Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2007 with funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/epitomeoftriplerOOtriprich 
 
^-^ 
 
 AN EPITOME 
 
 TRIPLER'S MANUAL, 
 
 AND 
 
 OTHER PUBLICATIONS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 EXAMINATION OF RECRUITS. 
 
 BY 
 
 CHAS. R. GREENLEAF, 
 
 Major and Surgeon, U. S. A. 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C. : 
 
 WILLIAM BALLANTYNE & SONS. 
 
 1890. 
 
^^■^' 
 
 x^ 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1S90, by 
 Charles R. Greeni^eaf. 
 
 JUDD &. DETWEILER, 
 
 PRINTERS, 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C. 
 
The following epitome of Tripler's Manual is intended 
 for the guidance and use of Recruiting Officers in the exam^_ 
 ination of applicants for enlistment into the United States 
 Army. 
 
 The Manual, written principally for the use of Medical 
 Officers, contains much that is useless or incomprehensible 
 to the non-professional man by reason of its technicalities, 
 and as Recruiting Officers are frequently required to examine 
 applicants without the assistance of a medical officer, it is 
 believed that a more useful guide can be made by eliminat- 
 ing this material, and omitting all referenoe to the subjects 
 of malingering, discharges from service, etc. 
 
 Advantage has been takfen of this opportunity to add such 
 new instructions, as time and experience have shown to be 
 necessary, since the original publication of the Manual. 
 
 Columbus Barracks, Ohio, June^ 188i.. 
 
 Headquarters of the Army, 
 
 Adjutant General's Office, 
 
 Washington, June 10, I884.. 
 This epitome of Tripler's Manual, prepared by Major 
 Charles R. Greenleaf, Surgeon, U. S. Army, is published 
 for the information and guidance of recruiting officers in 
 the examination of applicants for enlistment into the United 
 States Army. 
 
 By command op Lieut. Gen'l Sheridan: 
 
 R. C. DRUM, 
 Adjutant General. 
 
 (3) 
 
Since the publication of the epitome of Tripler's Manual 
 much has been written on the general subject of physical 
 examinations, and many changes in the methods of exam- 
 ining recruits have been announced in orders from the War 
 Department and the Headquarters of the Eecruiting Service. 
 In the following epitome this information is incorporated ; 
 the application of the vision test is explained ; the instruc- 
 tions for chest measurements are revised; new material 
 suggested by the experience of the past few years has been 
 added, and errors, typographical and otherwise, have been 
 corrected. 
 
 Washington, D. C, April 10, 1890. 
 
 War Department, 
 Adjutant General's Oefice, ^ 
 Washington, April 10, 1890. 
 Approved : 
 
 By order of the Secretary of War. 
 
 J. C. KELTON, 
 
 Adjutant General. 
 
 (5) 
 
THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF RECRUITS. 
 
 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. 
 
 . Any male person above the age of sixteen and under the age 
 of thirty-five years, effective, able-bodied, and free from disease, 
 of good character, who does not appear to be of intemperate 
 habits, and who has a competent knowledge of the English 
 language, may be enlisted, due attention being given to the 
 restrictions in this article concerning minors. This regula- 
 tion, in so far as it relates to age, shall not apply to soldiers 
 who may re-enlist nor to those who have served honestly 
 and faithfully a previous enlistment in the Army. Appli- 
 cants for enlistment will be required to furnish such evidence 
 of good character as they can obtain. With a view to de- 
 termine their fitness and aptitude for the service and to give 
 them an opportunity to secure testimonials, as well as for 
 the inquiry and deliberation contemplated by the 2d Article 
 of War, they may be retained and provided for at rendezvous, 
 after having signed the declaration of intention to enlist and 
 passed the medical examination, for not to exceed six days. 
 Men so retained will be known as recruits on probation. The 
 enlistment papers of any such recruit who may be unfit or 
 undesirable for the service or who may not desire to remain 
 in the service will not be completed. The enlistment papers 
 of recruits who are accepted and duly sworn will bear the 
 date on which the enlistment is completed by administering 
 the oath. (A. R. Art. LXXI, 908.) 
 
 * * * * The Major General Commanding 
 
 the Army is of opinion that if satisfactory evidence of good 
 character, habits, and condition cannot be furnished by the 
 recruit or be otherwise obtained, the presumption should be 
 against him and he should not be accepted ; and, further, 
 that these views are concurred in by the Secretary of War 
 
 (7) 
 
8 
 
 and should govern in all cases. (G. 0. No. 1, Headquarters 
 Recruiting Service, 1890.) 
 
 Art. 2. These rules and articles shall be read to every 
 enlisted man at the time of or within six days after his en^ 
 listment, and he shall thereupon take an oath or affirmation 
 in the following form : "I, A. B., do solemnly swear (or 
 affirm) that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United 
 States of America ; that I will serve them honestly and faith- 
 fully against all their enemies whomsoever, and that I will 
 obey the orders of the President of the United States and the 
 orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the 
 rules and articles of war." This oath may be taken before 
 any commissioned officer of the Army. (Article of War.) 
 
 Art. 3. Every officer who knowingly enlists or musters 
 into the military service any minor over the age of sixteen 
 years without the written consent of his parents or guardians 
 or any minor under the age of sixteen, or any insane or in- 
 toxicated persons, or any deserter from the military or naval 
 service of the United States, or any person who has been 
 convicted of .any infamous criminal offense shall, upon con- 
 viction, be dismissed from the service, or suffer such other 
 punishment as a court martial may direct. (Article of War.) 
 
 The regulations above quoted sketch in outline the re- 
 quirements for admission to the enlisted branch of the 
 military service and the duties of officers in connection 
 therewith. For the recruiting officer an essential to success 
 is a knowledge of men and their character, and for the medical 
 officer, a painstaking application of professional skill. The 
 duty is a most important one, and in its faithful and 
 thorough performance these officers share a grave responsi- 
 bility. The influence of their judgment and discretion is felt 
 throughout the entire military establishment, the efficiency 
 of which depends in great measure upon the sound mental 
 and physical condition and the intelligence of its enlisted 
 force. From the varied classes and conditions of men pre- 
 senting themselves for enlistment they are to eliminate not 
 
9 
 
 only those who are defective physically and mentally but 
 those who are defective morally, and if this duty be per- 
 formed carelessly or indifferently;- men will be admitted to 
 the service with defects which will soon render them unfit for 
 duty, or with moral obliquities that will induce malingering 
 and desertion. Although the result of such perfunctory per- 
 formance of duty may come to light during the probationary 
 service of a recruit at a depot, it will certainly be shown in 
 the company, from which his eventual discharge cannot fail 
 to bring deserved censure upon the officers concerned in his 
 enlistment. 
 
 The examination of men for enlistment may, in general 
 terms, be divided into the physical, the intellectual, and 
 the moral. In the emergencies which our troops are called 
 upon to meet, where celerity of movement and ability to en- 
 dure privations and hardships are indispensable to success, 
 the necessity for able-bodied men is obvious, and a detailed 
 description of the methods to be employed in their physical 
 examination will be given further on. Intellectually, although 
 no educational standard is officially established, a soldier 
 should be able to read and write, and should also be quick 
 and clear in his understanding. The advance in the 
 science and art of war and the improvement in modern 
 fire-arms calls for a higher degree of intelHgence than was 
 required of the soldier in the past. This is recognized by the 
 Government by the establishment of schools and libraries, 
 by providing reading-rooms that are liberally supplied with 
 periodicals and newspapers, and by opening the way for 
 promotion to all who avail themselves of these opportunities 
 for advancement. The care and attention that the soldier 
 is required to give to his weapon and ammunition, the drill 
 which its use entails, and the skill which may be attained 
 by the practice of rifle firing develop individuality, excite 
 interest and ambition, and tend to make the profession at- 
 tractive. It is therefore desirable that men should be se- 
 lected who can appreciate this life and who have the mental 
 2 
 
10 
 
 capacity to profit by it. The moral character should be 
 scrutinized with care in order that enlistments from the 
 vagrant and criminal classes may be avoided. The reSruit^ 
 ing rendezvous is a favorite haunt for these men and a study 
 of their personal characteristics will well repay the recruit- 
 ing officer for his labor. The vagrant seeks admission to 
 the Army, usually at the beginning of winter, for shelter, 
 food, and clothing, without any intention of completing his 
 enlistment or of performing any more service than he is 
 compelled. The criminal seeks to bury his unsavory history 
 under an assumed name, and, by service in distant stations, 
 to escape the observation of those who know him. The evil 
 influence in a company of even one of this class cannot be 
 overestimated, and no degree of physical perfection or 
 soldierly bearing should induce a recruiting officer to accept 
 his service. Happily, as a rule, the evidence of a life of 
 debauchery is so plainly marked in the features and in the 
 person that an ordinary observer is able to estimate the true 
 character of such an applicant without difficulty. 
 
 .The enlistment of recruits is made upon the concurrent 
 action of the recruiting and medical officer, the former being 
 responsible for the general fitness, aptitude, and character of 
 the applicant ; the latter for his physical and mental con- 
 dition. At this examination the recruiting officer is required 
 to be present. 
 
 The exigencies of the service, however, render occasionally 
 the presence of a medical officer at an enlistment impracti- 
 cable. In that event, the recruiting officer is directed to "make 
 the required examination," and the medical inspection is 
 subsequently provided for at a depot, if the recruit is en- 
 listed in the General Service, or at the nearest military post 
 if he has been enlisted elsewhere. At the former station he 
 is examined by the Depot Surgeon within two days after 
 arrival, and if disqualifying defects are discovered is dis- 
 charged the service on Certificate of Disability. Similar 
 action is taken at military posts under like circumstances. 
 
11 
 
 THE GENERAL EXAMINATION. 
 
 Tbe Army Regulations of 1881 directed that "in passing 
 a recruit the examining officer is to examine him stripped; 
 to see that he has the free use of his limbs ; that his chest 
 is ample ; that his hearing, vision, and speech are perfect ; 
 that he has no tumors or ulcerated or extensively cicatrized 
 legs ; no rupture or chronic cutaneous affection ; that he has 
 not received any contusion or wound of the head , that may 
 impair his faculties ; that he is not a drunkard ; is not sub- 
 ject to convulsions, and has no infectious or other disorder 
 that may unfit him for military service ; " also that the 
 recruit must be effective, able-bodied, sober, free from disease, 
 and of good character and habits. 
 
 The leading characteristics of a good constitution are thus 
 enumerated by Tripler : " A tolerably just proportion be- 
 tween the different parts of the trunk and members ; a well- 
 shaped head, thick hair, a countenance expressive of health, 
 with a lively e/e, skin not too white, lips red, teeth white 
 and in good cc»ndition, voice strong, skin firm, chest well 
 formed, belly lank, parts of generation well developed, limbs 
 muscular, feet arched and of a moderate length, hands large. 
 The gait should be sprightly and springy, speech prompt 
 and clear, and manner cheerful. All lank, slight, puny 
 men, with contracted figures, whose development is, as it 
 were, arrested, should be set aside. The reverse of the char- 
 acteristics of a good constitution will indicate infirm health 
 or a weakly habit of body ; loose, flabby, white skin ; long 
 cylindrical neck ; long, flat feet ; very fair complexion, fine 
 hair ; wan, sallow countenance," etc. 
 
 " The enlistment of * * intoxicated persons * "^ is 
 forbidden " [A. R. 909]. This regulation is intended not 
 only to prevent the admission to the service of men who at 
 the time of enlistment are under the influence of stimulants 
 or narcotics, but of those who are of intemperate habits. 
 
12 
 
 Popular opinion regards the discipline of the Army as a 
 wholesome restraint upon, if not a curative agent for, in- 
 ebriates, and no small number of men are applicants for 
 enlistment with that end in view. Some officers are inclined^ 
 to look leniently upon a history of accidental departures 
 from a life of sobriety, or to condone a debauch immediately 
 preceding an application for enlistment. The evils of in- 
 temperance, however, particularly among soldiers, are so 
 great that the interests of the service imperatively demand 
 a rigid exclusion of men whose habits in this respect are 
 under suspicion, and a recruiting officer would be perfectly 
 justified in going even so far as to reject men upon whom 
 the smell of liquor was perceptible. The suggestion of 
 Tripler to " Suspend a final decision for a sufficient length 
 of time to enable a man to recover from the effects of a mere 
 temporary debauch" meets with no favor in the present day. 
 A thorough inquiry should be made into the history of any 
 case in which habits of intemperance are suspected, and al- 
 though the examiner may meet with difficulty in forming 
 a just opinion from such statements as the applicant may be 
 willing to make about himself, the " long indulgence in 
 habits of intemperance will almost surely be indicated by 
 persistent redness of the eyes, tremulousness of the hands, 
 attenuation of the muscles — particularly of the lower ex- 
 tremities — sluggishness of the intellect, an eruption upon 
 the face, and purple blotches upon the legs. Close and 
 skillful questioning will often develop the facts connected 
 with the antecedents of the applicant, and materially assist 
 the examiner in forming his opinion of the case." 
 
 The only disqualification incident to the birthplace of the 
 recruit is the want of competent knowledge of the English lan- 
 guage. " Competent knowledge " is defined by the War De- 
 partment as the ability of the applicant to converse intelli- 
 gently and fully understand the orders and instructions 
 given in that language. 
 
 In a population having so considerable a percentage of 
 
13 
 
 foreigners as is found in our country it is not surprising that 
 many who are ignorant of the English language should 
 apply for enlistment. Inexperienced recruiting officers, mis- , 
 led by the fine personal appearance of such men, or by testi- 
 monials as to their skill in various handicrafts, may be in- 
 duced to enlist them, hopmg that their defects will be over- 
 come after association with English-speaking men. The 
 results, however, seldom justify their expectations ; the soldier 
 soon becomes inefficient, and ip finally discharged from the 
 service because of his inability to understand his instruc- 
 tions. • 
 
 Some relaxation of this rule may be made in the cases of 
 skilled artisans, tailors and band musicians being particu- 
 larly desirable. 
 
