."530 surgeons' reports PENNSVLVANIA THIRTEENTH DISTRICT. 



Section II. Clironic iliL'iiitiatism, &c. — Tliere is a class of cast's that slioiild be exempted, aud 

 may be uuder section !•, Imt wliicli are in leality rlieuniatic eases. Tlicse are iiu'ii \\ ho are subject 

 to attacks of acute rLemiiatism every year, soinetiiues ofteiier, and liave slij;lit afteetions of the 

 heart. These men will soon find tlieir place iu the hos|)ital and ultimately on the pension-list In 

 view of the fact that too frequent use of section 9 is considered an abuse of its powers, I would 

 suggest the iucoriioration of a clause in reference to acute rheumatism of the character described. 



Section 13. Cleft bony palate. — With one exception, all the men examined with this deticienc.\ 

 had no other cause of exemption, and were robust men. The objection, I presume, is on account 

 of the imperfect articulation. Most of the men speak intelligibly enough to be understood; and 

 boards of enrollment might, I think, be relied on to judge. 



Section i'S. Incontinence of urine, if iccll established, should, in my'opinion, be a cause of exemp- 

 tion. 



Section 33. " Loss of ungual phalanx of light thumb," might with propriety be omitted. 1 

 Lave known some successful hunters with that defect, who handled the gun well in spite of it. 



Paragraph So, as a code of instructions, is so carefully and consid(?rately drawn, that frauU is 

 prevented and few able men can escai)e. It narrows down the discretion of the examining surgeon 

 to very small limits. If the mstructions contained in paragraph 85, together with those of the cir- 

 cular of the Medical I>ureau of June 2.5, 1804, are strictly carried into effect, all men able to i)erform 

 military service will be held when drafted, and some, in addition, who after a short period of service 

 will find their way to the hospitals, and ultimately become pensioners on the country. This is a 

 consideration worthy of attention, and, as eveiy man put in the service is estimated to cost the 

 Government from three hundred to four hundred dollars, I think more discretion should be allowed 

 to the examining surgeon. * # # 



To question G, I answer : In spring and summer, sixty drafted men can be examined daily; in 

 autumn and winter, forty only, on account of the shortness of the days. Of recruits, one-fourth more 

 could be examined. I have examined a much larger number, but think more time required to do 

 it ill a proper manner. A greater number of recruits can be examined than drafted men. The latter 

 are apt to go through the exercises and motions required reluctantly, make unnecessary delay, and 

 think certificates of great importance in their cases. Although certificates of neiglibois and physi- 

 cians may not be of value as substantiating a claim of exemption, the reading of tliein tends to 

 satisly the bearers that injustice has not been done them. The recruit goes through the required 

 motions cheerlully and rai)idl,\ , wasting no time. 



From information received, 1 think the frauds practiced or attem[)ted have not been so great or 

 various as in large cities. The frauds practiced by drafted or enrolled men have been mainly exag- 

 gerations of existing troubles, or of tlni scqnclai of former diseases and injuries, of all kinds and 

 in all [)arts of the body. These are generally supported by certificates of neighbors or physicians. 

 In the first draft, rheumatism, lame back, piles, liability to cough, were the common pleas for exemp- 

 tion ; the two former esi)ecially. The experience of the first draft taught them that those pleas were 

 not available, and they were not so often used in the succeeding drafts. The effect of wounds and 

 injuries, mainly of the lower extremities, in disabling them from traveling, were exaggerated atid 

 relied on for exemption. Fits of all kinds, convulsions, attacks of vertigo, l'aintings|>ells, were 

 claimed as epilepsy, and the claim supported by certificates. 



Teeth have been extracted qitite recently in several cases. A few cases of mutilation, by cutting 

 off fingers or toes, were noted. In one case, where two fingers were cut off' after examination, tlie 

 man was arrested, sent to the rendezvous, tried, and sentenced to a severe punishment. A few 

 cases occurred of artificial ulcer or ulcers kept oi)eii by improper applications, and of feigned incon- 

 tinence of urine. Slight disorders of the kidneys were magnified into severe diseases. Deafness, 

 stammering, and defects of eyesight were feigned or greatly exaggerated. Afiidavits of physicians 

 and neighbors, supporting claims for exemption on account of diseases recovered from, or slight in 

 themselves, were brought forward by a very large proportion of the drafted men. 



The greatest obstacle in examining men arose from the noise and confusion mainly caused by 

 others than dratted men. I am indebted to Commissioner Grier for his assistance iu maintaining 

 whatever of quiet and order did exist. I would suggest that during the examinations of drafted men 



