INADEQUACY OF EXAMINATIONS BY OFFICERS 

 OF THE LINE 



This conclusion adverse to the present practice of preliminary 

 examination by non-medical officers * applies with special force to the 

 examination of special parts, such, for illustration, as the examination 

 of the skin for evidences of disease, ulcers and eruptions, extensive, 

 deep and adherent scars, extensive or disfiguring birthmarks, hypo- 

 dermic scars, indicating a drug habit, etc. With reference to the 

 examination of the eyes, the attention of the non-medical examiner is 

 directed to possible evidences of chronic inflammations, triangular or 

 fan-shaped growths on eyeball with the apex encroaching upon the 

 cornea, marked squint, and drooping of the upper lid. The nose is 

 required to be examined for dilated vessels, indicative of alcoholism, 

 for disfiguring deformities, for offensive discharges, and for inability 

 to breathe freely through the nose and with the mouth closed. The 

 neck is required to be examined for goitre, enlarged or suppurating 

 glands and their resulting scars. The chest is required to be examined 

 for malformations ; the abdomen for obesity, dropsy, ruptures, and with 

 collateral questions regarding a possible past history of chronic 

 dyspepsia or dysentery. Rupture is made a subject of special instruc- 

 tions, and the applicant is directed "to stand with his feet apart and his 

 arms raised above his head, while the examiner is required to instruct 

 him to cough, the examiner placing the tip of his forefinger at the 

 point of suspected rupture, etc. The back is required to be examined 

 for deformities and malformations ; the groins for enlarged glands ; 

 the hands and arms for deformities, old fractures and dislocations, 

 stiff joints, etc. ; the feet for flatfoot, deformed toes, etc., and 

 finally, the applicant is required to stand "with the inner borders of his 

 feet together, arms horizontal, fingers apart, and eyes shut to submit 

 to an inspection for tremors and instability indicating alcoholism or 

 nervous disorders." 



It is not made entirely clear by the regulations what precise method 

 of procedure is to be followed by the non-medical officer in the final 

 rejection of recruits. There is apparently a distinction drawn be- 

 tween applicants for enlistment who are not acceptable to the recruit- 

 ing officer before being examined physically and those who are rejected 

 by him subsequently to their physical examination, more or less in 

 conformity to the preceding outline, which is largely based upon the 

 revision of Tripler's Manual by Major and Surgeon Charles R. Green- 

 leaf, issued in 1890. The Rules for the Examination of Recruits as 

 issued in the form of General Orders No. 66, Washington, April 18, 

 1910, and re-issued in 1916, proceed with the instructions for the exam- 

 ination from the non-medical portion as made by the line officer to the 



'* These observations, of course, have reference only to the examination of recruits under 

 the former system of voluntary enlistment and they do not apply, unless otherwise stated, 

 to the examination of registrants under the Selective Draft. 



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