 In time of war familiarity w4th the language is not so 
 necessary, as foreigners are more likely to be assigned to 
 regiments made up of their own countrymen, with officers 
 who speak their language. The}^ can also be made useful 
 in the administrative departments of the Army, taking the 
 places of men better fitted for field service.^ 
 
 The recruiting officer will seldom err in these general 
 matters if he decline to enlist any man whom he would not 
 be willing to have as a member of his own company. 
 
 RE-ENLISTMENTS. 
 
 The recruiting officer is permitted to accept men desiring 
 to re-enlist and who present themselves for that purpose 
 within the prescribed limit, "notwithstanding they may 
 have some physical disqualification which would cause their 
 rejection as recruits, provided they have no serious defect 
 which would probably prevent the discharge of their duties 
 as soldiers." 
 
 " In all such cases the defects and" the fact that the}^ ex- 
 isted prior to re-enlistment will be noted on the soldier's 
 enlistment papers." 
 
14 
 
 In modifying its requirements for enlistment in this par- 
 ticular, it is the intention of the War Department to provide 
 for the continuance in service of such faithful soldiers as 
 have incurred disabilities during prior enlistments, which 
 either do not or probably will not unfit them for duty in the 
 future, as, for example, hernia, which is kept in place by 
 wearing a truss ; piles ; varicose veins ; certain defects of 
 vision, as near or far sight ; the loss of certain fingers and 
 toes ; mutilations by gunshot or other wounds, etc. 
 
 " Serious defects " may be defined as those which cause 
 either an incapacity for duty at present or are likely to do 
 so in the future, such as total blindness of the right eye ; 
 amputation of an entire member, hand or foot, or any con- 
 stitutional disease, as syphilis, etc. 
 
 MODE OF EXAMINING A RECRUIT. 
 
 The room in which the examination is conducted should 
 be well lighted and large enough for the men to exercise in 
 walking, running, and jumping, as every organ directly con- 
 cerned in locomotion should be subjected to inspection. 
 Only those persons who are absolutely required should be 
 present at the examination. 
 
 The person of the recruit should be washed with soap 
 and water before he is presented for inspection. " It is not, 
 however, believed to be good policy to enlist men who, 
 though able-bodied and intelligent, appear at recruiting 
 rendezvous in ragged or filthy dress, as the chances are such 
 men are tramps and vagabonds and will not make good 
 soldiers. Men who, though attired in clean and respectable 
 clothing, are found to be filthy in their persons should be 
 promptly rejected for like reason." (Cir. No. 19, Headquarters 
 Recruiting Service, 1889.) 
 
 Thoroughness in the preliminary examination is assured 
 by a methodical inquiry into the family and personal history 
 of the applicant, whose replies should be recorded at the time. 
 
15 
 
 For this purpose a printed Form is furnished by the Adjutant 
 General of the Army, to be used by recruiting officers where 
 there is no medical examiner. This also serves as evidence, 
 should the recruit allege unfitness from a defect that is 
 feigned, or be subsequently found unfitted for duty on ac- 
 count of one which has been concealed. 
 
 It should be understood that the questions in this Form 
 are intended simply as the guide to a careful and searching 
 examination into the physical history of the applicant for 
 enlistment. If his replies suggest the existence of any in- 
 firmity or defect, special inquiry should be made concerning 
 it in order that the most complete information may be 
 elicited. 
 
 He who is satisfied with "a simple negative or affirmative 
 reply to the queries propounded in the Form will often fail 
 to discharge efficiently the duty he is called upon to perform. 
 
 The questions, and any others necessary to develop his 
 fitness for the duties of a soldier, should be asked and the 
 man's answers recorded before he is stripped, after which 
 the examination is proceeded with. 
 
 Applicants for enlistment who are unacceptable to the 
 recruiting officer before being examined physically need not 
 be accounted for on the Medical Forms, but a record must 
 be made of the height, weight, and chest measures, the com- 
 plexion, and the color of hair and eyes of every man whose 
 physical examination has been commenced. This exami- 
 nation may stop at any time, where a positive disqualifica- 
 tion is discovered, note being made on the Form of the fact 
 and its cause. If insufficient chest capacity or lack of weight 
 is suspected, that part of the examination may be conducted 
 before questioning. 
 
 The second question on the Form relates particularly to 
 the diseases of childhood, such as measles, scarlet fever, etc. 
 
 The degree of knowledge of the English language is to be 
 recorded as " good," " fair," " limited," or otherwise, bearing 
 in mind the definition of " competent knowledge " as given 
 
16 
 
 herein, and the " figure and general appearance " is to be 
 noted as " soldierly," " good," " poor," or otherwise. 
 
 Each peculiarity or particular deviation from the normal_^ 
 standard in a given region is to be noted. See " scars, marks, 
 etc." 
 
 If a careful inspection is made and a defect noted, which 
 upon due consideration is not considered by the officer mak- 
 ing the examination to be disqualifying, he is relieved from 
 responsibility ; but if he passes a recruit who has a serious 
 defect, which is discernible by an ordinary layman, and enlists 
 the man without noting the defect upon the examination form 
 and the enlistment papers it evidences neglect in the exam- 
 ination. (A. G., Oct. 26, 1886.), 
 
 Before recruits leave the rendezvous for the depot they 
 should be carefully re-examined and a statement to that 
 effect made on the form, with a note descriptive of any de- 
 fect which may have been discovered or contracted since the 
 enlistment. 
 
 The Form when filled up should be sent with the recruit 
 to the depot when he is enlisted in the General Service, or be 
 deposited with the regimental records when he is enlisted in 
 a particular regiment, thereto be retained six months, or as 
 much longer as may be necessary to serve its purpose, when 
 it is to be forwarded to the Surgeon General of the Army. 
 
FORM FOR THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF A RECRUIT. 
 
 ^ 
 
 Name ; Age ; Occupation ; 
 
 Birthplace ; Kesidence ; Height*^ ; 
 
 Weight--^ ; Chest measurement: Expiration ; Inspiration ;_ 
 
 e Nationality of father ; Of mother ; 
 
 -^ Have you applied for enlistment at any other rendezvous; and if so, 
 
 .§ where? 
 
 1^ What sickness have you had, and at what age? 
 
 ■^ Are both parents living? 
 
 I If either has died, state cause ; 
 
 ^ If brother or sister has died, state cause; 
 
 ^ Have you given up any occupation on account of your health or habits ? 
 
 1 
 
 1 Are you subject to dizziness? ; to severe headache? : 
 
 1 to pain in the breast? ; to fluttering of the heart ? . ; to 
 
 shortness of breath ? ; to colds in the head? ; to coughs? 
 
 ; to diarrhoea? ; to piles ? ; to rheumatism ? 
 
 1^ Do you believe you are sound and well now? 
 
 e Have you had sore eyes? 
 
 ^ Have you had running from either ear? 
 
 ■'' Have you had fits ? If so, how frequently ? 
 
 S Do you have any diflSculty in making or holding your water ? 
 
 2 Have vou had stricture ? 
 
 "^ Have you had gonorrhoea, and when? 
 
 . Have you had a sore of any kind upon your penis, and when? 
 
 ,| Have you had any swelling about or of your testicles? 
 
 _§; Have you had a boil near the anus (fistula)? 
 
 •^ Have you been ruptured? 
 
 ^ Do you drink intoxicating liquors? If so, to what extent? 
 
 "5^ Have you had the " horrors," and when? 
 
 "^ Have you been hurt upon the head? Answer fully 
 
 J Have you had a sprain ? ; a stiff joint? ; a bone or 
 
 ^ joint out of place? ; a bone broken? 
 
 in Are you subject to sore feet? 
 
 I Mention carefully any other injuries or any surgical operation you may 
 ^ have had in any part of your body, especially burns, cuts, severe 
 
 =0 bruises, &c 
 
 fHave you any one dependent upon you for support? 
 
 Have you ever been convicted of a felony, or been imprisoned in a jail or 
 penitentiary ? 
 
 * Note height and weight stripped, unless rejected for some absolute disqualification in 
 preliminary examination. 
 
 flf answered in affirmative, recruiting officer before accepting applicant should endeavor 
 to satisfy himself that there is no probabilitv of application being made for the man's dis- 
 charge on this account. 
 
 3 (17) 
 
18 
 
 When stripped, examine carefully the head, ears, eyes (including color- 
 blindness and astigmatism*), nose, mouth (especially teeth, hard palate, 
 and tonsils), neck (especially for enlarged glands) ; chest: shape (flat or 
 pigeon-breasted), resonance,* character of respiration ;* heart: sounds,*" 
 impulse* (position and force), action* (as to regularity) ; spine ; abdomen 
 (especially for hernia and enlarged glands in the groin) ; genito-urinary 
 apparatus ; anus (especially for fistula) ; upper extremities (especially for 
 enlarged glands at the elbows) ; lower extremities ; skin. 
 
 "ft 
 
 01.2: o-^ 
 
 <i> «- § 2 
 
 Knowledge of the English language 
 Previous service (U. S. or foreign) __ 
 
 Comparative intelligence 
 
 Figure and general appearance 
 
 Remarks 
 
 I certify that I have asked the foregoing questions and have 
 recorded the answers as given to me, and have personally examined 
 the above-named recruit. 
 
 Place 
 
 Date. 
 
 Examining Officer. 
 
 NoTK. — This paper, with defects discovered at depot, noted and signed by the medical 
 officer, to accompany the proceedings of boards of inspection in the case of rejected recruits. 
 
 * Especially for medical examiner. 
 
19 
 
 [Indorsement on the back of the Form.] 
 
 Recruit 
 
 Examination of 
 
 
 enlisted at , , 
 
 
 
 BY 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Recruiting Officer. 
 
 This recruit has been 
 the rendezvous for the 
 
 re-examined before leaving 
 depot and found to be— 
 
 
 Becraiting Officer. 
 Date,: 18 . 
 
 Remarks of the Medical Officer at the Depot. 
 
 Surgeon, U. S. A. 
 Date 18 . 
 
20 
 
 ORDER OF EXAMINATION. 
 
 Let the recruit take the position of a soldier in the best- 
 lighted part of the room ; then examine him in the follow- 
 ing order after the methods elsewhere set forth : 
 
 The duties of the inspecting officer will here be materially 
 facilitated if he instruct the recruiting sergeant in the posi- 
 tions of the examination, as the recruit will usually find no 
 difficulty in imitating the movements of the non-commis- 
 sioned officer. 
 
 1. Inspect general physique, skin, scalp and cranium, 
 ears, eyes, nose, mouth, face, neck, and chest, and take the 
 chest measurements. 
 
 2. The arms should be extended above the head, the backs 
 of the hands being together, and the applicant required to 
 cough vigorously ; any form of rupture may now be dis- 
 covered by the hand and eye. 
 
 3. The hands remaining extended above the head, the 
 man should be required to take a long step forward with the 
 right foot and bend the right knee; the genital organs are 
 conveniently exposed and varicocele or other defects in the 
 scrotum may be recognized. 
 
 4. Arms down, and the man required to separate the but- 
 tocks with his hands, at the same time bending forward ; this 
 exposes the anus. 
 
 5. Examine the heart and lungs.* 
 
 6. The elbows should be brought firmly to the sides of the 
 body and the fore arms extended to the front, palms of the 
 hands uppermost ; extend and flex each finger separately ; 
 bring the points of the thumbs to the base of the little fingers ; 
 close the hands, with the thumb covering the fingers ; extend 
 and flex the hands on the wrists ; rotate the hands so that the 
 finger nails will first be up and then down ; move the hand 
 
 * Especially for Medical Examiner. 
 
21 
 
 from side to side ; extend the arms and fore arms fully to 
 the front and rotate them at the shoulder ; flex the fore arms 
 on the arms sharply, striking the shoulders with the fists^ ^ 
 extend the arms at right angles with the body, place the 
 thumbs on the points of the shoulders, raise and lower the 
 arms, bringing them sharply to the side at each motion ; * 
 let the arms hang loosely by the side ; swing the right arm 
 in a circle rapidly from the shoulder, first to the front and 
 then to the rear ; swing the left arm in the same manner ; 
 extend the arms fully to the front, keeping the palms of the 
 hands together and thumbs up ; carry the arms quickly back 
 as far as possible, keeping the thumbs up, and at the same 
 time raise the body on the toes ; extend the arms above the 
 head, locking the thumbs, and bend over to touch the ground 
 with the hands, keeping the knees straight. 
 
 7. Extend one leg. lifting the heel from the floor, and move 
 all the toes freely ; then move the foot up and down and 
 from side to side, bending the ankle joint, the knee being- 
 kept rigid ; bend the knee freely ; kick forcibl}^ backward 
 and forward and then throw the leg out to the sides as far 
 as possible, keeping the body squarely to the front ; repeat 
 these motions with the other foot and leg ; strike the breast 
 first with one knee and then with the other ; stand upon the 
 toes of both feet ; squat sharply several times ; kneel upon 
 both knees at the same time (if the man comes down on one 
 knee after the other there is reason to suspect infirmity). 
 Take the position to " fire kneeling ; " present the back to 
 the examiner and then hold up to view the sole o^ each foot ; 
 leap directly up, striking the buttocks with the heels ; hop 
 the length of the room on the ball of first one foot and then 
 the other ; make a standing jump as far as possible and re- 
 
 * It may be here observed that in a few instances the recruit cannot touch his shoul- 
 ders with his fingers, and siill the most rigid examination could detect no imperfection 
 in any of the joints of that extremity. When this difficulty is perceived, a more cautious 
 inspection of all the joints of the limb must be institutsd, as the probabilities are that 
 some defect exists. The elbow or wrist will generally be found to be the failing joint. 
 
22 
 
 peat it several times ; run the length of the room in double 
 time several times. 
 
 8. • Re-examine the heart and lungs. 
 
 9. Examine the hearing of each ear separately. 
 
 10. Examine the vision of each eye separately. 
 
 11. Test for color-blindness. 
 
 AGE QUALIFICATIONS. 
 
