34 
Proceedings of the Eoyal Society of Edinburgh. [Sess. 
IV.— Results obtained at the Physical Test Station, Edinburgh. 
By Professor Henry Briggs, D.Sc., Ph.D. 
(MS. received November 7, 1921. Read November 7, 1921.) 
I. Purpose. 
It became evident during the War that some men who are organically 
sound are nevertheless incapable of supporting heavy exertion ; and among 
the older groups that were called to the Colours in 1918 the proportion of 
such individuals was considerably more. The effect of forcing these men 
to carry out the duties falling to the lot of an “ A ” recruit was in manj^ 
cases harmful to them, and in extreme instances resulted in permanent 
disability and sometimes in death. The Army Medical Department there- 
fore sought to obtain a method of physical examination, which would 
supplement the ordinary medical examination of a recruit, and which 
could be applied to men who proved to be unserviceable material in the 
hands of the drill sergeant — a test which would, in fact, enable the 
malingerers to be distinguished from those who were truly incapable of 
sustained labour. 
At that time, the writer was working on the same problem in its 
application to the members of mine rescue brigades,* who, like the 
soldier, ought to be both medically sound and physically efficient, and he 
succeeded in developing a method’ of testing which quantitatively assesses 
the fitness and stamina of the subject. Acting on the advice of Col. Sir 
William Horrocks, K.C.M.G., the Army Council put the method into service 
for army purposes by setting up, in Edinburgh University, the Test 
Station of which this paper gives an account. Arrangements were being 
made in the autumn of 1918 to establish a second Station under the 
Southern Command, but the signing of the Armistice in November brought 
the project to an end, and, shortly after, the Edinburgh Station also ceased 
to function. 
II. Principles. 
The principle upon which the method is based, and the experimental 
data bearing upon it have been fully described in the Journal of 
* The work was carried out under the auspices of the Scientific and Industrial Research 
Department, which also provided the material for the Test Station. 
