470 surgeons' reports — Wisconsin — fifth district. 



WISCONSIN— FIFTH DISTEIOT.» 



Extracts from report of De. H. O. Cetane. 



* * * Entering the service of the United States in June, ISOl, I continued on 

 duty in the field or in general hospitals until May, 1863, when I resigned my position as surgeon in 

 charge of St. John's College Hospital, Annapolis, Md., and received the appointment of surgeon to 

 the board of enrollment for this district. 



While on duty in hospital, I was in the weekly habit of examining men for discharge from 

 service, and since occupying my present position I have been constantly on duty ; I have had an 

 assistant but five months, and have, in the mean time, examined fourteen thousand one hundred 

 and sixty-five men, mostly enrolled or drafted men, nearly all of whom claimed severe indisposition 

 of some kind. 



The labors of the surgeon are so severe and unpleasant, and the pay so inadequate, that I think 

 there are very few but are satisfied with their experience, and are quite willing to leave the field. 



This district is situated in the extreme northeastern corner of the State. It is bounded on the 

 north by Green Bay and the Peninsula of Michigan, on the east by Lake Michigan, and on the 

 south and west by the fourth and sixth districts. It comprises thirteen large counties, and in 

 extent north and south extends through fully two degrees of latitude. It contains ten thousand 

 four hundred square miles. 



The southwestern counties are chiefly openings and prairie, with sufiBcient timber for all the 

 purposes of husbandry. The soil is productive, and the inhabitants are mainly occupied in the 

 pursuit of agriculture. These counties are chiefly settled by men from the Eastern and Middle 

 States, generally intelligent and industrious ; they have efficient schools and all the marks of an 

 advanced civilization. While the more eastern and northern counties are covered with dense for- 

 ests, and though there is much soil that is productive, the chief value is in its fine groves of timber 

 and the extensive fisheries on the lake and bay. 



A large preponderance of this population is foreign, representing every state and duchy in 

 Europe. They subsist by the cultivation of small farms and the manufacture of lumber and 

 shingles from their pine-forests. Necessity compels them to be industrious, but they are usually 

 very poor and ignorant, mostly Eoman Catholics, and as such generally hostile to the conscription- 

 act. These men are often ignorant of the most common civilities of life ; they are unscrupulous as 

 to the means for obtaining the desired end, regarding bribery and corruption as legitimate rather 

 than as crimes to be punished. A virtuous public sentiment cannot reach them, since they are 

 surrounded by those who are opposed to the wholesome administration of the law, and alike inter- 

 ested in preventing its execution. Demagogues, interested in preserving their party ascendency, 

 have educated this people to believe that the war was not only useless and cruel, but that its effect 

 would be to finally subvert their civil and political privileges. Hence the difficulty in procuring 

 an enrollment of some of these counties, and the inability to compel drafted men to report. Usually, 

 the strong and able-bodied ran away, while the cripples, those of overage, and aliens, aloue 

 reported. 



I know of no disease peculiar to this district, or to any part thereof, which is not incident to 

 other of the Northwestern States in the same latitude. I would mention pneumonia and inflam- 

 matory rheumatism as the most prevalent diseases of serious character common to this locality. 

 Phthisis is far less prevalent than in the Eastern or Middle States. 



The ratio per thousand exempt for physical disability has been much larger in that portion of 

 the district just considered, which may be accounted for in the following manner: First, as above 

 stated, the people are poor, the country heavily timbered, and in most instances thus timber in 

 clearing the land has to be removed by hand for the want of a team ; hence the large proportion 

 of cases of hernia, varicocele, and varicose veins of the inferior extremities, together with necrosis 

 of tibia, fractures, and dislocations. These causes, together with bad surgery, and often no surgery 

 whatever, have produced many cripples. Secondly, the able-bodied men have left the country and 

 failed to report. 



' Tliis was the only report received from the State. 