 The recruit mimt not he less than sixteen nor more than thirty- 
 five years of age. 
 
 The maximum age for cavalry recruits upon original en- 
 listment is fixed at thirty years. 
 
 Certain well-known and clearly marked physical charac- 
 teristics will enable the recruiting officer to determine at a 
 glance whether or not an applicant for enlistment shall be 
 placed in the broad mean as to age between'the minimum 
 and maximum fixed by law, although to determine in an 
 individual either the age of "majority" — i. e., 21 years — or 
 the maximum age for enlistment is always difficult and 
 often impossible. 
 
 The desire to enter the military service is sometimes, from 
 varying causes, so strong as to prompt certain youths or 
 middle-aged men to resort to any deceit for the purpose of 
 concealing the truth. Boys will announce themselves as of 
 age with unblushing eff'rontery, and men who are over the 
 maximum will add to falsehood the most ingenious artifices 
 to disguise the evidences of advancing age. 
 
 The development of the body does not by any means keep 
 pace with its years of existence. Youths of 18 or 19 years 
 occasionally present many physical characteristics of ma- 
 turity, while some men pass the age of thirty-five without 
 showing well-marked indications of it. Little importance 
 need be attached to this latter condition, because the maxi- 
 mum limit does not apply to soldiers who re-enlist, and dur- 
 ing peace but few civilians present themselves after that age. 
 
23 
 
 The former condition is, however, an important one and de- 
 mands close attention. 
 
 Aside from the obvious objection to a lad whose physique 
 is yet undeveloped, the minor who enlists by deceit may, upon 
 application of his parent or guardian, be discharged from 
 the service by the civil courts. As in that case the Govern- 
 ment sustains not only a pecuniary loss in the pay, clothing, 
 food, etc., furnished him, but the more important loss of his 
 services, and as A. R. 910 enjoins upon the recruiting officer 
 to "be very particular to ascertain the true age of the re- 
 cruit," it becomes necessary for him to familiarize himself 
 with certain evidences of maturity which usually accompany 
 the period of legal majority, viz : 
 
 At twenty-one years of age the wdsdom-teeth are 
 usually cut, and on each side of both jaws there should be 
 found five grinders, viz., three large double or molar teeth 
 and two smaller double or bicuspid teeth. In case of the 
 loss of teeth the spaces originally occupied by them may be 
 seen. 
 
 Under twenty-one years of age the wisdom-teeth are 
 seldom to be found, and there will, therefore, be but four 
 grinders on each side of both jaws, viz., two molars and two 
 bicuspids. 
 
 At maturity there should be some beard upon the foce 
 and hair under the arms, a full growth around and above 
 the genital organs, and some scattered hairs in the neighbor- 
 hood of the anus. The hair of the body is generally fine 
 and silky. 
 
 After maturity the hair is thick and coarse in the various 
 places mentioned. 
 
 After maturity the skin of the scrotum is somewhat 
 darker in color than the surrounding parts, is opaque, and 
 is marked in various directions by wrinkles or folds. 
 
 Before maturity this skin retains the soft, velvety con- 
 dition of youth, its pink or fresh flesh color, and is more or 
 less translucent, while the wrinkles or folds are not well pro- 
 
24 
 
 nounced, or are entirely absent, particularly at the sides. 
 This condition of the scrotum is the most valuable of the signs 
 ef maturity. 
 
 Should a minor offer the written consent of parent or 
 guardian, the question then presents itself whether so young 
 a person possesses the vigor and physical development neces- 
 sary for the performance of all the duties of a soldier. 
 
 Youth, being the period of active growth for body and 
 mind, should be passed under conditions that will secure to 
 it the proper amount of food, exercise, and rest, in order that 
 its growth may be healthy. These cannot always be obtained 
 in the military service, the exigencies of which may be such 
 as to test to the utmost the endurance of the soldier when 
 subjected to the hardships of extreme exertion, inclement 
 weather, loss of rest, and privation of food incident to many 
 campaigns. Under such circumstances the staying power of 
 the immature youth is found wanting. His undeveloped 
 body yields to the strain, and a consequent permanent dis- 
 ability leads to his discharge from the Army. As all mili- 
 tary experience confirms this, and as the opinion is almost 
 universal that youths are not fit for the duty our soldiers 
 are called upon to perform, their enlistment should be dis- 
 couraged save in cases where their physical development is 
 exceptionally good and they display a true aptitude for the 
 military service. 
 
 Although immature men should never be accepted, it would 
 be equally unfortunate to enlist men who are too old. On 
 moral grounds young men, who learn better and more 
 quickly, are desirable as soon as they are physically fit. 
 The legal limit of 35 is the very extreme for recruits under 
 ordinary circumstances, and the nearer common laborers 
 approach that age the more unlikely are they to be accept- 
 able. It has been observed that for acceptable colored re- 
 cruits the age of 25 or 26 is practically the maximum, be- 
 cause after that they are liable to be physically stiffened and 
 mentalh^ dulled. Therefore, as the maximum age ap- 
 
25 
 
 preaches, public interest leads to the over critical examina- 
 tion of those who appear to be getting into fixed physical 
 grooves. ^ - 
 
 HEIGHT, WEIGHT, AND CHEST MEASUREMENTS. 
 
 " The minim am height of a recruit is at present fixed at 
 five feet four inches for all branches of the service, although 
 recruiting officers are allowed to exercise their discretion as 
 to the enlistment of desirable recruits (such as band musicians, 
 school teachers, tailors, etc.) who may fall not more than 
 one-fourth of an inch below the minimum standard of height ; 
 the maximum height for the cavalry service is five feet ten 
 inches ; that for infantry and artillery is governed by the 
 maximum of weight, to which should be applied the rule for 
 proportion in height." 
 
 "The minimum weight for all recruits is 128 pounds, 
 except for the cavalry, in which enlistments may be made 
 without regard to a minimum of weight, provided the chest 
 measurement and chest mobility are satisfactory. The maxi- 
 mum for infantry and artillery is 190 pounds ; for cavalry 
 and light artillery, 165 pounds." 
 
 The' standards of height and weight are, however, subject 
 to change, instructions to that effect being issued from the 
 Adjutant General's Office " from time to time as the require- 
 ments of the service may dictate." (See A. R. 913.) 
 
 These standards are based upon results obtained by skilled 
 observers who, after careful study and the examination of 
 large numbers of men in civil and military life, have estab- 
 lished the fact that there is an average proportion in healthy, 
 fully developed men between the height, weight, chest 
 measurement, and chest mobility which will admit of slight 
 variations without indicating a departure from health. The 
 rules of this proportion may be formulated as follows : 
 
 For each inch of height from 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 7 
 inches, inclusive, there should be calculated 2 pounds of 
 4 
 
26 
 
 weight. When the height exceeds 5 feet 7 inches, calculate 
 2 pounds of weight for the wliole number of inches of height ; 
 add to this product 5 pounds of weight for each inch of 
 difference between 5 feet 7 inches and the actual height ; the 
 sum will be the normal weight in pounds. 
 
 The chest measurement at expiration in men from 5 
 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 7 inches in height should exceed the 
 half height about J an inch ; in those from 5 feet 8 inches to 
 5 feet 10 inches it should equal the half height, while in 
 those from 5 feet 11 inches upward it should be slightly less 
 than the half height. 
 
 The chest mobility — i. e., the difference between the 
 measurement at inspiration and expiration — should be at least 
 2 inches in men below 5 feet 7 inches in height, and 2 J 
 inches in those above that height. 
 
 The following table shows this concisely : 
 
 Height. 
 
 Weight. 
 
 Allow for each inch of 
 
 height. 
 
 Chest 
 Measurement. 
 
 Chest. 
 Mobility. 
 
 5 fr. 4 to 
 
 5 ft. 7. 
 
 5 ft. 8 to 
 
 2 lbs 
 
 j 2 lbs., and 5 lbs. ad- 1 
 \ ditional for each \ 
 1 inch over 5 ft. 7 in. 
 
 I J 
 
 Half height plus half 
 inch. 
 
 Half height 
 
 2 inches. 
 2J inches. 
 2|^ inches. 
 
 5 ft. 10. 
 5 ft. 11 to 
 
 Slightly less than half 
 height. 
 
 For example, a man who measures 5 feet 4 inches should 
 weigh 128 pounds — i. e., 5 feet 4 inches = 64 inches ; 64x 2 = 
 128, the normal weight. He should have a chest measurement 
 of 321 inches at expiration, being half height ; 32 inches plus 
 J inch = 32 J ; the chest mobility should be about 2 inches. 
 
 A man who measures 5 feet 9 inches should weigh 148 
 pounds — i. 6., 5 feet 9 inches = 69 inches ; 69x 2 = 138 ; dif- 
 ference between 5 feet 9 inches and five feet 7 inches is 2 ; 
 2 X 5 = 10 ; 138+10 = 148, the normal weight in pounds ; he 
 
27 
 
 should have a chest measurement of 34J- inches (his half 
 height) and a chest mobility of at least 2| inches. 
 
 It is not necessary that the applicant should conform ex- 
 actly to the figures indicated in the rules, a variation of a 
 few pounds from either side of the standard in the minimum, 
 medium, and maximum weights and of a fraction of an inch 
 in chest measures being permissible if the applicant is other- 
 wise in good health and desirable as a recruit. The rules 
 are given to show what is regarded as a fair proportion, hut 
 the weight must be at least 125 pounds, except when less is 
 especially authorized by the superintendent or the Adjutant 
 General. 
 
 In such cases the recruiting officer's reasons and the super- 
 intendent's order should be noted in full on the enlistment 
 papers. Any considerable disproportion, however, of height 
 over weight is cause for rejection ; for a marked dispropor- 
 tion of tueight over height do not reject unless the applicant 
 is positively obese. 
 
 In order that an intelligent application of these rules and 
 their variations may be made, the attention of recruiting 
 officers is called to the manner in which a man's height is 
 made up. 
 
 The chest, containing the heart and lungs, is the most im- 
 portant division of the body. It contains the vital machinery 
 and represents the staying power of the man. It must, there- 
 fore, be ample. The function of the legs is to transport the 
 body; they should be well formed and sufficient, but not 
 unduly long, for length of limb at the expense of the chest 
 is a disadvantage. A long-legged, long-necked man with a 
 short chest is objectionable as a recruit. 
 
 The average height of a youth of 18 years of age, a " grow- 
 ing lad," is a little over 5 feet 4 inches, and increases gradu- 
 ally until he reaches the age of 25 years — the stage of physi- 
 cal maturity or manhood — when his average height is be- 
 tween 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 8 inches. 
 
 During the growing period the frame-work and vital 
 
7 
 
 
 'M 
 
28 
 
 organs receive their proper development, and considerable 
 departures from the given average of proportionate height 
 to weight indicate an impairment of these organs which may 
 and probably will develop into positive disease after expos- 
 ure to the hardships incident to the life of a soldier ; hence 
 they are of greater significance in men of these heights than 
 in taller men, who are presumably of greater age and more 
 mature growth. 
 
 After 25 years of age, the body being fully developed, the 
 excess of nutritive material over and above that required 
 for its maintenance in health is deposited in the tissues as 
 fat, and it will be found that a disproportion of weight over 
 height occurs usually in adults or men in middle life. It is 
 rare to meet in the recruiting rendezvous with very fleshy 
 young men. 
 
 The following table is given for convenience of reference : 
 
 Table of Physical Proportions for Height, Weight, and Chei-t Measurement. 
 
 Height. 
 
 Weight. 
 
 Chest Measurement. 
 
 Feet. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Pounds. 
 
 At Expiration : 
 Inches. 
 
 Mobility : 
 Inches. 
 
 5t*, 
 
 64 
 
 128 
 
 32^ 
 
 2 
 
 Hi 
 
 65 
 
 130 
 
 33 
 
 2 
 
 5t\ 
 
 66 
 
 132 
 
 33i 
 
 2 
 
 ^}l 
 
 67 
 
 134 
 
 34 
 
 2 
 
 H, 
 
 68 
 
 141 
 
 34 
 
 2^ 
 
 5t\ 
 
 69 
 
 148 
 
 34^ 
 
 2^ 
 
 ^tI 
 
 70 
 
 165 
 
 35 
 
 2^ 
 
 5i 
 
 71 
 
 162 
 
 35i^ 
 
 2^ 
 
 6 
 
 72 
 
 169 
 
 35| 
 
 2^^ 
 
 6iV 
 
 73 
 
 176 
 
 36^ 
 
 2^ 
 
 A deviation from the rules of physical proportions may 
 be made in the examination of candidates for admission to 
 the U. S. Military Academy at AVest Point, and for members 
 of the graduating class, whenever this is deemed necessary 
 by the Medical Examining Board. 
 
29 
 
 THE SPECIAL EXAMINATIONS. 
 
 A careful examination of the skin should be made, lirst, to 
 detect the presence of vermin ; second, for physical mark- 
 ings, as scars, moles, tattooing, etc. ; third, for any skin dis- 
 ease. 
 
 The favorite haunt for vermin is in the hair upon the head 
 and about the genital organs ; they are also to be found on 
 other parts of the body. The " nits," or eggs, may be seen as 
 little black bodies attached to the hair, generally near the 
 skin. 
 
 Itch may be suspected if the body presents evidences of 
 having been constantly scratched, and the spaces between 
 the^ngers are the seat of an eruption. 
 
 These, together with any skin eruptions which are mani- 
 festly chronic or disgusting in appearance, are causes for re- 
 jection. Men infested with vermin should be given an op- 
 portunity to rid themselve of the parasites ; if not success- 
 ful in this they should be rejected. 
 
 A crop of pimples on the face, breast, and back, between 
 the shoulders, is very common in young men and, being 
 entirely innocent, should not disqualify a recruit otherwise 
 desirable. 
 
 MOLES, BIRTH STAINS, SCARS, AND TATTOO MARKS. 
 
