SURGEONS' REPORTS — OHIO ELEVENTU DISTRICT. 411 



With tbo al)<)ve slight alterations, I am of opinion that the paragraph would be snfTiciently 

 complete to answer well the piir[)oses of its formation, if its provisions were in good faith eoni[)lie(l 

 with by the examining-surgeon. * * * 



In answer to the qnestion as to the number of men who can be examined in a day, I have to 

 say that this depends so much on circumstances as to I'ender difHcult an answer to the question. 

 The recruits presented by one recruiting-officer may be selected with so much care that a very few 

 minutes are sufficient to satisfy the surgeon of their fitness .or unfitness for military duty ; while 

 another officer, having nothing in view but to obtain a sufficient number of recruits to secure a 

 commission for himself or some friend, will present such a motley crew of halt, lame, and blind for 

 examination that it will require twice or three times the trouble and a very much longer time to 

 examine this squad than that first uamed. I have examined one hundred and two men in the time 

 allowed by law, namely, during full dnyliglit. Upon one occasion, while upon another squad of 

 men, working e(iually hard, I have examined but thirty. I am of opinion that a surgeon accus- 

 tomed. to making examinations may average sixly examinations per day, occupying all the day-light 

 to examine, and deferring the signing of the papers until evening. # # # 



A very large proportion of the drafted men in this district have been of that class who sympa- 

 thize with the I'ebels more or less openly, and of course when conscripted would either run away 

 or resort to some subterfuge to avoid the performance of their duty to the Government by entering 

 the service. Among the more common disabilities claimed, rheumatism, esjjecially in the form of 

 lumbago or sciatica, is perhaps most common. Almost every conscript, especially of the class 

 alluded to above, will claim that he has a "very bad back," and it -has required particular care not 

 to be imposed upon by those claiming this disability. A threatened resort to the use of chloroform 

 will usually determine the question. Another and very common disability claimed by the con- 

 scri|)t is, as he terms it, "a very weak breast," meaning by this some form of thoracic disease. 

 This disability, if feigned, is not difficult of detection, for by the lights afibrded by the present 

 state of medical science it is comparatively easy at least to determine whether there is enough thoracic 

 disease to justify exempting a man, even though it cannot always be told with certainty as to the 

 exact nature of the morbid condition. Epilepsy is often alleged, and not unfre(iuently a string of 

 certificates are brought in to prove the truth of the statement of the party, when a full investiga- 

 tion shows the claim to be groundless and untrue. 



Deafness is often feigned, but the peculiar look of a really deaf man cannot be put on by one 

 not deaf, and often some casual question will betray the malingerer, so that a little tact will 

 usually determine the question, often greatly to the impostor's discomfiture. 



Blindness, total or partial, is often claimed, and not infrequently conscripts are presented with 

 serious inflammation of the eye, and it is believed that artificial inflammation has in these eases been 

 induced in one or both eyes to secure the end. The infirmity, if real, can usually be distinguislied 

 with sufficient certainty to run no very serious risk of doing injustice to the Government or the 

 conscript. Trifling injuries of the extremities, especially of the feet, are magnified to terrible 

 infirmities, and indeed if the surgeon were to believe all that is told him by drafted men he would 

 think we were a nation of crip|)les. To such an extent do drafted men desire exemption, that in 

 this district no less than six men have been presented with recent wounds of hands and feet, which 

 were believed by the board to have purposely been produced to secure exemption from a duty 

 which ought to have been sacred, that of aiding to crush the unholy rebellion then raging throagli- 

 out the laud against the best Government on earth. I have to say, therefore, that in the examina- 

 tion of drafted men 1 have found it necessary to exercise very great caution, and to scrutinize well 

 every claim set up by them as a cause of exemption from draft. The same remarks will hold good' 

 and the same priuci[)les apply to the examination of enrolled men desirous of having their names 

 stricken from the enrollment with the same object in view, viz, to escape performing their duty to 

 the Government. * # * 



In answer to the question as to physical aptitude of different nationalities for military service, 

 I have to say that alter due examination of all the facts as developed in the examinations at these 

 head(|uarters, I have come to the conclusion that those of American birth and parentage stand 

 highest on the list, and I believe this to be especially the case when they are called upon to perform 

 the duties exacted of the soldier in the various branches of the service such as have been required 



