surgeons' reports WEST VIRGINIA THIRD DISTRICT. 361 



mountainous surface, which water tbem abundantly, but not too i)rof'usel.v, the soil is thus drained 

 of all those impurities which iu less hilly districts stagnate in accumulating quantities, and evoutu- 

 ally generate noxious gases or miasms, the evolution of which is so detriuieiital to health. These 

 are the main causes of the unusually robust habit of the population, and account for the almost en- 

 tire absence of any peculiar form of disease, either local or epidemic ; in fact, West Virginia com- 

 pares most favorably with adjoining States, and now that bodily exertion has become a necessity 

 on the part of the inhabitants, she must, from her natural resources and abundant but undeveloped 

 wealth, ere long take a foremost position in the Union. 



Agriculture, at present, forms the chief occupation of the people, and corn, wheat, and tobacco 

 are the general products. Tliey raise some cattle, a few sheep, and horses; but hogs appear to be 

 their staple, the flesh of which, with corn-bread, is the universal and never-varying diet. They spin 

 and weave their own wool as clothing for both sexes ; in fact, having nearly all the requirements 

 within themselves for a people unacquainted with the wants of more refined life, they have little 

 necessity for communication with the outer world, so that it becomes surprising in the present day, 

 in the "Old Dominion," and in the first settled State, to find such primitive manners and customs 

 as are met with even among the better classes of West Virginia. * # * 



As there was never a very large number of men on hand at one time to be examined, I can 

 scarcely say how many might be examined iu one day. I should tliiuk, however, that fifty or sixty 

 would be as many as could be carefully examined per day. 



Having had only the third district to deal with, I do not feel competent to give an opinion as 

 to what nationality presents the greatest physical aptitude for military service. Here we have 

 nearly every European natioji represented by descent : the large-boned, heavy Scot ; the muscular, 

 but lithe Irishman ; the smooth-skinned and enduring Saxon ; the silent, plodding German ; and the 

 lively, agile Gaul, all are represented here, and all of them favorably so, as will no doubt appear 

 from other records than mine. 



As regards the colored race, never having had an opportunity of seeing tbem tried either under 

 fire or on a line of march, I cannot speak from experience as to their physical endurance for military 

 purpo.ses; but I may remark that I deem it a mechanical impossibility that a pure-blooded negro can be 

 a good marching man. lie may man a rampart or serve a gun, and have sufdcient courage to mount 

 a breach or make a sudden dash ; but for long-continued exertion, where his legs are to come into 

 action, it is out of the question — he can never compete or compare with the white man. His con- 

 genital conformation forbids it. Take, for instance, his feet: in the white man, such feet are 

 thought sufficient disqualification for military service ; iu the negro, yon have added to the flat 

 foot the long heel and bowed leg; the length of the fibula causing the flexure of the knee, and pre- 

 venting the free use of the muscles of the calf and posterior muscles of the thigh, gives him that sling- 

 ing and ungainly pace characteristic of all the South African tribes, and which will ever prevent 

 their descendants from cnduiing the fatigue and exertion of a long march or from making efilcient 

 soldiers for field-service. This opinion will be found, I think, to coincide with that of any one who 

 has observed the negro soldier in the West India Islands, at Sierra Leone, or elsewhere. 



I cannot say that tliere were any frauds attempted either to escape the enrollment or draft. 

 Some few tliere were who complained of their lungs or heart being affected ; but, on the whole, the 

 men came freely and patriotically forward, and when family-ties or some other cogent reason 

 prevented their personally fulfilling their country's call a substitute was readily found, so that I 

 think the returns will show that this district was not behindhand in bravery at least. 



Whatever views I may entertain in reference to paragraph 85 of the Provost-Marshal's Regu- 

 lations, as also the operations of the existing enrollment-law, I do not feel justified in expressing 

 an opinion, from the limited term of my service; and, as compared with the opinions of officers of 

 greater experience and competency in such matters, mine would be but valueless. 



S. G. SHAW, 

 Surgeon Board of Enrollment Third District of West Virginia. 

 Point Pleasant, W. Va., June 7, 1865. 



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