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that this object is closely approximated to, if not actually attained. It is obviously impossible to frame a conscription act which shall bear equally upon all classes. In the present order of things, there must be those upon whom the defence of the state devolves more immediately as a personal effort whilst to others it becomes an expenditure of substance and treasure. Moreover, as our experience in great wars and internal convulsions is limited, we must copy from those to whom great armies have become a necessity, satisfied if we may adapt their regulations to our own case with moderate success.

CHAPTER II.

EXAMINATION OF RECRUITS.

THE governments of all civilized nations, especially those to whom large standing armies have become a necessity, are fully alive to the great importance of the judicious and careful examination of recruits. The importance of this examination has a twofold aspect, as a pecuniary question and as a military necessity. The Austrian regulations say that "the duty of inspecting conscripts and recruits requires the utmost skill, impartiality, and circumspection on the part of the medical officer." The Prussian regulations for the medical examination of recruits set forth that "the duty of inspecting recruits and of determining whether they are fit or unfit for the military service of the country is one of the most difficult and responsible a military surgeon has to perform. To enable him to execute it correctly and with suitable promptitude, he would require more knowledge and experience than

is generally supposed: he must possess an intimate acquaintance with anatomy, physiology, and pathology. A knowledge of these sciences is essentially required to qualify him to decide on the health and general efficiency of recruits, and to distinguish between defects that may be real from those that are only feigned."

Dr. Fallot says, "The duty of inspecting conscripts and recruits is not only an important but a very difficult task, partly in consequence of the obscurity of the indications or symptoms of some disabilities. But to ascertain the existence or name of a disability is not the only difficulty a medical officer meets with he has also to appreciate the disqualifying degree of an infirmity, for the purpose of deciding upon the fitness or unfitness of a man for the army."

It will be perceived from the abstract of the French regulations and the composition of the councils of revision, given in the preceding chapter, that the qualification of conscripts considered in respect to military as well as medical relations is made a subject of prime importance in the French military system.

Paragraph 91 of the regulations of the bureau of the Provost-Marshal General says, * Memorial de l'Expert, &c., quoted by Marshall, op. cit. p 37.

"The duty of inspecting men, and of determining whether they are fit or unfit for the military service of the country, requires the utmost impartiality, skill, and circumspection. on the part of the examining surgeon and board of enrolment; for upon the manner in which this duty is performed will depend in very great degree the efficiency of the army." To insure the careful attention of the recruiting officer and examining surgeon, the recruiting regulations affix a pecuniary penalty for the negligent or careless performance of this duty. If a recruit be rejected, when he joins the depot or regiment, for a mental or physical defect which existed at the time of his enlistment, and which might have been discovered by proper care and diligence by the recruiting officer or surgeon, they are held accountable for all the expenses connected with the enlistment.

"The examination by the examining surgeon is to be conducted in the daytime, in the presence of the board of enrolment, and in a room well lighted and sufficiently large for the drafted man to walk about and exercise his limbs, which he must be required to do briskly."

* Par. 94, Reg. of Bureau of Provost-Marshal General.

"The man is to be examined stripped."* The recruiting regulations require that the recruit be sober when enlisted. He should be washed before coming into the inspection-room. The propriety of conducting the examination in daytime only is obvious, for at night many important defects might escape detection which daylight would reveal. The necessity for having recruits or drafted men stripped for examination is so apparent that it would seem to be a work of supererogation to dwell upon it; but this regulation has been so frequently disregarded as to have become a gigantic evil. Early in the rebellion, it happened to me to be present at the muster in of several regiments of volunteers, and to make the physical examination of the men composing them. My duty consisted in walking through the ranks with the commanding officer, to point out those disqualified for military duty. I was not permitted to examine them stripped. During the progress of this hasty and most superficial examination I saw not a few blind, some variously deformed, and others decrepit from old age, and found it necessary to reject so many that the commanding officer was constrained to expostulate with me. "I know of several * Par. 94, Reg. of Bureau of Provost-Marshal General, p. 95.

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