Evening star., 1922-03-26
L|FEPROlONGAT|ON: 3:
ARMY DOCTORS AIM
Annual Physical Examination
Disclosing Conditions Need
ing Correction.
USE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
Seek to Locate Focal Infections or
Other Conditions Causing
Degenerative Changes.
USE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press
Army doctors are hopeful that
very appreciable prolongation Of
life" among regular Army officers will
result from steps now being taken as
result of the annual physical ex-
animation of the commissioned mar
sonnel. Under specia, instruments
issued to Army doctora by Surgeon
Gen. Ireland, when the January ply
sicai examinations began. efforts are
being made to locate definitely any
focal infections (abscessed teeth. dis
cased tonsils. infected sinues, etc), or
other conditions which may be re-
sponsible for chronic degenerBtive
changes
The removal of such underlying
causes. Gen. Ireland said in a mem
orandum to Mai Gen. Harbord.
deputy chief of staff, may result in
return to a normal condition and very
appreciable prolongation of life"
|, The memorandum pointed out that
the annual examinations were under
taken fourteen years ago primarily
with a view to eliminating those
officers found incapacitated." but
that Of recent years the value of the
work toward health preservation
had been stressed. As a part of this
development "a very thorough inves-
commissioned officers of the Army" Is
in contemplation, Gen. Ireland said,
with the object of detecting correct
able abnormal conditions which might
have bearing on life expectancy"
Determination of "the influence of the
world war on physique" and also the
effect Of tropical service in the Army
on health would be a part of this
study. he added. and life expectancy
tables for the commissioned person.
mel" could be prepared on the data
obtained.
Secs Life Prolonsation.
Among the results to be anticipate
ed" Gen. Ireland said, from the
practical use of the information so
obtained would he: An actual pro-
longation of life expectancy for Off
GERS of the Army; correction of many
physical defects with resulting in
crease in efficiency, and demonstra-
tion of the fact that the average age
at death among officers of the Army
exceeds that in civil life. notwith-
standing wars, accidents. and service
in the tropics. If the latter point be
demonstrated it should result in plac-
ing Army officers in a preferred class
for life insurance with lower premium
i rates.
Some insurance officials and statis-
ticians have been consulted relative
| to the analysis OF the medical records
of the commissioned personnel and
; this office has been assured of hearty
| cooperation in developing detailed
! plans for work of the character"
| Gen. Ireland urged that through
| extension of the physical survey work
| to the Reserve Officers Corps and to
| the civilian military training camps
! personnel each year was an impor-
tant function of the Medical Corps. It
would lead, he said. to ''promulgation
| throughout the nation of the princi-
pies concerned in disease prevention
and health preservation AS to the
| means of carrying the work on
through the civilians turning out for
military training. he added:
In the case of these having cor
! reftaele abnormalities. the parents
would be advised as to the nature Of
| the defects and the steps necessary
(! for their correction. From the view
point OF disease prevention. vaccina-
tion against swallpox and the ty-
phoid- d-paratyphoid fevers would be re-
/ quired and thereby popularized.''
! when the organized reserves are
more definitely developed" Gen. Ire-
lands memorandum added, ''it is my
opinion that it will be possible to in
F., stitute a system of periodic physical
examinations of The reserve commits
stoned personnel which will very ma
| terially influence and accelerate the
| development of life extension work
(; in civil communities throughout the
nation" When that was undertaken.
| the memorandum added, IL should be
stressed that the main purpose is to
determine abnormal conditions which
! are responsible for incipient or ad-
,anced chronic degenerative changes.
/ the correction of which will tend to
prolong life