Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-08
RICHMOND PLACE FOR
AVIATION EXAMINATIONS
DR.. j. A. White Designated by War
Department to Test
Applicants.
DIR. JONES LECTURES HERE
Shows Just How Fitness of Men for
Service iii the Air Is Determined.
Must BE Able to Keep Balance at
All Times.

Before large and intensely inter-
ested audience, among which were some
of the city's most prominent physicians,
the signal corps. and those interested
in the aviation service, Major Isaac II.
Jones. special lecturer connected with
the medical branch of the government.
delivered an illustrated lecture dealing
with the technical and scientific
methods used in determining the fitness
OF candidates for the aviation service
at the Jefferson Hotel Auditorium last
night at $3.50 o'clock. Taxing the mind
of the ordinary person and pulling
many of the physicians present. the
lecture was by far the most complicated
concerning branch of the government
service that has been heard in Rich
mond.
DR.. j. A. White, in introducing the
speaker with the remark that every
American should be interested in any
thing that helps the country in this war,
and that the aviation service was by
far the most important adjunct that
the army in the field has. said that
Major Jones was establishing examina-
ton units all over the country, and
was an expert in examining and de-
terminins the fitness Of men entering
the aviation service.
while we had small but very Ell!
cient army. while we had thoroughly
equipped navy" said Major Jones in
opening his address. "our aviation corps
was by far the weakest part of our de-
lenses in time of war. and it so happens
that this branch is the most effective
weapon that an army can have"
WILL TRAIN IMMENSE
NUMBERS OF AVIATORS
The government has n big problem
before 1t in building and equippins an
efficient and effective aviation corps,
because this branch Of the service Is
comparatively new in the United States
Army. and Major Jones thinks that the
government is now, after many months
delay. prepared to examine 10000 can
didates for the aviation service. and to
build thousands Of airplanes, so that In
few months the government Will have
an effective weapon to combat the
forces of the Kaiser"
Major Jones, at the outset, dispelled
the belief created by many newspaper
that the tests used by surgeons in de-
termining mans capability to be an
aviator was the most dangerous part of
the service. He showed that the tests
are very simple. and that 1t only takes
three minutes and fifty seconds to ex-
anime man as to his equilibrium and
poise, but this. however. does not in
clude the ordinary examination that Is
necessary to enter the army.
In determining the fitness of a.man
TO become an aviator. the most essen
tial thing to be considered IS whether
the man can maintain his balance af-
ter going through several tests con-
sistins in being Whirled around in q
chair. Surprising to many was tho
statement by the major that the ear
n Of hoI,
internal part OF the ear, consisting Of
sacks filled with a fluid, was the de-
fermining factor in judging q mans
balance.
We depend on three things for bal
ance," said Major Jones, muscle sense.
sight sense. and. the most important,
ear sense" 1t was explained that the
sight and muscle sense were not alone
responsible for balance. but that the
internal part OF the ear was present
Tor balance and equilibrium alone
man must have functioning internal
ears to he good flyer, and only those
who are able to maintain their bal
ance are considered fit for tho service.
SHOWS TESTS TO
DETERMINE FITNESS
Major Jones made his lecture clear
by illustrations through the moving
picture and he showed with accuracy
the simple tests that are resorted to
10 determine balance and equilibrium.
A man is placed In n chair resembling
dentists chair and his head is proped
against prong mt the angle of 80
degrees forward. Then the chair is
swung around ten times in twenty
seconds and stopped. The patient Is
then asked to tell the way he Is NOV
ing and will invariably say that he
IS moving in n direction opposite t.
the one in which he was going. Then
ne VIII be asked to raise his finger
and find the finger OF the physician,
and If normal will miss the finger
three times and then touch tho finger
This Is caused by the action Of the
fluid in the internal part Of the ear.
AT the conclusion of the lecture Ma
tor Jones asked II there were any who
desired 10 question him on the sub
Ject. and In response he received qnAs-
tons in rapid-fire order until he had
to adjourn the meeting. However, be-
fore adjourning, many tests were per-
formed on the platform before the au-
dicncc and the exact method used was
brought home to each one.
Richmond has been selected by the
surEeon-General os one of the cities
in which examination units are to be
established for the purpose OF exam
ming candidates for the aviation SER
vice. This unit is to be established at
once. ard all interested can consult
with Dr. White. who is to have charge
or the unit 10 be established in this
city.
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