surgeons' reports MISSOURI FIFTH DISTRICT. 31)3 



thing Ibat was going ou^ and no conversation discouraging enlistment or volunteering was unre- 

 ported to bim, and pro[)er notice and action were always taken; and I am convinced that in times 

 of trial the Government of the United States will do well to enforce the enrollment-law by a(;tive, 

 iutelligeut, eflflcient, and true civilians. I cannot see that the law can be bettered by amendments. 



EDWIN EBERT, 

 Surgeon Board of EiiroUment Fourth District of Missouri. 

 Springfield, Mo., Juli/ 13, 1865. 



MISSOURI— FIFTH DISTRICT. 



Extracts from report of Dr. J. R. Veeter. 



* » * The number of substitutes and recruits examined and accepted 65 



The number of drafted men examined and not exempted 85 



The number of substitutes and recruits rejected . . 27 



The number of drafted men exempted 119 



The number of enrolled men exempted 128 



The number of enrolled men not exempted 74 



Total 498 



The above was under the call of July 18, 1864. The second call, of April 10, 18G5, was stopped 

 by order of the Secretary of War. 



The largest portion of the country in the fifth district can be called high, especially the prairie 

 ])ortiou, which forms the greater part. Real swamps do not exist, except in the lowest bottoms 

 along the Moreau River. The main river is the Missouri, on the northwestern boundary; second 

 to it the Osage, having a northeastern cour>'e ; and the Moreau, being nearly parallel to the Osage, 

 a little river which is apt to rise in twenty-four hours for fifteen and twenty feet even, but to fall 

 as rai)idly as the rise occurred. The prevalent diseases are intermittent and bilious fevers, which 

 exist most in those parts of the country where new land has been broken. In respect to chronic 

 diseases, it would be difBcult to decide whether they have been acquired here or brought from other 

 parts. 



1 cannot judge about the general character of the inhabitants, as the greatest portion of them 

 are emigrants from all parts of the United States, Ireland, Germany, and England, following their 

 own modes of life such as they have been used to live in their respective countries; the occupa- 

 tion of most of them is farming. 



As to the prevalent diseases in nationalities, I will observe that the inhabitants of the Eastern 

 States suffer most from diseases of the organs of respiration ; ruptures are most common among 

 the Germans, and heart-disease among the English. * # * 



My views in reference to the difi'erent sections of paragraph 85, Revised Regulations Provost- 

 Marshal-General's Bureau, are that they need hardly any change at all. Referring to tuberculosis, 

 though, I would most respectfully suggest that the paragraph mentions only "developed tubercu- 

 losis" as the cause of exemption and rejection. Many individuals are tuberculous, but the disease 

 is slumbering, and needs but a slight impulse to develop itself. It would, in my opinion, be better, 

 and would save the Government needless expense, if we were allowed to reject any man who labors 

 under tuberculosis. I admit that it is a difficult task for the surgeon to be correct in his diagnosis, 

 as it needs a physician well versed in the diseases of the respiration, experienced in auscultation 

 and percussion, and especially in pathology, for the purpose ; but if we proceed as we have done, 

 we have the responsibility on our minds that many a poor fellow, seemingly well, was put into a 

 regiment, and the very first night in camp without blanket and tent, caught a cold, as he terms it, 

 and from that moment feels that something is wrong — either he falls a victim to acute tuberculosis, 

 and dies in a short time, or he is lingering in hospitals for years, goes home, and death closes the 

 scene. Humanity gives us a right to demand a change, or an extension, of this paragraph. Every 

 surgeon in the field will support my suggestion ; as nearly every one underwent that sad experi- 

 ence. * « * 

 50 