 Any permanent marking on the body of a recruit is worthy 
 of record as a means of personal identification; hence 
 a careful and systematic search for such marks should be 
 made, first of one-half the body and then of the other. If 
 any are found a descriptive record is to be made on the 
 figure card furnished for that purpose by the Adjutant Gen- 
 eral. This is to be done by the enlisting officer only when 
 the recruit will not subsequently he examined by a medical officer, 
 as in the enlistment of men for the Signal Corps, at arsenals 
 where there is neither Post nor Attending Surgeon, etc. 
 
30 
 
 Moles are abnormal thickenings or pigmentations of the 
 skin, their usual seat being the face, the temple, or the ear, 
 although they may be found on any portion of the body. 
 They may have the natural coloring of the skin, or be red, 
 brown or black, and may be either smooth or hairy. 
 
 Birth Marks are of irregular outline, not necessarily 
 raised above the skin, and have the appearance of red, brown 
 or " port wine " colored splashes. The smaller splashes are 
 known as '' strawberry marks," " cock's crests," etc. 
 
 Scars are either permanent or transient. For the purpose 
 of future identification, the former alone have value ; there- 
 fore the determination of their character before making the 
 record is of primary importance. 
 
 Tattoo Marks have a certain value, but as they may be 
 so easily altered in design it is not very great. 
 
 The descriptive record of a permanent mark should be 
 very exact, its location fixed, first, on the right or left side, 
 front or rear of the body ; next, by its proximity to or dis- 
 tance in inches from some well-known point of the body ; 
 next, by its direction or inclination, either vertical, horizontal, 
 or oblique ; next, by its shape, either rectilineal, curved, oval, 
 circular, undulating, or oblong ; and if curved, which way its 
 concavity faces ; and, last, by its dimensions, when the mark 
 is not too small for ordinary measurement or notice. In 
 describing marks on the fingers and toes, it should be re- 
 membered that the phalanges and joints of both are counted 
 from those nearest the hand or foot ; thus the joint connect- 
 ing the finger with the hand (the " knuckle ") is known as 
 the first joint, arid the phalanx forming part of that joint is 
 known as th.Q first phalanx. When scars are quite small and 
 numerous, any principal one may be described, and followed 
 by the words " and many others," or the record may stand 
 '^ numerous small scars." Tattooing should be particularly 
 described as to design, etc. When the design is indecent or 
 obscene it is a cause for rejection, but the applicant should 
 be given an opportunity to alter the design, in which event 
 
31 
 
 he may, if otherwise qualified, be accepted. " The impor- 
 tance of particular marks as an indication for identity is 
 directly in proportion to the precision of their description," 
 which should be made with the idea that a subsequent ob- 
 server may, by reading it, be enabled to reproduce on him- 
 self a tracing identical with the original as to form, situation, 
 etc. When the record of marks is completed, the color of 
 eyes and hair should be taken, and as there is a wide diver- 
 sity in the description of certain colors, a memorandum for 
 their record is here given as a guide. 
 
 COLOR OF HAIR. 
 
 Between the extremes of light flax-colored and raven black 
 
 all shades of brown are found. The scale may be given as 
 
 follows : 
 
 Flax-colored. 
 
 Light brown. 
 
 Dark brown. 
 
 Black. 
 Of red hair as follows : 
 
 Brick red. 
 
 Sandy red. 
 
 Auburn (reddish brown). 
 Of grey hair as follows : 
 
 Dark grey. 
 
 Light grey, approaching white. 
 
 Iron grey (mixed). 
 
 COLOR OF EYES. 
 
 Observe first if the color is the same in both eyes ; then 
 note any peculiarity of pigmentation, whether in the general 
 color small black or red spots are found. Note also if there 
 is any deviation from the normal circular form of the iris. 
 
I 
 
32 
 
 There are but three colors to be found in the human eye — 
 viz., blue, brown, and black — all other shades being inter- 
 mediate between these types. ^ - 
 
 Of blue there are — 
 
 Light or azure blue. 
 
 Dark blue.' 
 
 Slate blue, erroneously called grey. 
 
 Of brown there are — 
 Light brown. 
 Dark brown (hazel). 
 
 The black eye is rarely found excepting in the negro. The 
 grey eye is a misnomer and should be abandoned for " slate 
 blue,^' the true color. 
 
 In time of war exemption should be given only on 
 account of long-standing or incurable diseases of the skin ; 
 the milder forms, as also some of the parasitic diseases, in- 
 cluding itch, may be treated with reasonable prospect of 
 recovery in a short time, and the men should accordingly 
 be held to service. 
 
 CHRONIC ULCERS. 
 
 Men whose constitutions have been broken down by poverty 
 or vice are often the subjects of ulcerations of the legs, where 
 the slight injuries to which so exposed a part is liable have 
 failed to heal, or if healed present large irregularly shaped 
 scars, more or less discolored or adherent to the bone. These 
 scars, being unhealthy, are liable upon slight irritation to be 
 destroyed and the ulcer reproduced. Such men are unfitted 
 for soldiers and should be rejected. Scars non-adherent, 
 white and smooth, or even red, where recent, if apparantly 
 painless on manipulation, resulting from an incised or 
 lacerated wound or a burn, not involving lesion of the subja- 
 cent organs, are not causes for rejection. 
 
33 
 
 In time of war conscripts may, with a design of evading 
 service, purposely induce and keep open ulcers. Suspicion 
 will naturally be aroused where a man, otherwise healthy, 
 claims exemption from service on account of an ulcer of long 
 standing, as this lesion is seldom seen except in persons of 
 broken-down constitution and generally in middle or ad- 
 vanced age. The appearance of the ulcer and the tissues 
 surrounding it will furnish some evidence as to its age, active 
 inflammation pointing to voluntary irritation and a recent 
 lesion, while an old ulcer presents characteristics the reverse 
 of this. Such cases should be placed under close observa- 
 tion in hospital and every means taken to prevent the patient 
 from keeping up any irritation of the parts, bearing in mind 
 the fact that an almost endless variety of foreign substances 
 are used for this purpose, and that the finger-nails are 
 especially convenient for such use. It may become necessary 
 to place the patient in confinement before a correct opinion 
 can be formed. 
 
 CONSTITUTIONAL SYPHILIS. 
 
 It will be most convenient, while making the general ex- 
 amination of the surface of the body, to search for evidence 
 of constitutional syphilis, in the detection of which no single 
 sign will suffice, although the presence of two or m,ore should 
 determine the matter, especially if the man admits having 
 had a sore on any part of his penis or a chancre on any 
 other part of his body. It matters not how small the sore 
 may have been nor how remote the time at which it made 
 its appearance. One of the earliest and most important signs 
 is an enlargement of the glands (1) at the back of the 
 neck, (2) on the inside of the arm just above the elbow, and 
 (3) in the groins. The first may be found by grasping firmly, 
 between the thumb and forefinger, the back of the neck just 
 below the hair, and sliding the hand from thence to the base 
 of the neck ; if the glands are enlarged they will be felt 
 
34 
 
 under the fingers as hard bodies, slippery and movable, and 
 shaped like an ordinary almond. (2) Bend the forearm at 
 right angles with the arm and grasp the latter from behind, 
 between the thumb and forefinger, just above the elbow, keep- 
 ing the thumb on the outside, the right hand being used 
 for the examination of the left arm and vice versa ; by pressing 
 deeply with the fingers, and, so to speak, rolling the flesh of 
 the arm under them, the gland, if enlarged, will be plainly 
 felt, as in the neck. (3) Rub the fingers, with a consider- 
 able pressure, over and in the crease between the abdomen 
 and the thigh (groin) ; the glands, if enlarged, will be felt as 
 in the preceding instances ; but moderately enlarged glands 
 in the groin are not uncommon and by themselves do not 
 indicate syphilitic or other generic disease. 
 
 Syphilitic eruptions exist on any part of the skin, are of 
 a yellowish-brown or copper color, generally circular, look- 
 ing like stains, and are without any pain, itching, or sur- 
 rounding redness ; they should be looked for particularly 
 on the forehead and chest. Scaly eruptions upon the palms 
 of the hands are also indicative of this disease. 
 
 The hair thins out, or may fall off in patches — (alopecia). 
 
 The nose and mouth, especially the latter, are the seat of 
 peculiar ulcerations. In the nose they appear about the 
 inside of the nostrils ; in the mouth, on its roof, the side of 
 the cheek, or on the tonsils and the sides of the palate ; the 
 tongue also is often ulcerated and deeply cracked. 
 
 An opening through the hard palate into the floor of 
 the nose is occasionally made by ulceration and may be 
 suspected when the applicant "talks through his nose." 
 When the head is thrown well back and the mouth widely 
 opened this defect, otherwise concealed by the front teeth, 
 may be seen. 
 
 The bones forming the bridge of the nose are often flat- 
 tened or sunken as a result of ulcerations of the softer parts 
 underneath. 
 
35 
 
 The shin bones are the seat of lumps (nodes), easily felt 
 by running the fingers along the edge of the bone. These 
 lumps are generally on both shins and are apt to be painful 
 at night. When there is any suspicious sign elsewhere the 
 shins should be carefully examined by the touch. 
 
 Warts and excrescences about the anus between the but- 
 tocks or on the scrotum (mucous tubercles and vegetations) 
 will be seen at once by separating the buttocks wrhile the man 
 bends forward. " They appear as flat, slightly-elevated 
 papules about half an inch in diameter and covered with 
 a slimy, fetid exudation." They are often ulcerated and may 
 run together. 
 
 Scars from buboes are not signs of constitutional syphilis. 
 
 It should be borne in mind that symmetry in the appear- 
 ance of the external signs of syphilis is peculiar to the disease ; 
 thus, one tonsil being sore, the other will probably be sore 
 also — a blotch on the skin of one side of the body will prob- 
 ably have its fellow on the other side. 
 
 In time of war syphilis in any of its forms is cause for 
 rejection. 
 
 THE HEAD. 
 
 The scalp should be examined very carefully, by running 
 the fingers through the hair, for depressions in the skull. 
 If any are found that are deep and abrupt in character, es- 
 pecially if covered by a scar, the applicant should be re- 
 jected. 
 
 Monstrosity in the size of the head and deformity, the 
 consequence of fracture, should also reject. 
 
 Baldness (Alopecia). If the loss of hair is total, or if 
 but a few tufts remain about the back of the head and the 
 neighborhood of the ears, or if the scalp shows evidence of 
 pre-existing disease, the applicant should be rejected. Con- 
 siderable loss of the hair, either over the crown or above 
 the forehead, is cause for rejection. 
 
36 
 
 The military head coverings are not of themselves suffi- 
 cient protection against heat or cold ; there should be enough 
 natural covering to the hairy scalp to provide against suffer-^ 
 ing or disease from extremes of temperature. 
 
 In time of war baldness is not cause for rejection. 
 
 THE EARS. 
 
 Tumors or growths in the passage to the internal ear 
 may be at once discovered and! are causes for rejection. 
 
 The discharge of "matter" from the ear is generally 
 an evidence of a diseased condition of the parts within, 
 which is very likely to lead to permanent deafness, and is 
 therefore a cause for rejection. 
 
 Deafness of either ear constitutes an absolute cause of 
 rejection. 
 
 As the distance at which the natural tone of voice may 
 be heard in a closed room, when both ears are normal, is 
 about 50 feet, the distance at which the applicant is to stand 
 from the examiner must be as great as the apartments will 
 allow, not to exceed 50 feet. 
 
 The applicant will stand with his back to the examiner, 
 who is to address him in a natural tone of voice. When 
 the distance is less than 40 feet, it should be specified on the 
 examination form, and the tone of voice will be lowered.. 
 Failure of the applicant to respond to the address of the 
 examiner will demonstrate a defect. 
 
 The personal attention of the recruiting officer or sergeant 
 must be given to closing the entrance to each ear separately, 
 by pressing with the thumb the small lobe (tragus) situated 
 in front of the opening to the inner ear. 
 
 Advantage should be taken of the absence of other sounds 
 to make the examination. Recruiting officers should re- 
 member that a man may be totally deaf in one ear, and yet 
 may hear all ordinary conversation perfectly if the sound 
 ear is not completely stopped. Deafness of one ear is a bar 
 
37 
 
 to enlistment, but in ordinary occupations it might not be 
 observed. 
 
 Deafness may be caused by an accumulation of hardened . 
 
 wax ; therefore an otherwise desirable recruit should have 
 his ears well cleansed before final action is taken in his case. 
 
 All men enlisted for the artillery arm of the service at a 
 military post or assigned to that arm from a depot shall, 
 before such enlistment or assignment, besides undergoing 
 the ordinary examination, be examined especially with a 
 view to establishing the fact of the patency of the Eusta- 
 chian tubes and the integrity of the tympanic membranes, 
 in default of which the men are unfit for that arm. 
 
 In time of war deafness of one ear is not cause for rejec- 
 tion. It should be borne in mind that defects in hearing are 
 easily feigned ; therefore, when they are alleged by con- 
 scripts, the examination should be made by a medical officer. 
 Genuine deafness cannot be concealed. 
 
 THE FACE. 
 
 Great deformities of the face — large, livid, hairy, un- 
 sightly spots, loss of substance of the cheeks — are so man}^ 
 reasons for rejection, as they are calculated to excite aversion 
 and disgust in others; they may prove prejudicial to the 
 service by provoking discontent in the quarters and by ex- 
 posing the sufferer to cruel and irritating sarcasms and jests 
 that too often end in fatal quarrels. 
 
 THE EYES. 
 
 The following are causes for absolute rejection : 
 
 Loss of either eye. 
 
 Chronic inflammation of the lids, when they are red 
 and swollen, with collections of more or less dried matter on 
 the edges between and around the lashes ; the ball of the eye 
 will also be " bloodshot." 
 
38 
 
 Myopia (near-sightedness). 
 
 Hypermetropia (over-sigh tedness), except when moderate 
 and free from organic disease. 
 
 Astigmatism. 
 
