392 surgeons' reports — Missouri — fourth district. 



of tbe district, is situated at an altitude of about eleven hundred feet above that of Saint Louis, 

 and is considered the highest point between that city and the Eocky Mountains. 



The eastern and southern portions of the district are hilly and generally well timbered. The 

 ■western portion is princii)ally prairie, with some timber along the water-courses. The soil is fer- 

 tile ; the sta[)le productions are oats, corn, wheat, and tobacco. Cattle, horses, and swine were 

 raised in great numbers previous to the rebellion. In the western portion, lead is found in great 

 ;»bundance, and coal in considerable quantities. The climate is variable, but generally healthy. 



The most prevalent diseases in this district are remittent and intermittent fevers, dysentery, 

 and diarrhcea, during the summer and autumn, caused by the miasm arising from luxuriant growth 

 of vegetation in the bottoms and along our streams. During winter and spring, typhoid fever, 

 pneumonia, and rheumatism are most prevalent, caused i)rinci[>ally by the changeableness of our 

 climate. ' • 



The inhabitants are not noted for either industry, enterprise, or intelligence; the country 

 being settled mostly by emigrants from the border slave States, who, as modern improvements 

 advanced, kept moving westward, preferring .semi-civilization to civilization itself. Those who were 

 old settlers previous to the rebellion entertained an idea that the whole Southwest belonged to them, 

 that God had created it for their especial benefit, and a stranger was looked upon as an intruder, 

 l)articularly if lie hailed from a free State. Then he was looked upon with suspicion, and spoken of 

 as an Abolitionist. (I speak from experience, being myself a native of Pennsylvania.) Their mode 

 of life, as a rule, is very simple. Previous to the rebellion, a very large majority lived comfortably, 

 but not sumptuously ; their dwellings being generally the rude log-cabin, built from the unhewn log 

 as it came from the forest, located in some grove of trees, and convenient to one of the many si)rings 

 which are found over the greater portion of the district. Occupation, principally farming and 

 grazing. 



In regard to the different sections in paragraph 85, 1 do not know that I would recouimeud any 

 changes; believing that, as they now exist, if properly studied and construed, there are ample pro- 

 visions uuder which enrolled and drafted men can be exempt. 



As to the number that can be examined per day with accuracy, 1 would state that, if a surgeon 

 examines thirty men properly, he has done a full day's work. 



The frauds and feigned diseases generally practiced by drafted and enrolled men I very for- 

 tunately did not have to contend with, for two reasons: first, there was no draft uuide in this 

 district; secondly, the enrolled men who presented themselves for examination were invariably very 

 plain cases either for or against exemption, and none appeared to be versed in the chicanery gen- 

 erally practiced by tiiat class of men who seek to avoid the duty of support and encouragement 

 which every man owes to his Government in time of war. 



■ This district not having beeu cursed by those sharks and swindlers commonly caWqA substitute- 

 brolcers and bounty jumpers, I was not annoyed by them. The greatest trouble that I experienced 

 was in keeping boys uuder age out of the service, a large majority of the able-bodied men having 

 enlisted a-t an early period of the rebellion, (a large number against the Government.) A great 

 portion of this district, in 1862, 1863, and 186i, was overrun by guerrillas and bushwhackers, no 

 person being safe at home if but a short distance from a military post. Consequently, boys thirteen 

 and fourteen years of age would seek to enter the service for protection. 



As to what nationality presents the greatest aptitude lor military service, I am not prepared 

 to give an opinion, my experience being so very limited. Not more than one in a hundred of those 

 presented to me for examination were of foreign birth. 



My experience in examining colored men for military service has also been very limited, having 

 examined but a small number; and the negro in this State, as in Virginia, had beeu used prin- 

 cipally for propagating his race for the slave markets in the more Southern States, so that those 

 who did come under my notice were physically very far beneath the average of their race. 



The euroUmentlaw, as it now exists, has never been put fully into operation in this district; 

 .we have never had to raise men by draft. The law worked well here as far as tested. My exi)eri 

 ence and observation teach me that, if the office of provost-marshal is filled by au intelligent, 

 efficient, and true man, the law will be a great instrument with which to uphold the Govcrnuu'nt. 

 In this district, the office was held by Capt. J. M. Kichardson, who was fully posted as to every- 



