Evening star., 1895-09-13
CIVIL SERVICE ASPIRANTS.
Some DrolI Specimens That Pass I'm
der the Doctors Hands.

d
der the Doctors Hands.
From tie New York Tribune.
Some drou specimens of mankind come
under the notice of doctors who make the
specific civil service examinations and
measurements of men who want places in
the fire department on the police force
Ii the applicant Is rejected by reason Of
some defect in eyesight or hearing or such
other things as come under examination
before stripping, there is no possible ex-
cuse for him to think that he could pass
muster by presenting himself under some
other name, or under the old name with
such notifications as his ideas of the honor
of warfare permit Yet, strange to say.
there is on record one case of man who
passed after being dropped for three years
running. This man was half an inch short
The fourth year he measured full size.
Any person Is a triie taller in the MORN
ing. The spinal column can he straight
ened out by lying fiat on the floor or on
Il hard mattress. This man explained that
he had added the necessary Ealf inch to
his stature by lying in bed four days, and
only arising ten minutes before the time
of examination, then slipping in to the doc
tor the first one.
Another had two application papers made
out. When interrogated by the doctor on
this point. he explained: Yer see, it was
rufnOred about in me ward. dat me appff-
cation paper war t'rowed out, so l got in
anoder, see?"
Pat Murphy wanted to get on the po-
lice force, but for physical reasons was
never able to get the requisite certificate,
but he kept on trying. The doctor knew
his man at once and remembered the bar.
So he said; Mr.. Murphy. haven't we had
you here before?"
"You have thin, sor.'
And you were rejected?"
81 was thin
do you remember what was the reason
what were you dropped for?"
For a trdency.''
"A tiudency to what?'
"Ah, tndency notnin': jist a tindency."
most thorough examination is made of
the applicant by the civil service doctor,
covering eyesight, hearing teeth, weight,
height. chest measurement, scalp, nose,
tongue, throat, neck, legs, feet, Soles toes,
form of chest, heart, lungs, condition of
kidneys, general condition, skin. fexibIity
of JOINT. Identification marks, etc.
The kind of examination which a man
must pass depends somewhat upon the
service he is to render The patrolnan's 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 police force must hast good, sound
feet. \ layman would think that to be
what is commonly known as fiat-footed
was a trivial physical defect, and yet there
is a degree of fat-footedness which dis
qualities a man for police duty. After
many hours standing on these feet the
ownei' of them is likely to be taken with
most excruciating spasms of pain.
The outdoor exercise of the patrolman
develops an enormous appetite. He eats,
digests and assimiiates a great deal Of
food So in few years, he is prone TO
develop a paunch. The civil service doctor
will be on the watch for this and will drop
n man who has already prominent alb
domen and tendency to flabbiness On
the other hand your long-legged long
necked. short-bodied man is equally in
oil 'hn hnf hn1 fhn toll h
cry of the man. If the body Is small, out
of proportion to the neck and limbs, the
driving power will be wanting: the staying
powers of that man cannot be relied upon.
A greater amount of muscular activity
must he shown by the exercises in the
gymnasium, If the man wants a place in
the fire department, than would be requi-
site for police patrolman. The fireman
may rest several days in the engine house
In comparative idleness: then he will be
called to a great fire, be drencned to the
skin. be scorched with the heat. almost
Suffocated with smoke, have need Of all
his supple agility in the perilous heights
to which he must climb. and often in the
jumps he must make with a child or a
woman in his arms. Knowing these de-
mands that will be made upon him, the
civil service examiners naturally use every
care In selecting a man who Is quick in
thought and act, with excellent staying
qualities. Some apparent models of physi-
cal perfection, who have done deeds of
great prowess, are barred on account of
these very deeds-they have strained
hearts,"
These examinations are not alone search
1ngs after blemishes. Every man has
certain amount Of pride in his own crea-
tions. The body of men selected by these
examinations forms creation of the civil
Service examiners. In this creation they
take Just and pardonable pride surpris-
1ngly small per cent of the applicants are
finally found eligible The first examina-
tion. which, of course. is only superficial
one. is made by the applicants own ply
sician, and is given to the doctors engaged
by the civil service commissioners by the
candidate for appointment. Then the civil
service doctors make their physical exam
1nauon; after that come the gymnastic
tests. and last the examination as to in
teifigence and character. In a recent ex-
animation. out of ia candidates for places
as hremen. the doctors rejected 400; the
athletic examination reduced the number
by sixty-six, and the intelligence and char
acter examination found forty-t three want
ing.