surgeons' reports — MISSOURI — NINTH DISTRICT. 395 



large familiet, were crowded aud confined. We now find some tendencies to disease of the lungs, 

 and others incident to civilization ; but tbere appears to be no disease that is endemic to this 



locality. 



In the whole course of my duty, and experience therefrom, 1 can state that the best nation- 

 ality for military service was found in the white males of the United States. 



" It is deemed unnecessary at this time, since the war is over, to refer to the other matters of 

 inquiry, which were very pertinent at the time, but are now irrelevant ; and I will merely add, in 

 conclusion, that if anything of importance is omitted, it will afford me pleasure to furnish it when- 

 ever YOU require it. * * * 



Z. T. KNIGHT, 



Surgeon Board of Enrollment Eighth District of Missouri. 

 Canton, Mo., September 11, 1SG5. 



MISSOUllI— NINTH DISTRICT. 

 Extracts from report of Uk. C. F. Walden. 



" # * * My experience in the examination of men for military service is limited. 



I have been in the office as'surgeon of the board of enrollment of the NinL> District of the State of 

 Missouri since the 16th day of January, 18G5, since which time I have examined nineteen dialled 

 men, ten of whom were deserters from draft No. 3. Four of these were held to service; the other 

 six Ijeing discharged as fanflt. Nine were examined by me on the fourth or last draft. They were 

 all exempted. It is commonly the case for those that are disabled to report first. I have exam- 

 ined seventeen substitutes, thirteen of whom were put in the service; the other four were rejecte<l. 

 I have examined three hundred and sixty-two enrolled men, all of whom were exempted excepting 

 twenty ; making all the men examined four hundred and five. 



I am too little acquainted with the district to give anything like a correct description of it. It 

 is situated immediately between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. It is in the shape of the letter 

 V, and every county of the district but two is bounded on one or the other of its sides by one or 

 the other of these rivers. Cuvre River runs through nearly the whole of the district. There are 

 also several large creeks in the diiferent counties. 



The lace of the country is undulating, and abounds with fine timber on the rivers and other 

 streams ; the high laud is prairie. The diseases most prevalent are intermittent, remittent, inflani- 

 matory, and typhoid fevers, with all other diseases peculiar to the West, or the valley of the Mis- 

 sissippi, or, indeed, to the older States. 



The chief causes of disease are to be found in the changeableness of the climate and the decay 

 of vegetation caused by the overflowing of the rivers aud creeks in the months of May aud June. 

 This overflow takes place annually in one or the other of these months. The inhabitants are gen 

 erally industrious farmers, mechanics, laborers, &c. 



So far as my experience extends, hernia has disqualified more per thousand than any other 

 disease or disability. The cause of this disability is too well known for me to attemi.t to say any- 

 thing about it. * * * 



I do not recommend any change, believing that, although frauds may exist, yet, with a proper 

 construction and understanding of the list as now given in paragraph 85, Provost-Marshal-Gen- 

 eral's Bureau, all drafted and enrolled men who are really unfit for military service can be exempted 

 in accordance with its provisions. * ♦ * 



I think that irom fifty to sixty meil are as many as can be examined with accuracy per day. 

 The frauds most to be guarded against are pretended diseases of the lungs and kidneys aud 

 rheumatism, which attempts are easily detected. Substitutes and recruits always aim to hide all 

 such diseases or other defects, avowing all the time that nothing is the matter with them. I know 

 of no suggestion to make to avoid the difficulties. 



My experience .suggests the Ameri(-ans first and the Irish next in order of military capacity. 



