surgeons' reports IOWA SIXTH DISTKICT. 4G1 



Section 3G. Chronic ulcers of the shins I found almost exclusively confined to the 

 Irish. * ♦ * 



The number of men, etc.— I think the examination of seventy-five men is a full clay's work of six 

 hours. 



There are few if any frauds which can be practiced upon a vigilant surgeon after the suhject is 

 stripped and placed before him. The most common and most lepeated attempt at decei)tiou by 

 enrolled men to get ofl', and by drafted men to get otd, is lying in reference to their name, citizen- 

 ship, or age; substitutes and recruits, to get (h, freijuently try to hide internal organic disease, 

 which only can be detected by careful exploration with the stethoscope. 



The best method to rectify and bring as near to perfection as possible the enrollment of all 

 liable to military duty may be by State legislation u]»on this subject. For instance, every male 

 inhabitant over and under a certain age should be liable to certain penalties who did not report 

 himself ((/(H)/«i/(/ to a martial court of record. 



Americans make the best soldiers. Why? Because they are from infancy taught the doctrine 

 that seH-reliance is a necessity; that there is truth in the humble proverb, "lioot, pig, or die." 

 Because they possess powers peculiarly fitting them for selecting and adapting means to their 

 proximate ends, readily, and according to circumstances; a faculty which seems common to 

 Americans, or which may more properly be regarded as a kind of instinctive intelligence with 

 which they are naturally endowed. In youth, ambitious to excel as athletes, they are good horse- 

 men, good marksmen— in short, as a rule, experts in the use of all the implements of warfare, from 

 a pick-ax to a ten-inch Dahlgren. 



That the negro (he never was colored) has some capacity, physically considered, for military 

 service, there cannot be a doubt; neither is there a doubt about the usefulness of the horse when 

 subject to intelligent training. A good soldier and a good citizen may be made of the negro, but he 

 never can be as well qualified as he who by nature possesses greater physical i)erfeclion and greater 

 mental endowments. I say hij nature, for he who can, among the greatvariety of human existences, 

 best establish and defend his own industry, has the power given by God. * * * 



In conclusion, I would refer to one fact which stands out jjrominently at the military post 

 (Camp McGlellan) at this place, the most prominent rendezvous in the State, viz, the great superi- 

 ority of drafted meu over volunteers. Out of several thousands who were rendezvoused here from 

 two days to two weeks, not a single case of drunkenness occurred. Physically, they were as a class 

 decidedly superior. * * * 



E. S. BARROWS, 

 Surgeon Board of Enrollment Second District of loica. 

 Davenport, Iowa, June G, 1805. 



IOWA— SIXTH DISTRICT.! 

 Extracts from report o/Dr. Richard Stebbins. 



• * * The total number of men examined was one thousand two hundred and 



thirty-three. 



This district includes an extensive territory, stretching from the Cedar River on the east to 

 the Missouri River on the west, a distance of two hundred and fifty miles; and from the boundary- 

 line of Minnesota on the north for a distance of one hundred and twenty miles southward. The 

 prevailing characteristic of the surface is a gently rolling prairie, forming an elevated plateau 

 from eight hundred to one thousand feet above the level of the sea, well adapted for grazing, and 

 intersected by numerous rivers flowing from north to south. 



No extensive forests are found; considerable bodies of timber exist along the course of the 

 streams. The inhabitants are sparsely distributed over the district, dwelling mostly near the 

 •water courses, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. The largest town in the district is Waterloo, 



' No reports were received from the third, fourth, iiiid fiftli districts. 