 Inability to read or describe with facility the types 
 or characters on the test cards. This examination re- 
 quires the greatest care and patience on the part of the 
 recruiting officer ; it is made with cards bearing the twenty- 
 feet test-types and test-characters. 
 
 To use the cards, measure off a distance of twenty feet in 
 a straight line ; place the applicant with his back to the light 
 at one end of the line, while the examiner stands at the 
 other and holds the card exhibiting the test types or characters 
 in full view of the applicant and so that a good light falls 
 on the card. Each eye should be examined separately, one 
 being covered with a card (not with the hand) by an assistant, 
 who, standing behind the applicant, directs him to read the 
 types on the card held by the examiner ; if he cannot read, 
 the card bearing the characters is presented to him, which 
 he is directed to describe. The types should be read first 
 from left to right and then from right to left ; the characters 
 should be described as to the number of arms seen on each 
 and the direction in which they are pointed, whether up- 
 ward or downward, to the right or left. 
 
 If the applicant should be unable to read the test-types or 
 describe the test-characters correctly with either eye, he must 
 be rejected. 
 
 This standard for vision may be departed from in the ex- 
 amination of candidates for appointment into the Medical 
 Corps of the Army and in the enlistment of members of the 
 Hospital Corps, and applicants accepted who are the subjects 
 of refractive errors, viz., myopia, hypermetropia, presbyopia, 
 and astigmatism, provided these errors are not excessive, 
 may be entirely corrected by glasses, and are not progressive 
 or accompanied by ocular disease. 
 
 The object of this test is to exclude from the service men 
 
39 
 
 whose visual defects are such as to prevent them from be- 
 coming marksmen. Successful use by the soldier of long- 
 range fire-arms demands that his vision shall be normal or 
 so nearly normal that there need be no question of his 
 ability to see the target at all ordinary ranges. 
 
 A large percentage of men are the subjects of slight visual 
 defects, not to such an extent as to disqualify them for mili- 
 tary duty, but sufficient to cause a little blurring or indis- 
 tinctness in some of the letters of the required test, which 
 may be increased by the nervous apprehension of failure. 
 Ignorance, stupidity, or fear on the part of an applicant are 
 factors to be considered in making this examination, and 
 unless the recruiting officer exercises sound judgment he will 
 probably reject men whose vision is in reality good ; hence 
 plenty of time should be taken and slight errors, such as 
 misreading a P or T for an F, provided the majority of the 
 letters or test characters are read with facility, need not be 
 regarded as a failure of the test. 
 
 Prominence of the eyeballs to such an extent as to pre- 
 vent the lids from closing — (exophthalmos) ; 
 
 Drooping of the upper lids over the eyeballs, with in- 
 ability to raise them — (ptosis) ; 
 Adhesion of the lids to the eyeballs ; 
 Scalding of the cheeks from tears, indicating closure of 
 the tear-duct ; 
 
 Cross-eye or squint of the right eye, if permanent or well 
 marked (strabismus), are all subjects for disqualification. 
 
 Double vision, or that condition of sight in which two 
 images instead of one are seen when the applicant is re- 
 quired to look steadily at an object — (diplopia). 
 
 The following defects, if discovered, should be noted on 
 the enlistment papers of the recruit by the recruiting officer, 
 and the question of rejection left to the decision of the sur- 
 geon at the depot : 
 
 A film across the white of the eye, pyramidal in 
 shape, the apex resting on or near the "sight" (ptery-- 
 gium). 
 
40 
 
 Milky opacities on the cornea (leucoma). 
 
 Wavering and divergence, generally outward, of one 
 or both eyes when the applicant is required to look steadily _ 
 at an object, say the hand or fingers, held at a distance of six 
 or eight inches from the face (asthenopia). 
 
 A rotary or oscillating movement of one or both eyes 
 when looking at an object at the ordinary visual distance 
 (nystagmus) ; both eyes are generally affected, and the 
 nervous character of the disease is shown by the increased 
 motion during the examination. 
 
 In time of war none of the defects mentioned above as 
 disqualifying in time of peace should exempt conscripts from 
 service, save those caused b}^ extreme refractive errors or 
 organic diseases ; and as defects of vision are easily feigned, 
 the examination of the vision in doubtful cases should be 
 made by a medical officer. 
 
 THE NOSE. 
 
 Loss of the nose disqualifies the recruit, not only because 
 it may be the indication of a constitutional disease but be- 
 cause the consequent modification of voice renders speech 
 unintelligible. 
 
 Ill smelling discharge from the nose, either through the 
 nostril or the mouth, or ver}" offensive breath, which is in- 
 dicative of a chronic disease called " ozoena," demands the 
 rejection of the subject. Chronic catarrh of the nose which 
 may temporarily occlude the nostrils, or permanent closure 
 of the nostril from any cause, and tumors inside the nose 
 (polypi) are causes for rejection. The examining officer 
 must, however, be careful not to mistake slight irregularities 
 in the septum (which are not uncommon) for a polypus. 
 
 In time of war loss or unsightly deformities of the nose 
 and ozoena are causes for rejection. 
 
41 
 
 THE MOUTH. 
 
 The following defects of these parts are disqualifications : 
 
 Hare lip— simple, compound, or complicated. 
 
 Loss of the whole or part of either lip. 
 
 Unsightly mutilation of the lips from wounds, 
 burns, or disease. 
 
 Loss of the whole or part of either jaw-bone. 
 
 Deformities of either jaw-bone interfering with 
 mastication or speech. 
 
 Inability to open the jaws widely. 
 
 Enlargement or shrinkage of the tongue. 
 
 Mutilation or the partial or total loss of the tongue. 
 
 Growth of the tongue to the sides of the mouth. 
 
 Stammering or stuttering, if at all considerable. 
 
 A growth of the cheeks to the sides of the jaws, 
 impeding their free motion. 
 
 Fissures of the hard palate. 
 
 Perforation of the hard palate, an occasional sequel of 
 syphilis, is objectionable on account of the modification 
 produced by it in the voice and the fact that through the 
 perforation, fluids are allowed to pass into the nose from the 
 mouth. 
 
 Chronic enlargement of the tonsils sufficient to im- 
 pede swallowing or speech. — To obtain a good view of 
 the tonsils and back parts of the mouth and throat the re- 
 cruit should open his mouth as widely as possible and pro- 
 nounce the word "Ah ! h-h " in a prolonged breath. The 
 arches of the palate and the soft palate will by this ma- 
 noeuvre be raised and an unobstructed view of the parts 
 obtained. 
 
 Loss of voice, or a manifest alteration of it. 
 
 An inability to pucker the mouth as in whistling is 
 an indication of paralysis of the face, which should reject. 
 
 Loss of teeth. — The condition of the teeth is to be con- 
 6 
 
42 
 
 sidered solely with reference to the proper mastication of 
 food. If there are not enough in the mouth for this purpose 
 food is swallowed without the necessary preparation, and 
 indigestion with imperfect nutrition and its consequent 
 evils are the result. If several of the teeth are decayed, es- 
 pecially about the crown, it is probable that before the ex- 
 piration of an enlistment they will be so far destroyed as to 
 render mastication imperfect ; hence men who have lost the 
 front teeth from decay and have many unsound back teeth 
 should be rejected. The loss of the front teeth through ac- 
 cident is not cause for rejection, provided a sufficient num- 
 ber of the back teeth are sound. 
 
 Unless an applicant has at least four sound double teeth, 
 one above and one below on each side of the mouth, and 
 so opposed as to serve the purpose of mastication, he should 
 be rejected. Exception may be made by the Adjutant Gen- 
 eral in the case of a soldier who desires to re-enlist, if a re- 
 port is made showing his age, physical condition as to 
 nutrition, and the number an(^ location of the sound teeth. 
 
 If the front teeth remain and the double teeth are gone 
 rejection is demanded. 
 
 If the loss of the natural teeth is supplied by artificial 
 ones the fact should be noted on the enlistment papers, but 
 the artificial substitutes cannot be considered as equivalent 
 in value to the natural teeth or as removing the disability 
 on this account for military service. 
 
 In time of war simple hare lip, scars, enlarged tonsils, 
 and loss of teeth are not causes for rejection. 
 
 THE NECK. 
 
 Goitre, a tumor situated at the base of and across the 
 neck, just below "Adam's apple," if large enough to inter- 
 fere with breathing or the hooking of the collar of the coat, 
 or if recent or growing. 
 
43 
 
 The violet-colored adherent sears of scrofulous 
 ulcerations in this region are causes for rejection. 
 
 Openings in the wind-pipe, or "Adam's apple," should 
 also reject. 
 
 In time of war goitre, unless excessive, is not cause for 
 rejection. 
 
 THE CHEST. 
 
 The chest should be ample. 
 
 The circumference of the chest is measured by passing 
 the tape around it immediately at the point of the shoulder 
 blade, the arms hanging down. Generally the tape will 
 then be found to fall below the nipple. 
 
 In taking this measure contortions of the body, such as 
 bending backward to '''throw out" the chest or bending 
 forward to " draw it in," should be avoided. 
 
 The applicant should stand erect without muscular strain 
 or rigidity. After the tape is placed in position and lies 
 snugly and evenly upon the skin and while the loose ends 
 are held between the fingers of the examiner so that when 
 the chest is expanded the tape will run readily through 
 them, the applicant should be directed to draw in slowly and 
 steadily a long breath until his chest is inflated to its utmost 
 capacity, when the record of chest circumference at inspiration 
 should be read from the tape. He is then to expel the air 
 by counting slowly and steadily from one onward until he can 
 no longer resist the urgent demand for inspiration, when 
 the record of chest circumference at expiration should be read. 
 This should be repeated several times to insure accuracy. 
 Many men are extremely awkward in developing their chest 
 capacity on demand and great care and patience are neces- 
 sary^ in getting the true measurements. 
 
 A man whose chest measures less than 32 inches in circum- 
 ference at expiration should be rejected, unless he be consid- 
 ered specially desirable, when the case may be reported to 
 higher authority. 
 
44 
 
 The applicant should be carefully questioned as to his 
 history and that of his family. If he admits having had 
 severe and long-continued cough and night sweats and 
 states that he has lost any members of his family from con- 
 sumption, he should be rejected. So if he is under weight, 
 with a flat chest, or is " chicken-breasted," because in these 
 latter cases the chest is " seldom strong enough or roomy 
 enough to permit the lungs to have free play in them." In 
 both examples the risk of acceptance is too great. 
 
 When the chest is narrow and elongated, the countenance 
 pale, or with merely a brilliant point upon . the cheeks, the 
 voice husky, or articulation short, quick, interrupted almost 
 every moment for want of breath, the skin presenting a fine- 
 ness of texture, a whiteness or straw-colored tint, with ab- 
 normal dryness — when the limbs, more or less long, are 
 thin, furnished with soft and emaciated muscles — the indi- 
 vidual is absolutely unfit for a soldier's life. 
 
 It is sufficient to require rejection that the chest should 
 be ill-formed; that its structure should appear to be too 
 weak, and that the other parts of the organism should be 
 stamped with signs '' of debility and suffering." 
 
 It is true we run the risk of rejecting men who inay after- 
 wards become very robust and who, by a long and success- 
 ful life, may contradict the opinion we may have pro- 
 nounced in their cases ; but the Army is not a public sani- 
 tarium, and "one willbe astonished at the number of men 
 who, received because no determinate lesion of the chest was 
 recognized when they were inspected, succumb afterward 
 with consumption, or whom it was necessary to send back 
 to their families with broken health after their strength had 
 been exhausted. This is the plague of the army. I have 
 already said that a feeble man left at home may become 
 strong ; but send him into the ranks and he perishes almost 
 certainly. Betwixt these two rocks neither the physician, 
 the officer, nor the magistrate can hesitate an instant." 
 
 Bleeding from the lungs ; 
 
45 
 
 Badly united fractures of the ribs, leaving a sharp 
 angle at the point of injury ; 
 
 "Wheezy " breathing (asthma) are all causes for rejec* 
 tion. 
 
 THE HEART. 
 
 The only lesion of this organ discoverable by a non-pro- 
 fessional man is enlargement (hypertrophy), which may be 
 suspected by a marked deviation of the " apex beat " of the 
 heart from its proper place, about two inches below the left 
 nipple and about one inch to its right, between the fifth and 
 sixth ribs. 
 
 It is not always easy to see the impulse of the heart against 
 the chest walls, and the recruiting officer must therefore /e^^ 
 for it. By placing the ends of two fingers in the interspace of 
 the ribs just below the nipple and pressing baqkward with 
 some force it can be felt, even in very fat men or in those 
 whose lung tissue may accidentally cover it thickly. 
 
 The deviation in enlargement is generally downward and 
 to the left, and when to the extent of about two inches from 
 the normal point, if accompanied by powerful action, disease 
 may be suspected and the applicant rejected. 
 
 There are two conditions likely to mislead, viz., extreme 
 " nervousness " from fright or embarrassment and an irreg- 
 ular action caused by the excessive use of tobacco or coffee, 
 or both. The hurried, sharply accentuated action of the 
 heart in the former and its irregular action in the latter case 
 can hardly, with the exercise of due care, be mistaken for the 
 powerful rythmical action in enlargement, in which condi- 
 tion the blood vessels of the head and neck will often be 
 found distended and beating with considerable violence. 
 The pulse at the wrist should also be felt, and any intermis- 
 sion or dropping of beats should lead to rejection. 
 
 In time of war all organic diseases of the heart or lungs 
 are causes for rejection. 
 
46 
 
 THE ABDOMEN. 
 
 There are three easily recognized forms of rupture (her- 
 nia), viz., inguinal, scrotal, and umbilical, any of which is a 
 cause for rejection. They may be discovered by requiring 
 the applicant to extend his arms above his head and to 
 cough. If there is a rupture at any of these points the 
 bowel will protrude through the opening and present to the 
 view of the observer a " bunch " or tumor. If the hand is 
 now placed or^ this tumor and the applicant again required 
 to cough, a distinct shock or impulse will be felt in the 
 tumor, which will appear to swell and become tense. Steady 
 pressure will in most cases cause the bowel to recede into 
 the abdomen with a peculiar slip or. gurgle, which is char- 
 acteristic. This can be recognized more easily when the 
 man is made to lie down. 
 
