120 BULLETIN 414, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
bandages at their own expense so that they may be able to giTe some 
relief before the arrival of a doctor. 
While serious accidents occur only rarely, it would appear never- 
theless that every camp outfit ought to be prepared to meet any 
emergency. At one of the camps visited it was recorded that a con- 
vict had received a compound fracture of the thigh from being struck 
with a piece of flying rock and at another, one of the prisoners received 
an injury which resulted in the loss of one hand. Both of these cases 
were cared for successfully at the camps until the services of a phy- 
sician could be secured. Practically all of the camps were pro- 
vided with telephones and were so located that medical aid could be 
procured within a reasonable time. 
DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 
Benefits Derived from Outdoor "Work. 
Camp life and out-of-door work without doubt are far more health- 
ful and beneficial than life behind prison walls and are sought eagerly 
by prisoners. The best results are being accomplished at those 
camps where the men are not selected for the sole purpose of con- 
structing a road, but where the first consideration is the good which 
may be derived by the men themselves. Prisoners who have proved 
themselves worthy of trust are among those upon whom it would 
appear especially fitting to bestow the benefits and advantages of out- 
door life and exercise. 
While it is a fact that diseased men should not be sent to the 
camp, it is true also that certain of the less robust individuals can 
be developed and benefited greatly by the opportunities which the 
camps afford. It is very possible that mental and physical break- 
downs often could be avoided in such a way as this, and it would 
appear a small matter, indeed, if the number of days lost on account 
of minor ailments should remain somewhat above the average for 
the first few weeks if the men themselves eventually were benefited 
and strengthened. At camps where the welfare of the men is borne 
in mind, there is no disposition on the part of the officers to require 
more than they can reasonably do, and the attitude of both keepers 
and men is that of a "square deal'' all around. 
Physical Examinations. 
The importance of thorough physical examinations by competent 
physicians scarcely can be overestimated. It is only in this way 
that men suffering from infectious diseases can be prevented from 
entering the camp and becoming a menace to the health of the entire 
force. Those suffering from heart disease, Bright's disease, hernia, 
and similar afflictions may also be detected, thereby protecting the 
individuals from possible serious injury and saving the camp much 
