The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-20
WAR And HEALTH
THE TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORMATION BUREAU
BY Frederic }. Haskin. Director.
Washington, ID. G.
1.-THE Draft and the American
Physique.

most effective measure for improving
American health that could be taken
is the physical examination of several
million young men for military service
Hundreds of thousands of these
young Americans who had never gwen
their health much thought have sud
denly awakened to the realization that
they are not fit to fight.
Whether or not you want to be
soldier, it is unpleasant to learn that
you are not physical man enough to
be one.
All over the country, particularly in
our large American cities, it is the
testimony of the physicians who ex-
amined the men in the selective draft,
that the great majority found unfit for
service were very much surprised to
learn that anything was the matter
with them. Many-perhaps the ma
jority-of these rejected men earnestly
inquired of the exemption board ex-
perts what to do for themselves. They
were advised to consult physician.
Benefits of the Examinations.
AS a result of the examination by
the army doctors and their rejection
as unfit for military service, hundreds
of thousands of young men turnout
the United States have already begun
to form new habits and take new pre-
cautions for the sake of bringing back
their health. Up to quite recently,
according to statistics compiled by one
medical authority, there are more
than two million American homes IN
which there was at least one invalid.
Undoubtedly a large proportion OF
these cases have resulted from ignor-
ance. The awakening due to the eX-
aiming tests of the army doctors in
making up the selective draft will no
doubt have a very salutary effect on
the national health. an ERECT almost
beyond calculation.
Several New York and Chicago ply
sicians are reported as claiming that
the benefits derived from the army
examinations will be felt even in the
small corners of our country One of
the New York medical men reported
that the percentage of physically I'M
fit men in the American metropolis
that came under his observation was
near 80. That is to say. nearly one
third of the young men examined
were unfit for military duty.
Many Shortcomings Quickly Cured.
OF course the first standard set was
a very high one and many a man
was kept out of the army on merely
technical hOrtcomings-Such as be-
ing slightly over or under weight In
either of these cases the wholesome
well regulated life in camp would
soon correct the defect Many other
shortcomings could be quickly cured
if taken in time.
One ailment which appeared with
examinations was flat foot" mean
ing fallen arch. Other frequent de-
fects were varicose veins and hernia.
Both these latter can be cured perma-
nently by comparatively slight oper-
alton
Altho it is true-as the great Ma
poleon put it-"that an army moves
on its belly it is nevertheless equally
as true that it actually covers dis
tances on it's feet. The fallen arch is
,1, OF nlHy IN inn
proper care of the feet-probably to
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 learned
~ known as chiropodists, who can US
ually set right the ordinary foot all
ment.
Very few cases-surprisingly few
of cancer and tuberculosis, or any
other of the more serious diseases
have been reported by the medical ex-
aminers, at least so far as is known
at army headquarters. Many bad
cases of defective teeth and eyesight
are durable, and a word from the
physician would put the young man
right on these scores, as to future
care.
Results From the Examinations.
Opinions of other individual medi-
parts of the country-at least as indi-
Gated in newspaper reports-confirm
these general deductions. However,
it will proba bly, not be until the full
and complete report of the various
boards is made up that it will be pos
sible to make scientifically accurate
differences for the country at large.
A great deal of latitude was per-
mitted the examiners. The army reg
ulation governing physical examina-
| lions says on this point:
Amy of the physical deficiencies
mentioned above must be present in
such degree as to clearly and unmis-
takably disqualify the man for mill
tary service before he can be found
| to be physically deficient and not
physically qualified for military serv-
| ice"
Certain interesting points were
| brought out by the tests in the Dis
| trict of Columbia Altho there was
wide diversity of opinion among the
examining physicians as to the mean
ing of the results of these tests, it was
| the general testimony that very
| large proportion of the reflections in
| the District were due to underweight
under even the variation permitted
by the regulations. The fact that this
| decided underweight defect character
| lied the young men of the District was
emphasized by the confirming fact
/ that other young men from other Sec
| tons, who had their cases transferred
| for final settlement to Washington,
did not show such underweight. The
explanation which seems most rea-
sonable is that the vast majority of
| young men in the District of Column
/ bia lead sedentary life. They are
clerks. and, generally speaking, do not
| take enough exercise. The lesson they
will get from the examination is to
move about more in the open air and
improve their muscles
Few Would Have Asked for Test.
But few of the-young men who were
! examined and found physically defec-
tive would ever have asked for a test
as to their health Now they have
received from Uncle Sam, without cost
| to them, services of surgeons, physi-
clans and other health specialists of
| inestimable value to them.
Suppose that peace should come to-