SURGEONS REPORTS MICHIGAN FIFTH DISTRICT. 469 



ately after he was examined at this oilflce commenced applying some caustic or irritating sub- 

 stance to his legs, iu consequence of which he succeeded in making sores which had the appear 

 ance of chronic ulcers of long standing. He niiide a confidant of one of the Veteran Hcserve Corps 

 men at the camp, and tohl him he had no disability at present, but soon would have; that he 

 knew how to make his legs sore and also how to heal them, as the case might require; his wife 

 stated also that he had done that thing several times. The facts were reported to the surgeon at 

 the State rendezvous and his cnse was reexamined. Instead of obtaining a discharge, as he had 

 anticipated, he was held aud sent to the front; his descriptive roll containing a statement as to 

 his character, so as to prevent imposition upon others. According to his own statement, he had 

 enlisted five or six times, making some eleven hundred dollars by his knavery. 



In order to protect the board of enrollment against sucli frauds, the enlisted nam should be 

 sent to the headquarters of the State immediately, aud there be re-examined as speedily as possible, 

 (if a subsequent examiuation is required,) before he has time to manufacture a disability; and then 

 I have no doubt the provost-marshal and the surgeon would escape the censure they have many 

 times had heaped upon them unjustly in consequence of allowing rascals sufiicient time to mature 

 their villainous designs. 



The surgeon of the board of enrollment has a far better opportunity for judging of the present 

 ability of a man for military service, at the time of his enlistment, than the surgeon who reexam- 

 ines him some weeks, aud perhaps months, after, and discovers a disability which he supposes to 

 haveexisted at the time of his enlistment, but which, in fact, did not then exist. Drafted men and 

 enrolled men come before the board claiming that they have hernia and consequently are com- 

 pelled to wear a truss, which they have adjusted to the best of their ability ; but, on examination, 

 it becomes evident that the thing had been ajjplied just previous to the inspection, and as no hernia 

 can be found they are told that such a deception is not well calculated to avail them anything. A 

 .drafted man presented himself for examiuation before he was ordered to report. Ue was very 

 anxious to be inspected, as he had a large blister on one of his legs, which, he stated, had fre- 

 quently made its appearance and caused him to be very lame. When he was told that he had 

 caused the blister himself for the purpose of obtaining a discharge, he appeared very much disap- 

 pointed, and immediately left the room. There was a drafted man who was examiued at this office 

 and held to service, as there could not be found any disability for which to exempt him ; he was 

 accordingly sent to the State rendezvous. A few weeks elapsed, aud he was reported back to this 

 office as having paralysis agitans, in consequence of which he was discharged. I was informed by 

 one of his neighbors {who was a reliable man) that on his return home the disease immediately left 

 him, and he was able to resume the manual labor which he had formerly performed. 



In cases where there is reason to suspect simulation, an espionage should be instituted over 

 such iiersous, and very soon their hypocrisy will be detected. 



There have been sent to the State rendezvous from this oflQce three thousand and eighty men 

 who have been receii)ted for, only sixteen of whom have been reported back as unfit for duty; and 

 I have no doubt that the greater part of these have managed to carry out theii' various schemes 

 of deception so adroitly that the vigilant eye of the surgeon at Jackson has failed to discover the 

 imposition. I think satisfactory reasons were given in all these cases why the men were accepted at 

 this ofBce. 



As to what nationality presents the greatest physical aptitude for military service, I think the 

 answer is clearly expressed in Dr. Roberts Bartholow's manual of instructions for enlisting and 

 discharging soldiers, page 208. He says, "An unprejudiced view of the various races aud nationali- 

 ties forming our Army will disclose the fact, I think, that the fused European nationalities, consti- 

 tuting what is now known as the North American race, and which begins to assume characteristics 

 distinct as those of the English, French, German, or Spanish races, is better fitted for military 

 purposes than either or all of the representatives of foreign nations." 



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

 limited, as only a small number has been examined at this oflice. 



I. PADDAGK, 

 Late Surgeon Board of EnroUment Fifth District of Michigan. 



PoNTiAC, Mich., Octohcr 12, 1SG5. 



