Evening star., 1899-03-13
RESULT OF EXAMINATION
Report by Dr.. Hunt Of Condition Of First
D. OJlVolunteers.
Diseases Contraeted by the Men Who
Saw Service in Cuba and
P0rtOsRicO.

ton with the muster out last November of
the 1st Regiment of Infantry, District of
Columbia Volunteers, has prepared a state
ment showing the results of the examina-
tion and the conclusions he has drawn
therefrom. The statement is Of decided in
terest, especially to members of the regi-
ment and their friends, and is as follows:
The examination previous to muster out
of S34 men of regiment who had seen
service in Cuba and Porto Rico and had
passed a severe physical examination pre-
vlous to enlistment by Col. VIM. A. For
wood, deputy surgeon general, United States
army, was performed in the shortest time
on record
While the records at the War Depart
ment prove it to be by far the quickest
muster out known yet, owing to the execu-
1--WE ability and tireless energy of Capt. G.
K. McGunnigle. chief mastering officer, and
his assistants, Lieuts Mcneil and Apple
white, United States army they not only
saved thousands Of dollars to the govern
ment, but the records, papers. etc, were in
such perfect conditions to receive enco-
miums at the department.
The paper 1 was called upon to fill out
for each man required:
Il. The soldiers present health?
2. Whether. If disability was present, it
was caused by military service?
- II the condition would prove perma-
nent?
q. If it would affect him in the perform
ance or manual labor?
Difference Noted.
Il found marked difference between the
condition of the officers and men-90 per
cent of the former and so per cent of the
latter-able to perform immediate military
service November 90, 1893. Thirty-nine
out of s66 were confined to their beds and
We're not examined.
x.;,l~
four, every man who had gone to Cuba had
suffered from the fever / found that no
matter for how short a time they suffered,
the fever was apt to return.
Il remember one day that out of eighty
men l sent three to the hospital who had
reported for examination, and four others
were suffering from marked fever Q02 de-
greeS-1031a deGrees) at the time of cXamina-
ton.
"Of the men who had seen service in
Cuba 1 per cent were improved by military
service, per cent were in as good physical
condition as at the time of enlistment, "A
per cent were but slightly affected, and as
a rule, the troubles were not traceable to
military service.
General Conditions.
1.-The general condition of the remainder
Of the men-70 per cent, 52S-was as fol-
lows: Irritable heart, due to fever, 365;
mitral regurgitation, "a; chronic bronchitis,
pa; acute bronchitis, Al; phthisis. 3.
IN a great majority Of cases pulmonary
affections were traced to Camp Wickoff,
L. l. This is exp. aimed by the sudden
change affecting weak and dehilitated men
from the tropical climate of Cuba to the
cold, bleak, foggy climate Of Long Island.
' "Gastritis, in some form, LIS; enlarged or
congested liver, 11G: enlarged spleen, 316:
infiammatory conditions of intestines. 53;
irritability of bladder and incontnence of
urine, rs; nephritis, B; hemorrhoids, IL:
varicocele, 81; inguiral hernia, 3; rheuma-
g. rnNtn nfrx,N l,rn
to rupture of blood vessels following ty-
phoid fever, l; slight eye strains, %; slight
deafness due to quirine, II: chronic nasal
catarrh, .; sprafn of back, 3; old dislocation
right shoulder, /; gunSf1ot wounds left fore
arm, one producing slight deformity, 2:
badly set Coles fracture, /: suffering from
pains in the muscles, especially the calves
of the legs and lumbar region, loss of
weight from ten to thirty pounds, accom-
panied by more or less debility. All: re-
lapses of fever continuing to recur up to
present time (January 4. 1880, 81.
Marked Contrast
"In marked contrast with the above was
a company of this regiment who had gone
to Porto Rico. Only 10 per cent We're in
any way affected, and these so slightly that
it was possible for the entire company to
perform military duty. -
An closing, l would state that all the
men. L have spoken to-about fifty--would
"eaii oiAei '-iciA "St'i IL iequHeu, Dul,
without exception, would only enter the
regular service.
The conclusions l desire to draw from
the muster out are
4. The necessity Of requiring n careful
physical examination as a requisite to en-
tering the National Guard.
.'2. A law should be enacted compelling
regiments to enter the volunteers as an en-
tirety thus producing the best volunteer
force possible, and not as was most COM
mon in the late war. when the ranks had to
be recruited from those who knew nothing
about the duties of soldier, through lack
Of volunteers from the National Guard.
49, The absolute necessity of having our
National Guard officers qualified in the care
of their men,
THE volunteer officer may have the best
interests of his men at heart, and his
strongest efforts may be given for their
care; but 1t Is only by years of training
that they may hope to gain that experience
in the care Of men that marks the regular