472 surgeons' reports — Wisconsin — fifth district. 



healed, the air remaining in situ, and apparently producing- inflammation of the parts. I subse- 

 quently learned that this deception was not uncommon among Bohemians in Europe. 



The frauds practiced by recruits and substitutes have usually I'ehited to concealing their age; 

 where advanced, by coloring their hair and whiskers, and by the declarations of the party ; and if 

 too young, by the afBdavits of parties interested and of the parents. Situated as we are on the 

 borders of Canada, a large number of supposed " bounty jumpers" have presented themselves to 

 this board for enlistment; but tlie constant vigilance of its officers in the examination of this class 

 of recruits has prevented more than half a dozen of them entering the service from this office. Of 

 all facts in this connection, the provost-marshal will make a full report. 



Under the head " any other obstacles," as a member of the board of enrollment, I will say that 

 there have been frauds almost innumerable practiced upon the conscript as well as many upon the 

 Government and its officers. Outside parties, claiming to have some legal knowledge, acting as 

 attoi'neys for anyone able to pay them a fee, have made the frightened conscript believe tliat they 

 possessed influence with the marshal or the surgeon, and for a specific sum they could i)robably pro- 

 cure his discharge. The man at once advances the money, and if by any circumstance he happens 

 to be exempted, the attorney keeps the money, the conscript believing that most of it has been paid 

 to the officer for such exemption. A good deal of money has in this way been filched from con- 

 scripts, who have been made to believe the Government and all its officers corrupt. Such con- 

 duct invariably begets hard feelings, the conscript feels that he has been fleeced, and believes his 

 attorney, who tells him he made the best bargain he could with the officers. All this is done out- 

 side, we know nothing of it at the time, and it is quite beyond our control. The officers are 

 not only unable to guard the rights of the conscript, but equally impotent to jii'otect their own 

 reputation wlieu assailed in this manner. * * # 



If possible, some plan should be devised to prevent the crime of perjury, as during the recent 

 drafts it has been practiced to a fearful extent until it seems that truth is an excejition. Twenty, 

 fifty, or a hundred dollars is ofl'ered an attorney to free the conscript from the operations of the 

 draft. To accomplish this, the attorney writes out the most glaring falsehood, and the conscript 

 swears to it — both equally interested in defrauding the Government — and on this jjaper, thus pro- 

 cured, the board of enrollment (though believing the whole thing false) is often compelled to grant 

 the exemption. I am happy to state that all attorneys are not thus dishonest ; still, no man has so 

 bad a case as not to find some one to engage for him. To obviate this difficulty and to preserve the 

 integrity of the people, I would respectfully suggest that a commissioner or commissioners be 

 appointed by, and in the pay of, the Government, before whom all testimony shak be taken and all 

 affidavits made touching any case of exemption other than for physical disability, whose duty and 

 sole object shall be to arrive at facts, acting alike for the Government and for the people, and 

 ignoring all attorneys whatever. 



I would let the party claiming exemption present his testimony to the enrolling-board, and 

 they should proceed to investigate and decide his claim without the interference of an attorney, 

 who only too often prevents the ends of justice and leads the conscript into difficulty. It is believed 

 that by this or some similar method the conscript could save a heavy attorney's fee, (as the regula- 

 tions on this point I think are totally disregarded,) and in hundreds of instances it would prevent 

 the commission of perjury, so common at present. 



In considering the military aptitude of nationalities, the questions of occupation, locality, and 

 race are of much importance, and should be well considered; iu an older settled district, they 

 would furnish much useful information. 



Locality doubtless has much influence over the health and stamina of recruits permanently, 

 located, and where the habits of the people are less migratory. While iu the English service im- 

 portant diflerences are found between town and country recruits, no such distinction can be made 

 in this country, and more especially it is impossible in this district. The largest town has a popu- 

 lation of less than ten thousand, and the people, as a class, are industrious and energetic. Dence, 

 perhaps, the small percentage of exemptions for physical disability in this district, compared with 

 the more densely-populated sections of the country. 



Occupation, iu this district, is of far greater importance in the selection of recruits than locality. 



