The sun., 1898-06-07
REJECTING
VOLUNTEERS
Why So Many We e TIL rned
Down at Camp
Tunnel.
BAD EYESIGHT PREVALENT
Slight Deafness Was Noticeable Prin-
cipally Among the Older Men.
Interesting Talk With L.
S. Surgeon Wyeth En-
amining Officer.
BAD EYESIGHT PREVALENT

NCuidpl'lll ieSdI ulHs VIE IauHNsj w
which the physical disabilities on the
strength of which the reflections We're
made were due.
Among those who were declared unfit
t)r service We're hundreds OF men, some
Of them members of the National Guard,
whose daily occupeton presupposed the
possession of an unimpalred physical
constitution.
The requirements for admission into
the ranks Of the army, however, were SO
str.c as to demonstrate that the ability
to perform arduous and strengthening
labor did not qualify a man for the hard
ships OF campaigning.
Speaking of the rejection It Camp Tun-
nell of the many who applied for admis-
sion to the ranks of the Delaware troops,
Surgeon Wyeth, L. $. A., the examin-
ing physician at the camp, said to ! lie
Sun correspondent:
1T would be difficult, indeed, to group
the class of defects and physical imper-
iections which proved the stumbling
block of so many ambitious recruits for
the volunteer army, but, aside from the
serious ailments such as hernia, rupture,
lung troubles, and acute heart disease,
which would incapacitate a man even
from any ordinary labor requiring any
degree of exertion, the main causes for
tejecton were defective eyesight deaf
ness, enlargement OF the heart. excessive
or deficient weight, sore, fiat, and NAL
formed feet, and varicose veins, all of
them ailments which in the ordinary
walks of life rarely receive any attention
on the part Of those afflicted with them,
but which. according to the regulations
governing physical examinations for the
United States Army, and these regula-
tions were adopted in unchanged form
in the volunteer army, prove an ins ur-
mouutable obstacle to mans enlist
ment.
''lt has been contended that the ex-
aminations err loo strict, and, perhaps,
in some instances where the surgeons
had an almost unlimited supply to select
from they certainly adhered more closely
than absolutely necessary to the reguIa
tions. but, on the other hand, consider
ing that the troops may be called upon
TO perform service in country the eli
matte conditions Of which are such as to
tax the constitution OF the very health
lest men. their action was fully just-
fed"
In defining more minutely the differ
ent causes of disability enumerated
above surgeon Wyeth said:
"Defective eyesight was among the
most prevalent OF defects. especially
myopia or shortsightedness. Now this
in itself is by no means disease Of the
eve, and shortsighted person may
otherwise have a much more healthy eye
than one whose sight is normal. But it
necessltates the wearing Of eyeglasses,
and this to the soldier is a serious
impediment..
aside rom the fact that it is difficult
to keep glasses clean in the field in
tatt.e, the smoke and dust would so
cloud them that they would be more of
detriment than benefit to the wearer.
Farsightedness, or hvpermetropia, as it
is known in medical Language, il caused
bva weakness of the eye which often
terminates in blindness, but still man
so afflicted is more acceptable because in
shooting his optical imperfection is. as a
matter of fact, help. Men afflicted
with eyes that had an organic disease
were, of course. Immediately rejected, as
they are absolutely useless in field life.
They cannot, as rule, stand the glare
OF the sun to which the soldier is 50 fre-
qu ly exposed.
- light deafness was no iceable prnci.
pa'ly among the older men who applied
for enlistment, and ha its origin in
various causes, prlnc'pal am ing which
was work o. II Iisy nature, and 'rer
who worked in machine shops, printing
Offices, and boiler factories showed q
large percentage Of rejections due en-
tireiy to detective hearing.
Heart trouble was one of the maI
causes Of the large ndmbcr OF rejections
and the pre- ;aence of that disease is
trac"abA t, Il variety of conditions. 1t il
crron ,ons to suppose that smokin o
cigarettes, cigar, or tobacco in any form
is responsible rth" majority of unsouno
hearts. y
1t is true that the excessive Use of to
barco affects that organ in the SAINT
manner as the excessive Use OF any other
stWulant, but | find that the overin
du' g nee in athletics is the cause of ia
mole ailments OF the heart than any
thing else. However, the disorder pro
duced from that can .e is, a. II rule. onl,
temporary, and a regular lie free iron
any phvslcat owe cxcrtion is the surcs
cure for it.
''rhc examining surgeons. however. dc
not seem to care to take any chances
with the men suffering from enlarge
ment oi the heart, as there is no telling
whJn the solder may be compelled t,
use his physical strength to the utmost
and thus aggravate the already existing
evil. palpitatipn Of the heart is Il serious
drawback, as it Is usually accompanied
by shortness o. breath, and makes the
man rniit for forced marches
But few cases OF overweight came I'M
der the notice Of the surgeons. On the
other hand, deficient weight wasa com
mon occurrence, and while men weigh.
ing less than the prescribed minimum
may be perfectly well otherwise, it il
supposed that their constitution is toe
delicate to stand any prolonged strain
and they are therefore invariably re
jected.
Persona y, consider. lit mistake
20 reject a man who weighs two or three
pounds less than the required figure j
he is otherwise sound, as in nine cases
out of ten two or three months service
in the army more than makes up the
deficiency.
1T is surprising to see how few of the