33G surgeons' reports— Pennsylvania — seventeenth district. 



My views in regard to alterations of tlie dittereiit sections of paragraph 85, lievised Itegula- 

 tions, are tbese : From section 3, in flflb line, strike oiit»all after tlie word "board," and substitute 

 or such other evidence as tcill satisfy the board of. the continued existence of the disease, (epile[)s,v.) Sec- 

 tion 11 : strike out all after the word "exempt," in tbird line. Section 20: strike it from tbe regu- 

 lations. If tbe general bealtb is manifestly impaired by reason of "loss of teetb," tbe drafted man 

 will be i)rotected under section 9. Section 22: transpose tbe second and tbird lines. Section 25: 

 strike out all after "/(«worr/io»'(7s," in first line. Section 33: in tbe fourth line, strike out tbe word 

 " ;/////f," and insert ct7/(ec. * * * 



In my opinion, sixty drafted men can be examined per day with accuracy; but of volunteers 

 and substitutes, I think, from forty to fifty only. 



Tbe frauds which are most attempted by drafted and enrolled men are complaints of rheuma- 

 tism, weak back, disease of tbe heart, kidney-disease, impaired vision, deafness, and general debility; 

 and many of them, as has been clearly shown, bave bad their teeth drawn before reporting, and 

 others from the fear of being drafted. With regard to substitutes and recruits, under my system 

 of examination I do not much fear imposition, except, perhaps, in some alleged cases of disease of 

 ihe kidneys or bladder, or of epilepsy. 



"What nationality presents tbe greatest physical aptitude for military service f — I answer, 

 the Germans. 



My experience as to the physical qualifications of the colored race for military service is not 

 very favorable to the fitness of the uegro. 



I do not recommend any change in the enrollment-law as it now exists, believing, under a 

 proper construction and understanding of its provisions, it is operative and effective. * * • 



WILLIAM S. EOLAND, 

 Surgeon Board of Enrollment Fifteenth District of Pennsylvania. 



Carlisle, Pa., May 3 1 , 18C5. 



PENNSYLVANIA— SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT.' 

 Extracts from report of Dk. A. Eothrock. 



* * * On tbe 17tb of May, 1SG3, tbe board of enrollment convened at this place, 



organized, and divided tbe district into sub-districts, and proceeded from that time in the regular 

 discharge of the duties of tbe ofBce. 



On the 17th of August, 1863, we commenced the first draft, and on the 7th of September began 

 to examine dralted men. During the flist few days, 1 was somewhat embarrassed in the examina- 

 tion, and disposed to believe that drafted men would sometimes tell the truth ; but my experience 

 soon taught me that the declaration of every conscript under examination must be disregarded if 

 tbe surgeon expected to do his duty faithfully to the Government. My early impressions, too, were 

 that every -soldier must enjoy perfect health, and be free from blemish on his person, if he would 

 endure the privations, hardships, and long marches incident to army-life. This impression led me 

 to ])ut a very liberal construction on tlie different sections of i)aragraph 85 ; consequently, on the 

 first day, I found, by reference to my record, that, out of fifty-two men examined, twenty-nine were 

 exenq)ted, and that, too, from a lot of tolerably good men. I subsecpieutly became more rigid as I 

 grew familiar with tlie duties of the office, and, learning to distinguish more clearly between real 

 and feigned diseases, I held more men to service, and grew every day more incredulous as to the 

 honesty of drafted and enrolled men, since it was to their interest to deceive the board. There are, 

 bowevej-, honoralile excei)tions, ivhich a practiced surgeon can readily detect. 



As nearly as I can ascertain, I have examined ui) to this time — 



Drafted men = 4, 721 



liecriiits and substitutes 3, 796 



Enrolled men 7,261 



Making in all 15,778 



' No roiioi-t was received from tbe sixteeutli district. 



f 



