Evening star., 1921-04-24
THE ARMY

Emphasis will be placed by the War
department on the physical exami-
nation of candidates for the citizens
military training camps to be con-
Quoted this summer by the War De-
partment throughout the country
These examinations will be made as
thorough as possible in order to de-
termine the ability of a candidate to
undergo the training and to discover
slight physical defects, which may be
corrected by proper measures in the
camps, and continuance, if neces-
sary by the candidate after the camps
are closed.
Studies of the draft statistics made
IN the Office of the surgeon general
show that every year nearly 100000
youths attain their maturity with
physical defects. which if permitted
to go uneorrected will impair their
effclency and usefulness in later life.
To the casual observer however, the
vast majority of these youths appear
TO: be physically normal. Examina-
tions at the summer training camps
VIII disclose physical defects in the
youth, who will be informed as to
what measures should be taken for
the correction.
Medical officers at the camps who
discover youth with poorly develop
ed chest, weak back. fallen arches or
"a lauity manner of walking will i'm
mediately advise corrective measures.
Maj. Gen. Merritte w. Ireland sur
geon general of the Army. believes
that the following benefits will ac-
crue IN the examination and training
lnsthese camps: Improvement in gen
erai physical development as a re-
suit of teaching and actually demon
StratInC the nj
HE. normal hours, good food, regular
exercise and proper posture; detec-
tfpn and cure. or at least correction
Of many obscure and latent patho-
a decided handicap to the youth in his
daily life; instruction in sanitation
and personal hygiene acquired by
hoth precept and practice in camp.
and its eventual influence upon the
home and community life of the in
dividual; the benefits to accrue from
la compilation of the statistics of the
physical examinations of all adult
males approaching military age, with
he analysis of these statistics and
the institution. national if need be, of
public health measures to correct de-
fects discovered.
Horse Breeding a Vital Necessity.
! According to the chief Of the Army
Remount Service. tho taking over by the
War Department of the horse-breeding
operations previously handled by the
Department of Agriculture should be an
assurance to the nation that the re-
babilitation Of the American horse will
be well directed. "As an aid to our
peacc-time industries" says this official,
the Remount Service makes it's strong
est appeal for support. Merely as an
Army measure. the breeding Of the
American horse should be encouraged
The worid war proved that an army
needs horses as much under modern
conditions as ever. The war caused a
fearful drain upon our stock and the
unfortunate fact remains that our best
breeds have been taken away from us.
consequently the quality Of our horses
is in great danger of deteriorating. espe-
cially the cavalry type or light driving
! horse, of which there exists today a
serious shortage throughout the farm
ing districts. Fortunately. the remedy
can be overcome by new infusion of
blood Thoroughbred blood was the
making OF the American horse, and the
encouragement for increasing the best
breeds is the only thing that will save
the situation