Evening star., 1940-09-30
BY STEPHEN ]. McDONOUGH,

Dy V1CDo1NoooAD
Associated Press Science Writer.
The army Of 100000 men who will
take the oath Of allegiance shortly
after registration day, October 16,
will be the healthiest CONSUMPTION
group in the Nations history.
Never since the first Continental
Army was called into service in ITS
under Gen. George Washington has
there been a more rugged group an
swering the call to the colors.
DR.. Thomas Parran, surgeon gen.
eral of the United States Public
Health Service, says the whole
American people are in better physi-
cal condition than at any time in
its history and the Army will choose
its men in the most thorough physi-
cal and mental examinations med
ical science has devised.
Physical requirements will not be
as strict as those used in selecting
men for the Regular Army in peace
time, but the men chosen will be
ear-perfect physical specimens. In
addition to checking every detail
from ingrowing toenails to dandruff
the inspecting boards also will make
rudimentary mental tests indicating
the prospective soldiers ability to
stand up under the strain of un-
usual camp conditions. training
marches and the pounding of rifle
and cannon fire on maneuvers.
Put on Deferred Status.
Local draft boards and the physi-
clans in local communities will do
the preliminary sitting of those
called up for examination and as
many as 80 per cent may be elm
mated Immediately because of poor
teeth. fiat feet, hernias, hemor-
rhoids, tonsilitis, faulty vision
venereal disease and other ailments.
None will be excused from possible
duty, but will be put on a deferred
status under which they are subject
to call at any time.
The examining boards and physi-
clans in communities who know the
prospective draftees may eliminate
many men. War Department ON
cials said, for no other reason than
their inability to get along with
other people. 1t is also true that
many men able to maintain their
emotional balance in ordinary life
blow up when thrown into close
contact and competition in a train
ing camp.
Men selected for training will
undergo second medical exam
ination, much more thorough than
the home examination, when they
reach a training camp. Here an
other 10 per cent may be weeded
out for physical and mental defects
missed by the home town physician
Military surgeons Of the Regular
Army and Reserve Corps will per-
form every test from eye examina =
tions to blood analyses and will be
particularly on the alert for men
taking diseases. as we'll as those
covering up defects in order to get
into the service.
Strict Requirements.
Every man accepted for enlist
ment in the original draft must be
proved to be free of tuberculosis in
x-ray diagnosis and tuberculin
tests, have no major eye disorders,
have sound feet, teeth and hands;
be able to read and write, have no
evidence Of infectious disease, be
free of syphilis and gonorrhea and
be able to pass a reasonable INTEL
ligence test.
DR.. Parran estimated that between
10000 and 10000 unsuspected cases
OF tuberculosis will be found in the
examination of draftees and that
an unpredictable number OF cases of
latent syphilis will be found. All of
these. he hopes, may be placed under
treatment Immediately.