 The seat of an inguinal hernia is in or above the crease 
 between the abdomen and the thigh ; of a scrotal hernia, in 
 the scrotum above the testicle ; of an umbilical hernia, at 
 the " navel." This latter must not be confounded with a 
 simple "pouting navel," from which it may be distin- 
 guished by its doughy,, inelastic consistence and by the ab- 
 sence of an impulse on coughing. 
 
 There may be found in some men a condition of the parts 
 through which the bowel would pass in the formation of a her- 
 nia that is known as " relaxed abdominal rings," and is con- 
 sidered by some surgeons as indicating a " tendency to hernia." 
 There is, however, no special evidence to show that hernia 
 follows this condition with greater frequency than it does 
 when the parts are normal. To exclude this class of cases 
 would cause the loss to the sarvice of many excellent men, 
 and it should not, therefore, be considered a cause for rejec- 
 tion ; but in cases of suspected hernia or " incomplete her- 
 nia " the recruiting officer should reject an applicant, unless 
 
47 
 
 a Medical Officer pronounces the man to be free from the 
 defect. 
 
 Fistula in Ano and Hemorrhoids (piles) may be dis- 
 covered by requiring the applicant to turn his back to the 
 light, stoop well forward, and with both hands separate the 
 buttocks widely. This exposes the anus. A fistula may be 
 suspected if at the verge of the anus, or at any point within 
 a radius of an inch thereof, a pimple is seen, in the centre of 
 which is "proud flesh; " and suspicion becomes almost cer- 
 tainty if the man admits having had at any time a " boil " 
 in that locality. Under these circumstances he should be 
 rejected. 
 
 Hemorrhoids (piles) are of two kinds, internal or bleed- 
 ing and external. The recruiting officer cannot discover 
 the former, but may suspect their existence if there is a dis- 
 charge of matter or blood from the anus. If the applicant 
 admits that he is the subject of this form of the disease he 
 should be rejected. 
 
 External piles appear as tumors or loose flabby folds of 
 skin about the verge of the anus, and may be recent or old. 
 If recent they will appear about the size of a buck-shot, of a 
 bluish color, hard and tense to the feel, and their covering 
 will look thin. If old they -will probably be as large as a 
 marble, of a brawny feel, reddish-brown color, and have a 
 thick covering.. If recent, as above described, they are not 
 cause for rejection, neither are they if old and single and the 
 applicant asserts that they have never been painful or trou- 
 blesome ; but if there should be more than one old pile and 
 they are larger than described, or if a single old pile is ulcer- 
 ated or inflamed, or if there is a small pile associated ivith 
 varicose veins of the legs, the applicant should be rejected. 
 The flabby folds of skin are not cause for rejection unless 
 very large. 
 
 If the applicant is accepted any blemish, no matter how 
 slight, about this region should be noted on his enlistment 
 papers. 
 
48 
 
 In time of war hemorrhoids, external or internal, unless 
 excessive, and hernise, unless they cannot be retained in 
 place by a truss, are not causes for rejection. Other defects 
 which disqualify in peace do so also in war. 
 
 THE GENITAL AND URINARY ORGANS. 
 
 Any acute and all venereal diseases of these organs 
 are causes for rejection. 
 
 A sore upon the head of the penis, in the furrow imme- 
 diately behind it, or on the foreskin is in the vast majority 
 of instances venereal ; and while it is well known that there 
 are two kinds of venereal sores, one (chancroid) innocent, so 
 far as its effects upon the general system are concerned, and 
 the other (chancre) virulent, infective of the system, it is 
 equally well known that it is not always possible to dis- 
 tinguish the one from the other ; hence one may find that a 
 so-called " innocent " sore is followed in due time by con- 
 stitutional symptoms, or a supposed virulent sore is free 
 from such results. This being the fact, the Government is 
 entitled to the benefit of the doubt, and these cases should 
 be rejected. The same remarks apply to gonorrhoea. No 
 physician can say positively that an attack of this disease, 
 however mild, will not be followed by a stricture of the 
 urethra. It is the experience of the writer that stricture is 
 far more frequently a sequence of gonorrhoea than even pro- 
 fessional men generally admit, for which reason all cases of 
 this disease should be rejected. Other acute diseases, such 
 as swelled testicle, simple inflammation of the foreskin and 
 head of penis (balanitis), etc., may or may not b3 of venereal 
 origin ; but it is safer to reject the man than to accept him 
 and afterwards have him rejected at the second examina- 
 tion or discharged the service at a subsequent date. 
 
 Loss of the penis is a cause of rejection. 
 
 Phimosis, " an elongation of the foreskin, with contrac- 
 tion of its orifice or adhesion of the foreskin to the glands, 
 
49 
 
 preventing the foreskin from being drawn back so as to ex- 
 pose the head of the penis," is cause for rejection. 
 
 This condition, although apparently trivial, is occasion- 
 ally the cause of serious disorder of the nervous system, as 
 epilepsy, paralysis, etc. It interferes with the free discharge 
 of urine and prevents a thorough cleansing of the parts 
 from the natural secretions, which when retained act as an 
 irritant, setting up inflammation and unfitting the soldier 
 for the performance of duty. 
 
 Warts are not unfrequently found upon the penis. Their 
 location is generally in the furrow, although they may be 
 situated anywhere about the head and foreskin. As a, rule 
 they are innocent in character, are produced by uncleanli- 
 ness, and are not a cause for rejection. 
 
 Epi- and Hypospadia. — The urethra occasionally termi- 
 nates by an opening in the course of the penis either on 
 the upper (epispadia) or under (hypospadia) surface. When 
 this opening is further from the free end of the penis than 
 one-fourth the length of the organ, reject. 
 
 Stricture of the urethra can be detected only from the 
 confession of the man himself. If upon being questioned 
 he admits an attack of gonorrhoea, and that he passes a 
 stream of water which is crooked or twisted, or if at the close 
 of the act the water dribbles from him, falling between his 
 feet, or if the stream is small and passed with difficulty, 
 there is good reason to suspect a stricture, and the applicant 
 should be rejected. 
 
 Loss of both testicles by extirpation or disease or marked 
 dwindling (atrophy) of both or special sensitiveness of either 
 rejects. 
 
 The absence of both testicles from their natural situation 
 does not necessarily imply the loss of them from either of 
 these causes, for they may never have descended into the scrotum. 
 If the organs have been extirpated by accident or design the 
 scar of the wound will reveal the fact ; if they have disap- 
 peared from atrophy some rudiment will still remain to show 
 7 
 
50 
 
 that they have descended. If neither of these signs be 
 present and the testicles are not in the scrotum they are 
 either still in the abdomen or are arrested in the groin, - 
 where they ma}^ be felt and possibly seen as tumors or 
 lumps and may be distinguished by the peculiarly sicken- 
 ing pain felt when they are vigorously squeezed between 
 the fingers. If tliey occupy any portion of the groin they 
 incapacitate the man from their liability to be followed by 
 rupture, and particularly from their exposure to painful in- 
 jury and to strangulation ; but if they are within the abdo- 
 men and the man appears vigorous otherwise the condition 
 may be disregarded. These remarks are also applicable to 
 those cases in which only one testicle is present in the 
 scrotum. 
 
 If three testicles are supposed to be in the scrotum the 
 applicant may be accepted, and the fact noted on his enlist- 
 ment paper, the case being left to the decision of the sur- 
 geon at the depot whether the extra body is a testicle or 
 not. 
 
 Any great enlargement of the testicle, especially if the 
 organ is very hard and insensitive, is indicative of serious 
 disease, and should be cause for rejection. 
 
 Caution is necessary in examining the testicle that the 
 " epididymis " is not confused with some morbid growth. 
 This body lies upon the upper and b^^ck part of the testicle 
 and may occasionally feel hard or swollen, as a result of 
 some former inflammation. Indeed it may, under some 
 circumstances, be taken for a varicocele. There is no dis- 
 ease to which it is subject, discoverable by a non-professional 
 man, that would be cause for rejection. 
 
 Accumulation of fluid in the scrotum (hydrocele) may 
 be discovered by the distention of the parts and by the sen- 
 sation of fluctuation given to the fingers by the contained 
 fluid. It sometimes simulates the appearance of a scrotal 
 hernia. It is a cause for rejection. 
 
 There may also be an accumulation of fluid in the sper- 
 
51 
 
 matic cord (hydrocele of the cord), giving rise to a tumor situ- 
 ated above the testicle, between it and the groin, into which 
 it often extends. This is cause for rejection. ~ 
 
 Varicocele is an enlargement of the veins leading from 
 the testicle, which have " a peculiar knotted and convoluted 
 feel, and the sensation conveyed to the hand is often com- 
 pared to that which would be given by a bunch of earth- 
 worms." 
 
 When slight this is not a cause for rejection ; but it is 
 presented to the examiner in so many degrees of develop- 
 ment — from an almost imperceptible enlargement of a few 
 of the veins to a condition in which all of them are swollen 
 as large as goose quills and completely fill, by their mass, 
 the scrotum — that the determination of the cases would be 
 most perplexing, even to a medical expert, but for the rule 
 formulated by Tripler, which, if strictly followed, will ex- 
 clude from the service men thus physically unfitted. 
 
 This rule is as follows : " If the testicle upon that side is 
 atrophied (shrunken), whatever may be the volume of the 
 cirsocele (varicocele), or if the volume of the latter exceeds 
 that of the former, the recruit should be rejected " — that is, 
 the varicocele should not be greater in bulk than the sound 
 testicle. 
 
 A good position in which to obtain the best view of the 
 scrotum is to require the applicant to advance one leg, carry 
 the other as far back as possible, and then bend the advanced 
 leg at the knee. The presence of varicocele can, however, be 
 determined only by handling the parts. 
 
 Incontinence of urine may be suspected if the person 
 or clothing of the applicant exhales a urinous odor or his 
 clothing gives other evidence of having been saturated with 
 urine, and is cause for rejection. 
 
 In time of war none of the above-mentioned defects are 
 causes for rejection, unless they are of sufficient extent to 
 interfere with locomotion. Acute venereal diseases may be 
 treated in hospital. 
 
52 
 
 THE BACK. 
 
 Curvature of the spine, with round shoulders. To de- 
 tect curvature of the spine draw an imaginary line from the 
 centre of the base of the skull to the end of the spine. If 
 it passes one inch either side of the spinal prominences reject. 
 (Parker.) 
 
 Arching of the back, with flattening of the front part 
 of the chest, are disqualifications when they exist to such a 
 degree as to impede respiration or to interfere with the ac- 
 tion of the heart, as also is wry-neck, an affection in which 
 the head, twisted to one side, cannot be brought back to its 
 natural position. 
 
 The recruiting officer cannot, of course, discover whether 
 these blemishes interfere with the functions of the lungs or 
 heart, but he can see if they are very much pronounced and 
 reject; or if he is in doubt note the facts on the enlist- 
 ment papers and let the surgeon at the depot decide the ques- 
 tion. 
 
 Men frequently present themselves for inspection with 
 shoulders of unequal height. This is generally the result of 
 habit and of no consequence, unless connected with true 
 curvature of the spine. The degree of this curvature, where 
 it exists, will determine the eligibility of the recruit ; but, 
 particularly in peace, recruits with rounded or unsymmet- 
 rical shoulders are not desirable, although they may be ac- 
 cepted. Whenever shoulders of unequal height are seen 
 attention should, of course, be directed to the spinal col- 
 umn. 
 
 AFFECTIONS OF THE EXTREMITIES. 
 
 It is a matter of primary importance that the soldier 
 should have the perfect use of all his limbs, and that the 
 completeness and integrity of these organs should be in no- 
 wise impaired. Careful inspection of the limbs, even to the 
 most minute detail, will therefore not be neglected by the 
 
53 
 
 officer who feels a proper interest in the pjood of the service 
 or in his own reputation. 
 
 Many of the lesions and deformities of the limbs that 
 disqualify a recruit are common- to both the upper and 
 lower extremities. Others are peculiar to the one or the 
 other. 
 
 The COMMON LESIONS are chronic rheumatism, with 
 swelling and stiffness of the joints or the neighboring tissues, 
 causing any impediment to the performance of the normal 
 motions ; 
 
 Wasting of a limb from any cause ; 
 
 Old dislocations, if attended by any impairment of mo- 
 tion or distortion of the joint. 
 
 The shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints are the most com- 
 mon sites for these injuries. 
 
 The applicant for enlistment will, of course, put the best 
 face on the results of these cases and stoutly assert that the 
 joint is as good as ever; but he should in all cases be tried 
 with a rifle, to see if he can perform quickly and easily the 
 various motions required in the manual of arms and in the 
 " set-up " drill. Even if motion is perfect it is doubtful 
 policy to enlist a man who has any amount of distortion 
 from a dislocated joint, because he has enough of a visible 
 defect upon w^hich at any time to hang an excuse for a dis- 
 charge if from any cause the service becomes irksome to 
 him. Fortunately badly damaged joints are easily dis- 
 covered, and the safest plan in such cases is to reject, even 
 if the distortion or loss of motion be ever so slight. 
 
 The same general remarks will apply to important frac- 
 tures, especially if they have been in the neighborhood of 
 joints. If followed by wasting of the limb or paralysis 
 there can be no doubt about the necessity for rejection. 
 
 Severe sprains ; 
 
 Voluntary or involuntary dislocation of joints ; 
 
 Defective or excessive curvature of the limbs ; 
 
 Complete or partial stiffness of any joint ; 
 
54 
 
 Extensive, deep, or adherent scars, where they in- 
 terfere with the motion of a limb ; 
 
 Loss of a limb, or an essential part thereof; 
 
 Contractions or permanent flexions of a limb or a 
 portion thereof are all causes for rejection. 
 
