surgeons' reports — MICHIGAN — FIFTH DISTRICT. 467 



disease. This has hapjiened generally when there has been a hixiiriant growth of vegetation in the 

 early part of the siiumier followed by a drought, after which fre(|neut rains begin to water the earth, 

 iind the heat continuing, then the disease begins to show itself, perhaps in a mild form atlirst ; but 

 [«oon putting on a malignant type, it becomes a severe scourge to the Inhabitants. 



Now, why is it that dysentery exists at that season of the year wliich has been, so far as we 

 can judge, most favorable to the production of remittent and intermittent fevers, unless the same 

 causes that produced the one are capable of producing the other, though of a different class of 

 diseases ? The lower order of animals is also liable to suffer from the poisonous effects of malaria. 

 In the State of New York I saw a dog have regular tertian ague for several weeks; he became 

 debilitated and exhibited little inclination to take exercise, but alter a while regained his strength 

 and activity. 



There has been a considerable number of drafted men exempted for physical disability, there 

 being no visible disease, either general or local, except that the men ap[)eared very much debilitated, 

 and totally unable to perform manual labor, which, indeed, was evident upon athorough examination 

 as well as from the testimony of reliable neighbors, many of those in question having been invalids for 

 several years. On inquiry in relation to the causes of their ill-health, some would assign one thing and 

 some another, but generally they were not very satisfactory reasons. Quite a number of these men 

 had previously suffered from attacks of intermittent fevers, (ague, as they denominated it,) but it 

 had left no chronic enlargement of the spleen nor local effects of any kind that could be detected; 

 nevert heless, the system exhibited thepernicious effects of somelatent poison thathadhad an agency in 

 producing the debility they labored under. My opinion is that a large proportion of these individuals 

 were suffering from the poisonous effects of malarious indnence, which is operating silently, though 

 no less surely, in destroying the health of a large number of those inhabitants who have spent the 

 greater part of their lives in infected districts of country. These diseases exist to a greater extent 

 in the newly-settled portions of country where the lands are first broken up, and the marshy 

 grounds and stagnant'pools of water existing in many places are fertile sources from which eman- 

 ate the poisonous effluvia ; but as the country has been improved, especially by draining the marshy 

 lands, these diseases have become less frequent, and also milder in their type, except where other 

 causes comb ned have rendered it otherwise. 



As there are more farmers than any other class of men in this district, and as hernia predomi- 

 nates over any other disability, it is but reasonable to conclude that it is produced by the extra 

 muscular exertions required of those who are engaged in agricultural pursuits. In clearing heavy 

 timbered land, the incessant labor recpiircd will call for all the physical strength a man possesses; 

 it is therefore no wonder that rupture should frequently result. 



Pontiac, the headquarters of the district, is in Oakland County ; it lies in latitude iSo 30' 

 north, longitude 6° 1.3' west from Washington, at a height of nine hundred and twenty-seven feet 

 above the sea. It has a population numbering four thousand. It is surrounded by rich farming- 

 lands, which are extensively cultivated, and yield to the husbandman ami)le reward for his labor. 

 It is watered by the Clinton River, which affords excellent water-power. The Detroit and Mil- 

 waukee Railroad passes through it. It is situated twenty-five miles north of Detroit, and is one of 

 the greatest wool-marts in the State. The county is remarkable for its numerous small and beau- 

 tiful lakes to the number of one hundred, which are well supplied with choice fish, ami afford a 

 pleasant pastime for those who are fond of indulging in the sport. 



In relation to the different sections of paragraph 85 of the Revised Regulations of the Provost- 

 Marshal-General's Bureau, as laid down for the guidance of boards of enrollment in the exam- 

 ination of drafted men. I have to say that I believe them to be judiciously arranged. Undoubtedly, 

 any one having any of the disabilities there set forth as being disqualifying should be exempted, 

 but at the same time I am of opinion that there is too wide a distinction made between drafted 

 men and volunteers. I cannot see why a man because he is so unfortunate as to be conscripted 

 should be held to service though he may have disabilities that would reject him if he were a 

 volunteer. It may be said that the drafted man, if he be not as sound in eveiy respect as is required 

 of the volunteer, may yet have such duties assigned him as he ca* perform, and thus render service 

 to the Government, though in a less degree than a perfectly able-bodied man. Granting it to be 

 the fact that his services are worth something, they nevertheless fall far short of those of the man 



