surgeons' reports OHIO NINETEENTH DISTRICT. 423 



Sntlden transitions from liot to cold, Lot driuks, hot food, followed by cold, as ice-water or ice- 

 cream, may be another reason ; also, abuse of the teeth, prostituting them to other purposes than 

 that of masticatiTig food. I am aware that bad teeth are usually attributed to bad health, to 

 derangement of some of the digestive organs. Which is the cause, or which is the effect, is yet to 

 be determined. * # * 



In this section of the country, diseases of the respiratory- organs are more frequently jjrfjHrt)-?/ 

 tluui secondary, olten not traceable to hereditary taint but arising from exposure to our sudden 

 changes of atmosphere. 



1 tjiink the difl'erent sections of jjaragraph 85 of the Revised Regulations of the Provost- 

 Marshal General's Bureau need but little emendation. Section 3 I would have read as follows : 

 " For this disability, the statement of the drafted man is insufficient, and the fact must be established 

 by the duly-attested affidavits of a physician in good standing, and in addition tln>reto such other 

 evidence as the hoard muy required In a confirmed case of epilepsy, a physician is seldom employed 

 or medication resorted to, consequently it is difficult to obtain the required certificate. 



I think section 33 should be amended. I have met with a case of total loss of the left thumb 

 and the first and second phalanges of all the fingers of the same hand. With these exceptions, I 

 have no amendments to suggest. * # # 



The number of men that can be physically examined per day with accuracy will depend very 

 much upon the arrangements. I had a reliable clerk to make the entries on my record, and most 

 of the time the commissioner attended to the preluninaries, (name, age, nativity, occupation, strip- 

 ping, measuring for height, and weight.) When necessary, we have commenced our duties at 7J 

 o'clo(jk a. m., with one hour for dinner, and concluding only at dark. Laboring in this manner, I 

 hare examined sevtnty-eiyht recruits and drafted men in a day; but I am satisfied no man should be 

 expected or required to examine more ihim fifty men as an average number. The provision of an 

 assi.stant surgeon has not been of much relief in my duties. Surgeons of the science and skill for 

 which I would be responsible \yould not be induced to leave their business and accept the position 

 on the terms proposed. 



The frauds to be guarded against in the examination of drafted and enrolled men are numer- 

 ous ; most frequently a disorder is simulated for which an acquaintance has been exempted, espe- 

 cially if it be somewhat obscure. My experience has been quite limited in this j)articular duiing 

 the past year, as very few have attempted deception. They seldom claim imbecility. In one in- 

 stance, a drafted man made the claim by presenting a discharge based on dementia, given in ISOli. 1 

 had known him for several years as a man of more than ordinary intelligence. Some have fraudu- 

 lently claimed epilepsy, but, failing to make the required proof, have not been heard from since 

 notified of the evidence required. Many claim heart-disease, and get nearly drunk to establish it. 

 The claim will be generally of something they think obscure to the surgeon, as haemorrhoids and gravel. 

 But when the testis proposed with tbe speculum or sound, they excuse themselves from an examina- 

 tion, preferring to await the result of the draft. Diseases of bladder, kidneys, heart, and lungs, 

 each have their turn, but the subject overacts his part. Alleged total loss of the sight of the right 

 eye has been exposed by the ophthalmoscope ; deafness is devoid of its peculiar intonation of 

 voice: scrofula is made by application of blistering plasters; indolent ulcers are made by blisters 

 and by continued application of irritants; tumid legs are made by application of ligatures : hernia, 

 iu jjroof of which they exhibit a truss; aukylosed joints, exposed by anajsthesia; an endess variety 

 of pains and aches. A fraud more likely to succeed than any other was this: one rascal with no 

 disability, hiring another, with a manifest one, to make application in his name for exemption, the 

 representative knowing himself to be secure from service if drafted, and hoping not to be detected. 

 Tbese are among the most common efforts here. 



Recruits and substitutes iu times of large local bounties will swear they are over eighteen or 

 under Ibrtytive, though they have not a manifestation of puberty, or may be sixty years old. 



I am askeil to make suggestions as to the best method of avoiding or overcoming these diffi- 

 culties iu future. The surgeou shouhl be well posted in his profession, and be provided with all 

 tbe necessary instruments, esi)ecially an ophthalmoscope, laryngoscope, speculum for tbe ear and 

 anus, and a sound or catheter. He sboiild render himself familiar with the list of diseases and 

 inlirmities whicli disquaUI^> lor military service, and follow strictly the regulations for such cases 



