MEDICAL TESTS FOR TERRITORIALS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1199, 7 August 1911, Page 4

MEDICAL TESTS FOR TERRITORIALS

"TEETII DEPLORABLE." (By Tele£rap!i~Pre"B Association.) Ghristchurch, August 4. An officer who has had an opportunity of seeing liow tlio medical examination of Territorials is conducted locally stated to an interviewer that ho had formed , tlio opinion that the examining doctors did their work with the utmost ca.ro, ard every lad was carefully examined. Tho examination, of course, was not that which would be insisted on for lite insurance, where oji.i had to look forward to tho possibilities of di-oase. The object of tile examination was to find whet her persons being examined were lit. to he trained, and it was ]>rac{ically impossible for a, lad who should be rejected lo get through, lie had noticed a statement thai, in Diincdin, the doctors examined fads at tho rale of two a minute. The TTrnrage in Cliris,tchurch was ahom four minutes each, and where there was any doubt, about passing the lad, tho doctor engageil would consult; with a confrere.

"The teeth of Ihe majority of the lads examined are simply deplorable." was tho verdict of one informant, "Xct one in twenty would get lhroi;r,'!\ the Rov.M Xavy left. The number of lads of Hi or IT years willi artificial upper wis was simply terrible. The examination prejtdiod a graphic sermon 0:1 (he necessity of slops being taken to have the both 01 children seen to."

Tho general physique of the lads did not satisfy one. ft was disappointing for a new country. The majority of Ituls did not know how to breathe, and a fair number were 'rejected. 011 account of deficient eyesight. The boys behaved very well on ihe whole, though thsre to a hit of hooliganism one night. Generally tho youths appeared to regard the prospect of being trained with equanimity.