Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-20
WAR AND HEALTH.
ARE WE FIT TO FIGHT
BY FREDERIC ]. HAsKIN.

WASHINGTON, September 18.-One
or the most effective measures for I'M
proving American health that could
be taken Is the physical, examination
tary service
Hundreds Of thousands of these
young Americans who had never given
their health much thought. have sud
denly awakened to tho realization that
they are not fit to fight.
Whether or not you want to be a
soldier. IT IL unpleasant to learn that
one.
All over tho country. particularly IN
our largo American cities. It is tho
testimony OF the physicians who ex-
ahmed the mon In tho selectivc draft.
mat tho great majority fou..d unfit for
service wcro very much surprised TO
learn that anything was tho matter
WIN, WIN them. Many-perhaps the ma
Jori'y-of these rejected men earnestly
inquired OF tho exemption board en-
perts what to do for themselves. They
"ere advised to consult n physician.
As a result the examination by
the army doctors and their rejection Az
unht Tor military service. hundreds OF
.nouSands or young mon throughout
inc United States have already begun
20 FORM now habits and take new pre-
cautions Tor the sake OF bringing back
their health. Up to quito recently, ac-
corning 10 f.atistics compiled by one
medical authority, there are more than
I:ooo'oOO American homes I'm which
mere was ut least ono invalid. I'm
oouptediy large proportion OF these
Eases nave resulted from ignorance.
no awakening due to tho examining
tests OF the army doctors In making
up tho selective darft will no doubt
nave very salutary effL-t on the ma
tlonal health, an effect almost beyond
calculation.
Benefts VIII he widespread.
several New York and Chicago ply
siclans are reported as claiming that
the benefits derived from tho army eA-
aninations Will be felt even in the
small corners OF our country. One or
the New York medical men reported
that the percentage of physically un-
mt men In the American metropolis that
came under his observation was near
80. That Is to say. nearly one-third
for military duty.
or course the first standard cot was "A
very high one. and many I. man was
Kept out OF the army on merely tech
nical shortcomings-such as being
slightly over or under weight In
either Of these cases the wholesom,
weil-regulated life In camp would soon
49, Wv NhS oChCSl OlneT snort
comings could be quickly cured II
taken in time.
Ono ailment which appeared with
amazing frequency during the daily
examinations was NAT foot" meaning
fallen arch. Other frequent defects
were varicose veins and hernia Both
these latter can DO cured permanently
b. a comparatively slight operation.
Although II Is true-as the great Ma
poleon put it-"that an army moves
on Its belly" it Is nevertheless equal
~ as true that It actually covers dis.
tances on Its feet. The fallen arch Is
probably due almost entirely to i'm.
proper care Of the feet-probably &c
wrong habits OF walking. Uncle Sam
does not want to depend for his ma.
tional salvation on men who have any
thing the matter with their feet. There
are foot DOCTORS" somewhat learnedly
known as chiropodists. who can usual.
ly set right the ordinary foot ailment
Very few Observation-Disclosures few
or cancer and tuberculosis. or any other
or the more serious diseases, have beer
reported by the medical examiners, a,
least 30 far as Is known at army head
quarters. Many bad cases Of defective
teeth and eyesight are durable, and n
word from the physician would nut the
young man right on these scores as r.
future care.
Confirm Thexe Deductions.
Opinions OF other individual medical
examiners from various other parts O,