surgeons' reports MICHIGAN' FIFTH DISIKICT. 465 



tioti of a roviiiji' population engaged in hunhi'iinji, also a colony of Ilollandfrs, located in tlio 

 soul Invest part of Ottawa County. These latt(U- are a religions iind industrious people. 



No part of tlie Northwest presents greater indu<!enients th:iii this to emigrants, if thoy take 

 into consideration climate, health, soil, timber, and the gypsum which is fotind in great abundance, 

 as well as fruits of all the kinds that are 'produced in this latitude. 



The ratio of cardiac diseases reported is quite large. I purpose to make a few statei]5euts in 

 regard to a certain form of heart-disease which is quite common. The per.sous afflicted, in their 

 ai)pearauce, to a casual ob.server look healthy, the countenance generally Hushed, their tempera- 

 ments sanguine-bilious. The symptoms of the disease consist of jiain or an nnea.«y sensation, and 

 choking or faintiffg on exercise. The physical signs are these : heart in its normal position, its 

 impul.se at the apex violent and sharp, striking the walls of the chest with force. All the above 

 .symptoms are increased on exercise or from sudden mental emotion, the i)ulse r.inging from seventy- 

 live to eighty-five, full and strong, with the general health not usually much imi)aired. The causes 

 are iuvariably attributable to violent and protracted exercise, such as running, jumping, lifting. 

 The subjects were mostly of active habits, generally farmers and discharged soldiers. From the 

 .symptoms and the history of the cases, and from careful examinations, I was of opinion that there 

 was a slight hypertrophy with dilatation of the left ventricle, and so reported thein. This condi- 

 tion had been generally brought on by overtaxing the organ in long-continued exertion. 



Paragraph 85, section .3. Epilepsy. — The regtdations require the attested affidavit of a physician 

 in these cases. In this district, most of the i)ersous afflicted with the disease were new-comers, who 

 have never had an occasion to call a physician.or, if otherwise, they resided so far that a physician 

 could not reach theui while in the paroxysm. In these cases, the board had to rely u[ion the best 

 testimony they could obtain. * # * 



The number of men to be examined per day shoidd not exceed sixty, if the surgeon wishes to 

 do credit to himself and justice to the service. 



The fraud most frequently attempted was jjretendiug blindness of the right eye from disease of 

 the optic nerve. This could be detected only by the use of the ophthalmoscope. Inflating the 

 scrotum by forcing air into the cellular tissue was easily detected by the crei)itation on pressure. 



In regard to what ns'tionality i)resents the greatest physical ai)titude for military service, I 

 have had but little means of forming an opinion, as the inhabitants of this district are mostly 

 Americans. 



* * * ()j)g great obstacle to contend with in the examination of men is the want 

 of a suitable room. It should be located in reference to stillness, ;ind, if in a city, it should be 

 removed from the street; no talking should be allowed in it, for quiet is very essential duiing 

 examination of the lungs and heart. The room should be large, and dressing-rooms should be 

 adjoining. • 



My experience as to the physical qualifications of the colored race for military service has been 

 limited. The few, however, that I have examined, in x'hysical development were equal, if not 

 superior, to any other race of men. 



I have no recoinmeudations or suggestions to make in reference to the operations of the enroll- 

 ment-law. 



ALONZO PLATT, 

 Surgeon Board of Enrollment Fourth District of Michigan. 

 Grand Rapids, Mich., May 30, 1865. 



MICeiGAN— FIFTH DISTRICT. 

 Extracts from report of Dr. I. Paddack. 



* * • The whole number of men examined by me was four thousand five hun- 

 dred and thirty-five. # * # 



This district is composed of six counties, namely: Oaldand, Livingston, Lapeer, Macomb, Saint 



Clair, and Sanilac Counties. The last three border upon Laices Huron and Saint Clair on the east. 



The surface of the land is generally undulating, and the conntrv is well watered by numerous small 

 59 



