3i)0 SURGEONS REPORTS MISSOURI THIRD DISTRICT. 



Tubercles to exempt must be developed, but wbeu tbey produce constitutional symptoms, or 

 physical signs which leave no doubt of their existence, tbey should disqualify from military service. 



Total loss of either eye, I think, should also disqualify. I have almost invariably found vision 

 in the remaining eye more or less impaired, either from sympathy with the eye lost or overexer- 

 tion of the one remaining. 



Loss of the index-linger does, I think, disqualify from military service as fully as does the loss 

 of the two last fingers of the same hand. 



Much depends upon the ability of the troops to perform long and rapid marches, and to accom- 

 plish this the feet and legs must be capable of endurance ; the loss of any one toe, or the existence 

 of varicose veins in any considerable numbers, will, I think, on such marches compel the man to 

 drop out. 



Carefully and correctly to examine men with a view to military service under the existing reg- 

 ulations governing the same, and to examine and sign the papers connected therewith, will require 

 at least ten minutes to each person. Fifty examiuations made per day by one surgeon is, in my 

 opinion, all that can be well done. 



Feigning diseases was the fraud most commonly attempted to be practiced upon me by drafted 

 and enrolled men. Disease of the heart and kidneys and impaired vision and hearing were those 

 most commonly feigned. 



In detecting feigned disease of the heart, I have been mainly governed by the physical signs 

 of that organ, and by the answers to interrogations which I made. 



Diseases of the kidneys are more obscure, and to me moi'e difficult of diagnosis. In some cases, 

 I have been under the necessity of subjectiBg the urine to test before I could be fully satisfied that 

 uo imposition was being attempted. 



When impaired vision is feigned, near-sightedness or amaurosis being most frequently claimed, 

 it is well to bear in mind the occupation of the person ; if a farmer can see to plow suudl corn or 

 shoot birds about his plantation, his sight is sufficient to do military duty. A carpenter who can 

 dress boards to a scribe can also see to shoot. 



Persons feigning deafness generally wish themselves to be thought decidedly so, and for this 

 purpose when in the presence of the board of enrollment thrust their ear in the face of persons who 

 may address them. A little observation and tact will convince an observer that they understand 

 what is being said in another part of the room by persons conversing in a usual tone of voice. 



Bribes are not unfrequently offered by drafted and enrolled men ; their prompt and positive 

 refusal, accompanied with a sharp rebuke, is the best and quickest way to get rid of this evil. 



I have been at times beset by persons urging me to hear all the history of their past ill health, 

 to read letters from family-physicians and other ac(]uaintauces; parents sometimes come with their 

 sons when drafted, and mothers in particular at times give trouble by their importunity ; drafted 

 men of families sometimes urge with strong feelings the helpless condition of their family, and the 

 want and suffering which their absence inflicts. I think the best plan to meet all these difficulties 

 is to treat persons with uniform courtesy and respect, and to act with firmness without manifesting 

 impatience or harshness. 



According to the medical record which I have kept while on duty at this place, it appears that 

 twenty i^er-ceut. more Germans than Americans in an equal number of each examined were held 

 to service; the Irish ranking next to, and almost equal with, the Germans. 



The very small number examined at this office from other portions of Europe render it impos- 

 sible to deduce facts by institut ing a comparison. Probably the sui)eriority of that class of citizens 

 of foreign countries who have emigrated to this, the revulsive inflaence of sea-voyaging and change 

 of climate, may have had something to do in placing them higher in the scale of physical capability 

 than we find among the Americans, when observed en masse. 



Tiie i)hysical capability of the colored race for military service is, in my opinion, good. This 

 circumstance, I believe, is in part owing to their recent condition of slavery, in which they were 

 required to observe ha))its of industry, frugality, and temperance; and whether these wholesome 

 restraints thus throw7i around tli« slave by his master were the dictates of avarice or of moral recti- 

 tude, tliey have had tlie effect of securing to the black race vigoi'ous constitutions and fair powers 

 of ))hysical endurance. 



