320 surgeons' KEPOKTS PENNSYLTANIA ELEVENTH DISTRICT. 



their own, I -would not hesitate to pronounce that by far the best fitted physically for military 

 service. But this not being allowable, I must decide in favor of the Irish as being the strongest 

 and most healthy among the-various classes examined. It is, however, scarcely just or proper to 

 decide in favor of a minority in this case, as, under the last call for volunteers, there were but one 

 hundred and twenty-seven Irishmen examined to eight hundred and twenty-six Americans ; and it 

 is natural to suppose tliat out of so small a number only the best material may come forward, while 

 among a large body of men more of the bad and indifferent may be found. Again, the draft 

 reached all classes and conditions of the American people, the strong and the frail, good and bad, 

 while tlie majority of foreigners were exempt as aliens, and only those who felt strong and vigorous 

 euough to endure tlie hardships of a military life voluntarily entered the service. 



My experience as to the '■^physical qualifications of the colored race for military s<trvice " is that 

 they are j^hysically lar better fitted for this work than any class of white men I examined. They 

 were stronger, more fully developed, more mu^cular, and iree from umny of the blemishes and 

 diseases common among the white race. Among a large number of colored men examined, I found 

 but two with hernia: one umbilical and one inguinal. Of disease of the heart and other internal 

 organs, I discovered but very few. if any, cases among the number examined. Their teeth and eyes 

 are remarkably good. Htemorrhoids is a thing seldom found to afflict a negro. I have no recol- 

 lection of a single case coming under my observation. In a word, I would pronounce the colored 

 race emiueutly qualified for military service. 



The enrollmeut-iaw, as it now exists, is as perfect and as equitable, in my opiuiou, as it could 

 conveniently be made. lu its operation, I can see nothing inimical to the people or unjust in its 

 nature. The bare idea of enrolling and drafting persons is one not very agreeable to a people 

 unused to war and its attending evils in any form ; but when the necessity for such stringent 

 measures exists, no better or more consistent laws could be enacted than those under which we 

 have been operating during the last year. 



There is, however, one clause or provision in the law which I consider at least disagreeable in 

 its tendency to the ieelings of American citizens, and susceptible of improvement or uiodification. 

 I allude to the exemption of persons of foreign birth who have not exercised the right of suffrage 

 nor declared their intentions to become citizens of the United States. There are thousands of 

 foreigners in our country, who have resided here for ten or twenty years, have enjoyed all the privi- 

 leges our own citizens enjoy, full freedom, access to our schools, churches, courts, asylums, and other 

 public institutions. Tbey enjoy the same freedom of specjch ; religious toleration ; engage in 

 the same commercial pursuits ; coin money from tbe same coffers ; receive the same remuneration 

 for their services ; and are allowed free homes and lands in the Territories of the West by the Gov- 

 ernment. In every respect, save that of voting, they are on an equal footing with American-born 

 citizens. When the country is in danger, they have the same interests at stake; their property and 

 lives are in the sauie peril, as well as tliat freedom which they professed they crossed the ocean to enjoy. 

 All these privileges and blessings they share, but when all these are in danger and need defenders they 

 shelter themselves behind the parchment which pronounces them subjects of some foreign power ! 

 They do not wish to become citizens in due form, preferring to avoid the necessity of defending the 

 institutions of the country. Not only persons born on foreign soil and emigrating to this countiy, 

 but their sons born on our shores, educated in our schools, breathing tlie air of freedom from in- 

 fancy, are exempt from military service, because their fathers have never gone througli theformality 

 of being naturalized. I sincerely trust this subject will be more carefully and judiciously considered 

 by the people and their representatives, and such action taken in the matter as may lead to a fairer 

 and more just distribution of the labors and dangers, as well as tlie blessings and privileges of the 

 land. This is one of the points in the enrollment-law which, in my opiuiou, calls for a change. It 

 is one against which much complaint is made by the most loyal sustainers of the Government, and 

 by men who are willing to make any sacrifice, reasonable and necessary, for the good of the country. 



In conclusion, ]jerniit me to refer to one more subject, which, during my official career, has caused 

 the board much trouble, and brought upon our heads more abuse than anything else in tLe laws or 

 instructions of thi^ Government. It is the distinction made between volunteers and drafted men with 

 reference to their fitness lor military service. In compliance with instructions from my superiors, I 

 was often obliged to reject men presenting tliemselves for examination as volunteers, who, afterward, 



