476 surgeons' eeports — Minnesota — second district. 



Ascertained by a series of observations extendiug over twenty years, the mean winter temper- 

 ature is IGo.G; the iiicau summer temperature is TOo.SG; the yearly fall of rain and melted snow is 

 23.50 iucbcs. 



It may be assumed that one-third of the population of the district is composed of natives of 

 Germany, Sweden, Norway, and Ireland. The natives of the New England, Eastern, and Western 

 States compose the bulk of the remaining inhabitants. 



The principal occupations of the inhabitants are farming and lumbering. 



Acute rheumatism and typhoid fever are the prevalent diseases of the district. Persons unac- 

 customed to the climate and the excessive changes of temperature caused by the extreme heat of 

 the days and the extreme coldness of the nights are the cliief victims of these attacks. 



The exemptions and rejections for certain diseases and disabilities in this distiict are consider- 

 ably in excess of the usual ratio. For example : . 



Epilepsy.— T\w ratio in this distiict is about 18 per 1,000. My own experience in a practice of 

 ten years iu this State is that epilepsy is a rare disease. For jyroof of the disability, however, the 

 surgeon must mainly rely upon the atiQdavits of physicians. Many of these are ignorantly and 

 some willfully untrue. No other conclusion can be arrived at. 



Developed tuberculosis.— The ratio in this district is about IS per 1,000. Consumption, originating 

 here, is extremely rare, yet the number entitled to exemption under this head is large. For years, 

 Minnesota has been the known and popular resort of invalids, and particularly of those affected by 

 lung-diseases. All the persons rejected or exempted by me for developed tuberculosis have been, 

 upon inquiry, ascertained to belong to this class. 



Permanent physical disahility.— This section, No. 9, under circular of Surgeon Baxter, of Decem- 

 ber S, 18G4, covers all disqualificatious not otherwise provided for. A great part of the exemptions 

 under this section in this district would, under Circular No. 100, of November 9, 1SG3, have been 

 made for "decided feebleness of constitution." They are invalids from every conceivable cause, 

 who have come hither iu hopes to renew their lease of life. Many in time recover, but there are 

 always numbers who have not recovered, and who, if transferred to the field and a less healthy 

 climate, would serve only to fill the hospitals. 



The changes that 1 would I'ecommeud in paragraph 85, Revised Regulations, Provost-Marshal- 

 General's Bureau, have been suggested by actual cases that have occurred during my examinations. 

 Section 13. I would recommend that some discretion be allowed surgeons of boards of enroll- 

 ment in applications for exemptions for nearsightedness. As the section now stands, the prohibi- 

 tion is absolute ; yet there are occasionally ca.ses in which the disability is so extreme as to render 

 the man absolutely useless for any conceivable militaiy duty. 



I would recommend that the minimum height of dralted men and recruits be made to corre- 

 spond. 



I would recommend generally that all distinctions in the physical qualifications of drafted men 

 and recruits, not absolutely necessary to be maintained, be abolished. * * * 



It was found impossible to examine a tithe of the enrolled men who presented themselves, if the 

 form prescribed in paragraph 95, Revised Regulations, ProvostJIarshnl General's Bureau, was strictly 

 complied with. Each man was questioned as to claims for exemption. If the cause was found to 

 exist, much unnecessary examination was avoided. If it did not exist, and no other cause could be 

 pointed out, he was dismissed unless he claimed a full examination, which was always granted. By 

 this course, some whom a thorough examination would have caused to be exem])ted, were left on the 

 enrollment-lists, but if all who presented themselves had been examined as required by paragraph 

 95, many more whose defects were patent would not have been reached. The time was too limited 

 to examine all who applied, and the choice of evils was adopted. 



Fifty men are all that can be examined iu a day by one surgeon with accuracy. To do this 

 will require him to work from 8 to 12 a. m. and from 1 to 5 p. m., and allow but ten minutes for 

 the examination of each man. This applies to recruits, substitutes, and drafted men. Enrolled 

 men may be examined at the rate of one hundred per day by pursuing the method pointed out 

 under section 5. 



The intense desire to obtain exemption from military service led many to practice fraud and 



