, 1922-10-12

Rhode Island had the largest relative number of
men who were below the required military height
the largest percentage of those below the required
military weight for their height, and also the larg-
est percentage of those who were regarded as
obese. In other words, the population, which was
composed 10 a considerable extent of South Euro
peans and Frencll-CanadIans. ran to the extreme.
Inc men from certain of the other states, and
especially from the North Central and Northwest
ern states, were much better proportioned.
III was n matter of surprise to many that the
actual gain in weight of the men while in military
service was only about three and one-thIrd pounds.
1here were premature reports of average gains of
from l. to 10 pounds. What actually happened,
however. was that the lean men became more ro-
oust' Whiie those who were overweight were
trained down to their proper proportion.
The average height or stature of 1,O0O. 900 men
was oi'49. The shortest men came from Rhode
Island, 664 inches; the tallest from Texas. 6S4
inches. Considering the population groups. the
taiiest men came from the mountain area of North
Carolina. These men were of Scotch descent and
averaged 6S67 inches.
The average weight for the United States was
141.54 pounds. The heaviest men were from South
Dakota, 1866 pounds, and the highest from Rhode
Island, 1854 pounds.
In each 100 men from the urban districts there
were 81 defects noted. and from the rural SO. Chi
cago. 62, and Boston, 90, were above the average
for the cities, while Philadelphia, GO, and New
York. 60, we're both below the average.
"Of the individual defects. that which was re-
corded most frequently wes fiat feet, Ill per cent
Of the men examined. Nineteen and six-tenths per
cent Of all defects noted were for this one.
"The effect of race upon the relative frequency
Of this defect is shown by the fact that the sec.
tions with 40 per cent of negroes had relatively
n much smaller number of cases, rs per cent, than
those of the Scandlnavians, 1913 per cent. those OF
the Germans and of Scandinavians, 11.s per cent.
or of those of the Germans and Austrlans, l2.4
per cent. Consequently, the states of the North
Central cagtiOn mud NJ tho Nnrfburagt hoI "a -t.
lively high percentage of cases of this defect.
Flat foot was noted only n per cent as fire.
quently among the men from the rural districts as
among those from the urban.
According to the best Information available.
venereal diseases we're noted in 81 per cent of
the selective service men who were sent to the
military camps. Five and elght-tenths per cent OF
all the diseases noted belonged to this class. The
relative prevalence of this class Of disease varied
from 1874 per cent among the men from Florida
to 13 among those from Vermont.
"The third most frequent defect noted was
hernia. the result of insufficient muscular abdomIn.
al support. probably aggravated by excessively
heavy labor. OF each 100 men examined. four had
an nctuai or potential hernia. Seven and one-tenth
per cent of all the defects noted were Of this char.
acter. The relative number Of cases was greaiest
among the men from Oregon. lis per cent. and
least among those from Kentucky. % per cent.
"The refrnctive errors of the eye stood fourth I'm
numerical frequency. OF each 100 men, 3.3 had de-
fective vision. due 10 some character of refrnctlve
error. OF nll the defects noted 90 per cent be.
longed to this class.
1.-Two and one-half per cent Of all Of Glass I men
were rejected as unfit for military service ON nc.
count of tuberculosis. or Of suspected tuberculosis.
Expressed In absolute numbers, $4,000 men out OF
3,764,O00 were unfit for military service M the
result Of this disease. II was relatively most fire.
quent among the men from certain of the states
OF the West and Southwest to which either they
or their ancestors had migrated ON account of II.
The percentage OF cases WINS greatest among those
from Arizona. 81 per cent. and least among those
from Wyoming. IL per cent. Arizona was followed
by New Mexico. Colorado, California md then
Rhode lslund.
"a greater number OF cases were reported amcng
the men from the elites, "a per cent, than among
those from rural districts. rs per cent. The reln.
tive number Of men rejected for this cause from
the four large cities wns greatest among those
from Philadelphia. "a per cent. followed by New
York. % per cent. Chicago. % per cent. and Bos.
ton, ~ per cent.
zone and hve-fenths per cent Of all OF the men
examined were rejected on account 81 mental NIB