i)laces along its banks, the ground is low, and subject to inundations 

 during thaws and heavy rains. 



The Brandywine rises, in the north and northwestern parts of the county, by two branches, 

 which unite about three miles southwest of the borough of West Chester. These, with their tribu- 

 taiies, drain the middle portion of the county, and, debouching into the State of Delaware in the 

 southeastern part of the county, empty into the Christiana at Wilmington, Del. 



The Octoraro, White and Eed Clay, and Big and Little Elk Creeks, drain the south and south- 

 western portion of the county. Octoraro Creek empties into the Susquehanna after passing into 

 Maryland. White and Eed Clay Creeks empty into the Christiana, and are finally discharged into 

 the Delaware Bay. Big and Little Elk Creeks empty into Northeast Eiver, and are finally dis- 

 cliaiged into Chesapeake Bay. These streams, although for the most part bounded on either 

 side by high hills, present, in many situations, a large portion of meadow-land on their banks, which 

 IS often subjected to inundation ; but, from their high tillage and perfect drainage, with a few excep- 

 tions no malarial diseases have been known to arise in their vi(!inity for many years. 



Chester County presents a great variety of soil and surface, which is chiefly owing to its 



