The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-05-28

1uSl, al Ter lIlc
ocal boards are through with 'em,
army doctors reject 10 per cent OF
those whom the local boards have
passed.
Col. Leonard George Rowntree.
chief OF the medical division Of
Selective Service headquarters in
Washington, frankly is worried
over this showing. He considers 1t
not only an unsatisfactory showing
from the Selective Services stand
point; it also, he says, plainly i'm
plies that the country's general
health isn't as good as it ought to
be. So the colonel's launching a
campaign to induce prospective
military eligibles (chaps who
WOULD be eligible IL they were
healthy enough to get 'emselves
doctored in advances Of being
called. A lot Of 'em can be rehabil-
tated, he asserts. Or, to be exact,
he calls 1t "PRE-habilitation"-
since he wants it attended to ahead
of the time for 'em to register.
But, incidentally, the coloners
hopeful that his arguments in IA
vor of what he refers to as pre-
ventive medicine" will have their
effect on our whole population,
greatly to the BENEFIT Of our ma
tional health and welfare" It'll
be, II 1t works, a kind Of by-prod-
uct Of Selective Service, and ire
mendously valuable one, Colonel
Rowntree predicts.
Many Minor Defects
Among the men rejected by To-
cal boards" he explains, there are
many who have minor defects, not
serious in themselves but sufficient
to prevent acceptance by the
army.
"Of these, large numbers would
have passed examination by local
board physicians. had they made
previous efforts to acquaint them
selves concerning their various
physical conditions and had had
themselves treated by their own
medical advisers, Of their own voli-
ton.
"Of course, others have serious
disorders, which definitely disqual-
ify them for soldering. Yet even
such sufferers, II they've neglected
themselves, will profit by prompt
attention. Though Seiective Serv-
ice may not get 'em. they'll be
helped personally. At this head
quarters, to be sure, we're vitality
concerned as to the health of army
inductees, but we likewise are
vitality interested in the health Of
our whole people.
"A registrant's personal physl-
clan or dentist is the logical prac-
titioner for him to see, because, in
all likelihood, that doctor will best
understand his patients case and
be in position to advise him. II
he can't afford treatment, his
medico or dentist will direct him
to the proper clinic"
A prime feature of the colonels
DECENTRALIZATION" program calls for
the dissemination, to all Selective
Service registrants and to doctors
and dentists. Of a pamphlet Of
army physical requirements.
IF a man knows these stand
ards and has any doubt Of his abil-
ity to meet them" he adds, tits a
warning to him to consult his doc,
not exclusively to equip himself for
service (for maybe he can't do
that, anyway, but for his own
good. It's pamphlet which gives
him, in short, chance to diagnose
himself-to inform him that per-
haps something's the matter with
him that he hadn't realized"
Compensations
I think Colonel Rowntree Is
aware that there are drawbacks TO
being drafted for military educa-
ton. But his schemes to give It
oompensating advantages. His, no.
tons to make the selectees as
healthy as bears and to improve
the health even Of those who aren't
sufficiently healthy to be conscript-