New-York tribune., 1895-08-04
uAyY CALLED. FEW CHOSEN
PECULIAR INCIDENTS OF CIVIL sEHFi'H J." "'''-
c,, EXAMINATIONS THE FATAL hhf fH''
,f- rt.AT-rODTiI ISTss


cA. EXAMINATIONS THE FATAL 'Ff"'
OF FLAT-FooTruNEss
Game aroll spccln,ens ~ mankind com" under the
notice Of doctors who make o." sIe'i"' j." '
-. ,,,r,lr,,tous and measurements of me" WIZ
van, n,aces ,n the Fire department 'i o" "
,,lcc force II the applicant Is T'l'c''H - '''
NJ some defect IN eyesisht OF ''"''"' ,-
other things as come under 'A"''''.
s,rinn,ng there IL possible excuse ''' '''' w.
,hink that he could pass muster nS P''''"''e w
l, ,,rd.r som. other name. or under lh' o'' nam"
80, ., ,,osiac,ttons ~ his Ideas oi tn" h'.i"r
-, ar,,-. hermit Yet strange TO say tn't' ~ OH
ro.ord one case Of man who pasH'n "'''' "''"7
dronned for three years rnnnlhs. i'''' '
h.lr an inch short. The fourth year nc '''a'"'
r,u slz. Any person is always " '''' '"'' ~
49,, ,,r,, Tho spina! column can be straight
o,ed ont by lying fiat on the noo' u W i" ' .
,,r,.a This man explained that D." hAd a''e'
A., oc.ssar, half-lnch 10 his stature by Y'hs III
ho, eour days. and only arising hitccn i"'""''f w.
cora the time OF examination, then HHPpN's J" 80
the doctor the first one -
Vi. ',,,.r had two application papers made out.
When interrogatcd by inc doctor uio" -.
ho cvni,incd: "Yer sec, It was riinof'd ABOUT IN
~ ~ rd cat me application paper war tro"ed
out so / got In anoder' see
pat" Murphy wanted TO get on the ponce ioree'
hut for physical reasons WAS never "D'' J." So 81.
rcouisite certificate; but he kept o" "S"b' ne
doctor knew his man at once ana '''
rar 80 ne said: MIR, Murphy haven't "e had
you here before!
"You have thin sor.
And you were rejected?
do o''' YOU remember what was the reason-~hat
you dropped TOT
For a tindency
"A tendency to what?'
"Ah tindency noihn'; fist a t,ndency
A most thorough examination Is made OF the ap-
plIcant by the civil Service DOCTOR covering eye
sight hearing teeth, weight height chest measure
ment scalp, nose. tongue throat. necE icSS' fce'.
| solcs tocs form OF chest heart. lungs. condition
| of kidneys general condition. muscular condition.
skin nexbility of Joints. identification marks etc
Tho Kind Of examination which n man must pass
depends somewhat upon the service h" Is TO render
| The patrolman's duties are hard; he must be out
| In all sorts of weather and constantly on his feet.
| Consequently the applicant for place on the po-
| lice force must have good sound feet ayman
| would think that to be what Is commonly known
as fat footed was a trivial physical defect; and
| yet there is a degree OF natfootedncss which dis
| qualities n man for police duty. After many hours
standing these feet. the owner OF ihom Is likely
| TO be taken with most cxcrucatnS spnsms OF pain
| The outdoor exercise Of the patrolman develops
an enormous appetite. lie eats. disests ana assmi
Iates a great deal Of food So in few years he /.
| prone to develop a paunch The clvll Service doc
tor Will be the watch for this and VIII drop =
| tendency TO nabblnoss. ON the other hand. youi
| long legged, long-nccted short-b bodied man Is
| equally Ineligible. The body holds the vital machn
| cry OF the man. II the body is small. out OF pro-
portion to the neck and limbs, the driving powei
VIII be wanting; the staying powers Of thar mar
cannot be relied upon.
| a greater amount Of muscular activity must bc
! shown by the exercises In the gymnaa.um II Tho
man wants n place I'm the Fire Department than
| would be requisite for "A police patrolfnnn Tho
| fireman may rest several days In the engine nous,
in comparative idicness: then he will be called to
a great fire. be drcnched to the skin. be scorchcd
with the heat. almost sunocated with smoke. have
need OF all his supple agility In the perous heights
10 which he must climb and often In the jumps he
must make with child or woman In his arms
| Knowing these demands that will be made upon
him. the Civil Service examiners naturally usc
every care IN selecting who Is quick In
| thought and act, with excellent staying qualities
| Some apparent models Of physical perfection. who
have done deeds OF great prowess. are barred on
hearts"
| These examinations not alone searchings after
] blemishes. Every has a certain amount o.