 In time of war the defects above mentioned are, with 
 the exception of sprains, causes for rejection, but many of 
 them are so easily feigned that when alleged by a recruit or 
 conscript the examination should be made by a medical 
 officer. 
 
 SPECIAL LESIONS OF THE UPPER EXTREMITIES. 
 
 Fractures of the collar-bone where there is much de- 
 formity or if the seat of the fracture is near the outer ex- 
 tremity of the bone. 
 
 The fingers adherent or united. 
 
 Permanent flexion or extension of one or more fin- 
 gers, as well as irremediable loss of motion of these 
 parts. 
 
 Total loss of either thumb. 
 
 Mutilation of either thumb to such an extent as to 
 produce material loss of flexion or strength of the member. 
 The common distortion of the extremity due to contusion 
 or felon need not disqualify. 
 
 Special care should be used in the examination of the 
 thumbs with a view to the ability of the applicant to use 
 them in cocking the rifle, for which purpose a rifle should 
 be kept at the rendezvous. 
 
 Total loss of the index finger of the right hand. 
 
 Loss of the second and third joints of all of the 
 fingers of the right hand. 
 
 The joints of fingers and toes are counted from those nearest 
 the hand or foot. 
 
 Total loss of any two fingers of the same hand. 
 
 Mutilation of the last joints of all the fingers of 
 either hand. 
 
55 
 
 All these defects constitute absolute causes for exclusion 
 from the military service. 
 
 We frequently meet with permanent partial flexion of the 
 little finger of one or both hands, due to the effect of some 
 particular varieties of labor. These flexions do not dis- 
 qualify, as they in nowise interfere with the prompt and 
 effective handling of arms. The permanent flexion of any 
 other finger does, and should exclude from service. 
 
 Redundant fingers are not always objections to a recruit. 
 If the redundant finger is upon the outer border of the hand 
 it is not usually in the way, and particularly if it be the left 
 hand. We think, unless this appendage were more devel- 
 oped than we have ever seen it, we should not regard it in 
 the inspection of a recruit. 
 
 In time of war the loss of the right thumb ; loss of any 
 two fingers of the same hand ; loss of the second and third 
 phalanges of the fingers on the right hand ; permanent 
 flexion or extension of two fingers of the right hand, or all 
 the fingers united (webbed), are causes for exemption. 
 
 SPECIAL LESIONS OF THE INFERIOR EXTREMITIES. 
 
 Varicose veins— i. e., swollen or enlarged veins. 
 
 In young men, the development of varicose veins to a de- 
 gree of prominence that would warrant especial attention is 
 rarely met with; it is more commonly found in men of 
 thirty years and upward, particularly in those of intem- 
 perate habits or of feeble constitution. Mechanical obstruc- 
 tion to the flow of blood through the veins may also be the 
 cause. Moderate prominence of the veins in men who are 
 otherwise healthy, and who are temperate, ne9d not dis- 
 qualify. 
 
 But it must be borne in mind that the tendency of this 
 affection is to become aggravated, particularly in tall men, 
 and upon long marches with knapsacks and arms. 
 
56 
 
 The character, then, of the veins should be well noted. 
 Sometimes the minute superficial branches only are enlarged. 
 This is particularly the case in the space behind the knee 
 and on the inside of the thigh and is in itself of no conse- 
 quence, but when clusters of knots are seen, or one or more 
 single knots, large and with thin walls, or a net-work of 
 enlarged branches are found about the ankle, the back of 
 the foot, the calf of the leg, the ham or thigh, or distinctly 
 enlarged veins exist, that are not necessarily knotted, 
 especially if extending above the knee, the man should be 
 rejected. In all cases when there is chronic tumefaction, 
 dropsy of the limbs, or marks of ulceration, rejection is 
 demanded. 
 
 A soft swelling, having the appearance of a varicose vein, 
 is frequently found on the outside of the leg, caused by a 
 lack of development in the covering of the muscles (fascia), 
 allowing a small portion to protrude ; this is harmless and 
 should not be mistaken for a varicose vein. 
 
 Lameness, perceptible limping, to whatever cause it may 
 be due, demands the rejection of a recruit. 
 
 Knock-knees. 
 
 This deformity sometimes, though rarely, exists to such a 
 degree as to unfit a man for military service. When dis- 
 qualifying it is impossible for the man to take the position 
 of a soldier and he is mechanically disabled from perform- 
 ing a long march. We would say, generally, that if a re- 
 cruit cannot bring the inner borders of the feet, from the 
 heel to the ball of the great toe, within one inch of each other 
 without passing the inner surface of the knees respectively 
 in front of and behind each other he is unfit for service. 
 
 Loose cartilages in the knee-joint are liable to slip from 
 their ordinary situation when sudden and violent exertion 
 is made and to be caught and pinched between the bones 
 forming the joint ; motion is impossible ; the most exquisite 
 pain is produced and the sufferer will probably faint. The 
 
57 
 
 presence of these bodies cannot be determined by any physi- 
 cal examination, but applicants should be questioned as to 
 the matter and rejected if there is reason to believe them the 
 subjects of this defect. 
 ' Club-feet are always positive disqualifications. 
 
 Splay-feet. 
 
 The foot that renders a man unfit for service is that in 
 which the arch is so far effaced that the entire inner border 
 of the foot rests upon the ground ; the inner ankle is very 
 prominent, as is also the bone of the foot articulating with it, 
 and the axis of the leg does not fall upon the centre of the 
 foot — giving the effect that the ankle-joint has been dislocated 
 and the foot crushed down and outward. This extreme 
 degree of splay or fiat foot is not often seen ; a broad and 
 flat sole is common to the laboring classes and particularly 
 so among negroes, but, unless an ill-fitting shoe is worn, this 
 shape of the foot is not more likely to induce disability in 
 long marches than is the arched foot of a more shapely 
 mould. 
 
 All the toes joined together. 
 
 The great toe crossing the other toes, with great 
 prominence of the second joint of the great toe (bunion). 
 
 Over-riding or super-position of any or all the toes 
 to a degree that renders the wearing of a shoe painful ; the 
 ordinary overlap of the fleshy part of the second toe upon 
 the great and third toes is not a cause for rejection. 
 
 Loss of a great toe. 
 
 Loss of any two toes from the same foot. 
 
 Permanent flexion of the last joint of one of the toes 
 (hammer toe) so that the free border of the nail bears upon 
 the ground, or flexions at a right angle of the last joint of a 
 toe (usually the second toe) upon the second, with stiffness 
 of the joint. 
 
 Ingrowing nail of the great toe, usually upon the outer 
 side, if deep and accompanied with signs of inflammation or 
 ulceration. 
 8 
 
58 
 
 Corns on the sole of the foot, especially if situated on 
 the under side of the " ball " or base of the great toe. 
 Stinking feet. 
 
 These are all causes for the rejection of a recruit and are 
 too frequently neglected. 
 
 They invariably cause lamaness upon a march and often 
 disqualify a man from undergoing the drills necessary for 
 his instruction. 
 
 When a man walks upon the nail of the toe, " hammer 
 toe," as it is termed, during a march, sand and other foreign 
 bodies find their way between the nail and the skin, produc- 
 ing severe pain and irritation, and even if this is escaped 
 the constant pressure upon the free border of the nail is felt 
 throughout its whole surface of adhesion, and develops there, 
 and sometimes in the root of the nail, insupportable pain 
 and inflammation. In the case of stiff joints the constant 
 friction of the shoe upon a march soon obliges the man to 
 give up and take to the wagons. Men with such infirmities 
 are of no use whatever as soldiers. 
 
 For the benefit of Medical Officers the following table of 
 disqualifications for service in the Army of the United 
 States is given : 
 
 Mental Infirmities. 
 
 Insanity, Idiocy, Imbecility, Dementia. 
 
 Moral Infirmities. 
 
 Intemperance in the use of Stimulants or Narcotics, Conviction of Felony, 
 Masturbation, Sodomy. 
 
 Cerebro-Spinal System. 
 
 Epilepsy, Chorea, all forms of Paralysis, Tabes Dorsalis, Neuralgia, 
 Stuttering. 
 
 General Disqualifications. 
 
 Feebleness of Constitution (poor physique), Scrofulous Diathesis, Can- 
 cerous Diathesis, Syphilis. 
 
59 
 
 Special Disqualifications. 
 
 The Skin. — All chronic, contagious, and parasitic diseases of the skin j- 
 nsevi ; extensive, deep, and adherent cicatrices ; chronic ulcers, vermin. 
 
 The Head. — Abnormally large head ; considerable deformities, the con- 
 sequence of fractures; serious lesions of the skull, the consequence of com- 
 plicated wounds or the operation of trephining ; caries and exfoliation of 
 the bone, injuries of cranial nerves, tinea capitis, alopecia. 
 
 The Spine. — Caries, spina bifida, lateral curvature of the cervical, dorsal, 
 or lumbar regions ; lumbar abscess, rickets, fracture and dislocation of the 
 vertebrae, angular curvatures, including gibbosity of the anterior and pos- 
 terior parts of the thorax. 
 
 The Ears. — Deafness of one or both ears, all catarrhal and purulent 
 forms of acute and chronic otitis media, polypi and other growths or dis- 
 eases of the tympanum, labyrinth, or mastoid cells ; perforation of the tym- 
 panum ; closure of the auditory canal, partial or complete, except from 
 acute abscess or furuncle ; malformation or loss of the external ear and all 
 aiseases thereof, except those which are slight and non-progressive. 
 
 The Eyes. — Loss of an eye, total loss of sight of either eye ; conjunctival 
 affections, including trachoma, entropion ; opacities of the cornea, if cover- 
 ing part of a .moderately dilated pupil ; pterygium, if extensive ; strabis- 
 mus, hydrophthalmia, exophthalmia, conical cornea, cataract, loss of crys- 
 talline lens, diseases of the lachr3'mal apparatus, ectropion, ptosis, incessant 
 spasmodic motion of the lids, adhesion of the lids, large encysted tumors, 
 abscess of the orbits, muscular asthenopia, nystagmus. 
 
 Any affection of the globe of the eye or its contents ; defective vision, 
 including anomalies of accommodati6n and refraction ; myopia ; hyper- 
 metropia, if accompanied by asthenopia; presbyopia, astigmatism, ambly- 
 opia, glaucoma, diplopia, color-blindness (for the Signal Service only). 
 
 The Face. — Nsevi, unsightly hairy spots, extensive cicatrices on the face. 
 
 The Mouth and Fauces. — Hare-lip, simple, double, or complicated ; loss 
 of the whole or a considerable part of either lip ; unsightly mutilation of 
 the lips from wounds, burns, or disease ; loss of the whole or part of either 
 maxilla, ununited fractures, ankylosis, deformities of either jaw interfering 
 with mastication or spoech, loss of certain teeth, cancerous or erectile tu- 
 mors, hypertrophy or atrophy of the tongue, mutilation of the tongue, ad- 
 hesion of the tongue to any parts, preventing its free motion ; malignant 
 diseases of the tongue, chronic ulcerations, fissures or perforations of the 
 hard palate, salivary or bucco-nasal fistuiae, hypertrophy of the tonsils 
 sufiicient to interfere with respiration or phonation. 
 
 The Neck. — Goitre, ulcerations of the cervical glands, cicatrices of scrof- 
 ulous ulcerations, tracheal openings, wry-neck, chronic laryngitis, any or 
 other disease of the larynx which would produce aphonia, stricture of the 
 aesophagus. 
 
60 
 
 The Chest. — Malformation of the chest, or badly united fractures of ribs 
 or sternum sufficient to interfere with respiration; caries or necrosis of ribs, 
 deficient expansive mobility, evident predisposition to phthisis, phthisis 
 pulmonalis, chronic pneumonia, emphysema, chronic pleurisy, pleural"" 
 effusions, chronic bronchitis, asthma, organic disease of the heart or large 
 arteries, serious and protracted functional derangement of the heart, dropsy 
 dependent upon a disease of the heart. 
 
 The Abdomen. — All chronic inflammations of the gastro-intestinal tract, 
 including diarrhoea and dysentery ; diseases of the liver or spleen, including 
 those caused by malarial poisoning ; ascites, obesity, dyspepsia, if con- 
 firmed ; hcemorrhoids, prolapsus ani, fistula in ano, considerable fissures of 
 the anus, hernia in all situations. 
 
 The Genito-Urinary Organs. — Any acute affection of the genital organs, 
 including gonorrhoea and venereal sores ; loss of the penis, phimosis, strict- 
 ure of the urethra, loss of both testicles, permanent retraction of one or both 
 testicles within the external ring, any chronic disease of the testicle, hydro- 
 cele of the tunic and cord, atrophy of the testicle, varicocele, malformations 
 of the genitalia, incontinence of urine, urinary fistula?, enlargement of the 
 prostate, stone in the bladder, chronic cystitis, all diseases of the kidney. 
 
 Affections Common to both Upper and Lower Extremities. — Chronic 
 rheumatism, chronic diseases of joints, old or irreducible dislocations or false 
 joints, severe sprains, relaxation of the ligaments or capsules of joints, dis- 
 locations, fistulae connected with joints, or any part of bones ; dropsy of 
 joints, badly united fractures, defective or excessive curvature of long bones, 
 rickets, caries, necrosis, exostosis, atrophy or paralysis of a limb; extensive, 
 deep, or adherent cicatrices ; contraction or permanent retraction of a limb 
 or portion thereof, loss of a limb or portion thereof. 
 
 The Superior Extremities. — Fracture of the clavicle, fracture of the radius 
 and ulna, webbed fingers, permanent flexion or extension of one or more 
 fingers, as well as irremediable loss of motion of these parts ; total loss of 
 either thumb, mutilation of either thumb, total loss of the index-finger of 
 the right hand, loss of the second and third phalanges of all the fingers of 
 either hand, total loss of any two fingers of the same hand. 
 
 The Lower Extremities. — Varicose veins, knock-knees, club-feet, splay 
 or flat feet, webbed toes, the toes double or branching, the great toe crossing 
 the other toes, bunions, corns, overriding or superposition of any of the 
 toes to an extreme degree, loss of a great toe, loss of any two toes of the 
 same foot, permanent retraction of the last phalanx of any of the toes, or 
 flexion at a right angle of the first phalanx of a toe upon the second, with 
 ankylosis of the articulation ; ingrowing of the nail of the great toe, stink- 
 ing feet. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 A. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Abdomen, the 46 
 
 Abdominal rings, relaxed 46 
 
 Adam's apple, openings into 43 
 
 Age qualifications 22-25 
 
 limit 7 
 
 previous service as affecting 7 
 
 Alopecia, see Baldness. 
 
 Anus, examination of_.-L 20 
 
 in syphilis 35 
 
 Apex beat of the heart 45 
 
 Artificial teeth 42 
 
 Artillery, height and weight for 25 
 
 Artillery men, special examination of hearing of 87 
 
 Artisans, skilled, need not have knowledge of the English language. 13 
 
 may be under height 25 
 
 Asthma 45 
 
 Astigmatism 38 
 
 B. 
 
 Back, the ^ 52 
 
 arching of the 52 
 
 Balanitis 48 
 
 Baldness (alopecia) 35 
 
 Band musicians need not speak English 13 
 
 may be under height 25 
 
 Beard, growth of, in minors 23 
 
 Birth-marks 29, 30 
 
 Bubo, significance of '. 35 
 
 Bunions 57 
 
 C. 
 
 Cadets, military, West Point, rule of physical proportions for 23 
 
 Candidates for admission to the hospital corps, vision test for 38 
 
 medical corps, vision test for 38 
 
 (61) 
 
62 
 
 Page. 
 
 Cartilages, loose, of the knee-joint 56 
 
 Catarrh, chronic nasal 40 
 
 Cavalry, age limit 22 
 
 height and weight for 25 
 
 Chancre 48 
 
 Chancroid 48 
 
 Characteristics, physical, of recruit 11 
 
 Character, evidence of, required 7 
 
 Cheeks 41 
 
 Chest, defects in ^ 44, 45 
 
 measurements, the 26 
 
 how to take them ^ 43 
 
 measure, raohility, &c., rule of proportions for 26,27 
 
 tahle of proportions for 28 
 
 methods of examining the 43-45 
 
 mobility 26 
 
 Chicken-breasted 44 
 
 Chronic enlargement of the tonsils 41 
 
 nasal catarrh 40 
 
 rheumatism 53 
 
 ulcers 32 
 
 Cleanliness, reasons for 14 
 
 Clubfeet 57 
 
 Collar bone, fracture of 54 
 
 Color of eyes 31, 32 
 
 hair 31 
 
 "Competent knowledge " of the English language 12 
 
 Completion of enlistment papers , 7 
 
 Constitutional syphilis 33 
 
 Consumption, indications of 44 
 
 Cord, spermatic, fluid in 51 
 
 Cornea, opacity of 40 
 
 Corns 58 
 
 Corps, hospital, vision test for members of the 38 
 
 medical, vision test for candidates for the 38 
 
 Criminals, enlistment of, prohibited 8 
 
 Cross-eyes 39 
 
 Curvature of the spine 52 
 
 I>. 
 
 Deafness 36, 37 
 
 Debility- 11,44 
 
 Defects of all degrees to be noted 16 
 
63 
 
 Page. 
 
 Degree of knowledge of English, how recorded 15 
 
 Deserter, enlistment of, prohibited 8 
 
 Discharge from ears 36 
 
 nose 40 
 
 Dislocations 53 
 
 Disposition of examination form ^ 16 
 
 Disqualifications, table of 58-60 
 
 Drunkards, physical characteristics of __. 1'2 
 
 E. 
 
 Ears 36,37 
 
 tumors of 36 
 
 • discharge from 36 
 
 deafness 86 
 
 English language,, competent knowledge of 12 
 
 degree of knowledge of, how recorded 15 
 
 skilled artisans need not have knowledge of 13 
 
 Enlargement of the glands (syphilitic) 83 
 
 tonsils 41 
 
 Enlistment, general requirements for 8-10 
 
 oath of (Art. of War 2) 8 
 
 of recruit?, responsibility for 10 
 
 papers, completion of 7 
 
 prohibitions to (Art. of War 3) 8 
 
 Epididymis, the 50 
 
 Epispadia 49 
 
 Eruptions, syphilitic - 34 
 
 Evidence of character required 7 
 
 Evidences of maturity 23, 24 
 
 Examination, form for 17-19 
 
 how disposed of , 16 
 
 the general 11-13 
 
 order of 20-22 
 
 special 29 
 
 Examining a recruit, mode of 14 
 
 Extremities, affections of 52-54 
 
 Eyeball, prominence of 39 
 
 Eyelids, adherent 39 
 
 drooping 39 
 
 inflammation of 37 
 
 Eye, loss of either 37 
 
 Eyes, color of 31, 32 
 
 the 37-40 
 
64 
 F. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Face, deformities of 37 
 
 Far-sight (hypormetropia) 38" 
 
 Feebleness, general 11,44 
 
 Feet, club 57 
 
 offensive 58 
 
 splay 57 
 
 Felons, enlistment of, prohibited 8 
 
 Figure and general appearance, how noted 16 
 
 Fingers, defects of the 64, 55 
 
 Fistula in ano 47 
 
 Form for examination 17-19 
 
 disposition of 16 
 
 uses for 15 
 
 Fractures ^ 53 
 
 of the collar bone 54 
 
 of the ribs 45 
 
 G. 
 
 General examination 11-13 
 
 requirements for enlistment 8-10 
 
 Genital and urinary organs 48-51 
 
 Glands, enlarged in syphilis 38 
 
 Gleet 49 
 
 Goitre 42 
 
 Gonorrhoea — 48 
 
 H. 
 
 Habits of intemperance, indications of 12 
 
 Hair, color of 31 
 
 in syphilis 34 
 
 growth of, in minors. 23 
 
 Hammer toe 58 
 
 Harelip 41 
 
 Head, the defects of 35,36 
 
 Hearing, defects in, see Deafness. 
 
 of artillery men to be specially examined 37 
 
 Heart, apex beat of 45 
 
 hypertrophy of 45 
 
 the 45 
 
 Height, weight, and chest measurements 25-28 
 
 rule of proportions for 26 
 
 special exceptions in 25 
 
 table of proportions for 28 
 
65 
 
 Page. 
 
 Hemorrhoids (piles) 47 
 
 external 47 
 
 internal 47 
 
 Hernia, incomplete 46 
 
 inguinal 46 
 
 scrotal 46 
 
 tendency to 46 
 
 umbilical 46 
 
 Hospital corps, vision test for members of 38 
 
 Hydrocele 50 
 
 of the cord 51 
 
 Hypospadia 49 
 
 I. 
 
 Incontinence of urine 51 
 
 Infantrj', height and weight for 25 
 
 Inferior extremities, special lesions of 55,58 
 
 Ingrowing toe nail 57 
 
 Insane, enlistment of, prohibited 8 
 
 Intemperance, indications of habits of 12 
 
 Intellectual requirements 9 
 
 Intoxicated person, enlistment of, prohibited 8, 11 
 
 Itch 29 
 
 J. 
 
 Jaw, deformities of 41 
 
 loss of 41 
 
 stiffness of 41 
 
 Joints, stiffness of ^ . .. 53 
 
 K. 
 
 Knee-joint, loose cartilage in 56 
 
 Knock knees 56 
 
 Knowledge, competent, of the English language 12 
 
 Language, English, competent knowledge of 12 
 
 Lameness 1 56 
 
 Legal requirements, the 7-lQ 
 
 Legs, cicatrices on 54 
 
 Light artillery, maximum weight for 25 
 
 9 
 
m 
 
 Page. 
 
 Limbs, loss of 54 
 
 permanent flexions of , 54 
 
 tobemobile 52, 
 
 shape of, changed ^ 53 
 
 wasting of 53 
 
 Limit of age 7 
 
 Lip, hare 41 
 
 mutilation of 41 
 
 Loose cartilages of the knee-joint 56 
 
 Loss of teeth 41, 42 
 
 Loss of voice 41 
 
 Lungs, bleeding from 44 
 
 M. 
 
 Marks, birth 30 
 
 tattoo 30 
 
 Maturity, evidences of 23,24 
 
 Measurements, chest, how to make them 43 
 
 height, weight, and chest 25-28 
 
 rule of proportions for 26 
 
 special exceptions in 25 
 
 table of proportions for 28 
 
 Medical corps, vision test for candidates for admission to the__ 38 
 
 Military cadets, West Point, rule of physical proportions for 28 
 
 Minors, consent required for 8 
 
 enlistment of, prohibited 8 
 
 physical development of . 27,28 
 
 Mobility of chest 26 
 
 Mode of examining a recruit .__ 14 
 
 Moles 29,30 
 
 Moral requirements 10 
 
 Mouth, the 41,42 
 
 in syphilis 34 
 
 Musicians, band, need not speak English 13 
 
 Myopia, see Near-sight. 
 
 ^• 
 
 Nail, too, walking on the 58 
 
 ingrowing 67 
 
 Nasal catarrh, chronic 40 
 
 polypus 40 
 
 Near-sightedness (myopia) 88 
 
67 
 
 Page. 
 
 Neck, the._ 42,43 
 
 scars of ^48 — 
 
 Nose, the 40 
 
 discharge from 40 
 
 loss of 40 
 
 in syphilis 34 
 
 O. 
 
 Oath of enlistment (Art. of War 2) 8 
 
 Opacity of cornea 40 
 
 Order of examination 20-22 
 
 Ozcena 40 
 
 P. 
 
 Palate, hard, fissure of 41 
 
 perforation of 34,41 
 
 Penis, affections of 48, 49 
 
 . loss of 48 
 
 Phimosis 48 
 
 Physical proportions, rule of 25 
 
 for military cadets, West Point 28 
 
 tableof 28 
 
 Piles, see Hemorrhoids. 
 
 Pimples 29 
 
 Polypus, nasal 40 
 
 Previous service, as affecting age 7 
 
 Probation, recruits on 7 
 
 Proportions, physical, rule of 25 
 
 for military cadets 28 
 
 tableof 28 
 
 Pterygium 39 
 
 Ptosis 39 
 
 Q. 
 Qualifications, age 22-25 
 
 K. 
 
 Recruit, mode of examining 14 
 
 on probation 7 
 
 responsibility for enlistment of 10 
 
68 
 
 Page. 
 
 Re-enlistments, age in 7 
 
 physical requirements for 13, It 
 
 Re-examination at rendezvous 16 
 
 Relaxed abdominal rings 46 
 
 Requirements for enlistment, general 8-10 
 
 the legal 7-10 
 
 Responsibility for enlistment of recruits 10 
 
 Rheumatism, chronic 53 
 
 Ribs, badly united fractures of 45 
 
 Rule of physical proportions for height, weight, &c. 25 
 
 for military cadets- 28 
 
 Rupture 46 
 
 ■ S. 
 
 Scalp, the 35 
 
 Scars 29,30,43 
 
 non-adherent 32 
 
 and marks, description of 00,31 
 
 School teachers may be under height 25 
 
 Scrotum, fluid in 50 
 
 skin of, in minors 23 
 
 Service, previous, as affecting age 7 
 
 Skin, the - — 29 
 
 eruptions 1 29 
 
 of the scrotum in minors 23 
 
 Shins, the, in syphilis 35 
 
 Skull, depressions in 35 
 
 Special examinations 29 
 
 Spine, curvature of the '. 52 
 
 Splay feet ^ 57 
 
 Sprains 53 
 
 Squint 39 
 
 Stammering 41 
 
 Strabismus 39 
 
 Stricture of urethra 49 
 
 Syphilis, constitutional, signs of . .- 33 
 
 T. 
 
 Table of disqualifications 58-60 
 
 physical proportions for height, weight, &c 28 
 
 Tailors need not speak English 13 
 
 may be under height 25 
 
 Tattoo marks 29, 30 
 
69 
 
 Page. 
 
 Teeth, artificial 42 
 
 development of, in minors 23_ 
 
 loss of 41, 42 
 
 Test of vision 38 
 
 Testicles, affections of 49, 50 
 
 atrophy of 49 
 
 enlargement of 50 
 
 loss of 49 
 
 supernumerary 50 
 
 undescended 49 
 
 Thorax, see Chest. 
 
 Thumbs, defects of 54 
 
 Toes, defects of the .^ 57 
 
 hammer 58 
 
 ingrowing nail of the 57 
 
 walking on the nail of the 58 
 
 Tongue, alterations in 41 
 
 Tonsils, chronic enlargement of 41 
 
 Tubercles, mucous (syphilitic) 35 
 
 U. 
 
 Ulcers, chronic 32 
 
 Upper extremities, affections of the 54,55 
 
 Urethra, abnormal openings in 49 
 
 stricture of 49 
 
 Urinary and genital organs 48-51 
 
 Urine, incontinence of 51 
 
 Uses for examination form 15 
 
 V. 
 
 Varicocele 51 
 
 Varicose veins 55, 56 
 
 Vegetations, syphilitic 35 
 
 Venereal diseases 48 
 
 Vermin, personal 29 
 
 Vision, double 89 
 
 test 38 
 
 object of 39 
 
 for candidates for admission to the medical corps 38 
 
 for members of the hospital corps 38 
 
 Voice, alteration of 41 
 
 loss of 41 
 
70 
 w. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Warts, syphilitic ^ 36 
 
 venereal, but not syphilitic 49 
 
 Weight, height, and chest measurement, the 25-28 
 
 rule of proportions for 26 
 
 special exceptions in 25 
 
 table of proportions for 28 
 
 West Point, rule of physical proportions for military cadets at 28 
 
 Wheezing (asthma) 45 
 
 Windpipe, openings into 43 
 
 Wisdom teeth, as evidence of maturitv — 23 
 
 TTbra:^ 
 
^^^mmti'T^aim