ARMY'S HEALTH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1329, 5 January 1912, Page 6

ARMY'S HEALTH.

EFFECTS OF CHEAP TOBACCO ON' PHYSIQUE. An interesting Blue Book, containing the , report of the Director-General (Medical Division) on the health of the British Army for 1910, has just been issued. It is stated that during the year 45,671 men wore brought forward for medical inspection, of whom 13,492 were rejected as medically unfit for the Army, In 1909 50,298 offered themselves for en- ' listment, wbile in 1908 the number of men inspected amounted to G1,275; the number brought forward for inspection is, therefore, considerably lower than' in previous years. It is remarked : that there were probably many reasons which contributed 'to this, diminution, 'amongst which might be mentioned emigration, some reyival of trade, and tho formation of labour exchanges, whereby lilcu who were out of employment .would.probably obtain work. in.other , districts. In dealing with tho principal causes of rejection—'defective'.development, less and decay of teeth, diseases of lhe Leart, defective vision, and diseases of the ears —attention is drawn to the stunted, anaemic, and debilitated lad of poor physique (habituated to the excessive use of indifferent tobacco). and badly nourished who has come forward for enlistment in towns. This, it is remarked, is a likely subject for such diseases, which accounted for a ratio of rejection of 10.35, . against 33.0G in the preceding year, and ?i97 as the average for the decennial period. At the same time, it is .pointed out, the special cause of this considerable . increase is.not at once apparent, except on the hypothesis of inferior physique generally, as/owing to the reduced stand-, nrd of chest measurement, lads "of inferior physical standard were brought, forward for medical inspection.. . Discussing the question of the loss and decay of teeth; the report states that though a considerable, amount of money is expended annually in the dental treatment of recruits, the high, ratio (5G.!B): of rejections under Hint head bears eloriueut testimony to the poor dc-.ital ectn-' dil.ion of (he'classes from which the majority of recruits are drawn, ond for which it can hardly be anticipated there will bo much improvement in the near' future. The total ratio of rejections' per 1000 men medically inspected wan 295.44.during the year under review, against 299.04 the nreyions year. This mii»ht at first -.iirht, it is remarked, he. -attributable, to cither a better typo of man himself for enlistment, or to better training on the part of recruiters in the selection of men brought forward for medical iiiMicction. The report goes on to say ..the great majority of. recruits were growing lads, and, as in. former years, a !:\r<tc nun'bsr were out of work' when enlisted.- The roliso diiencc was that many were in.i'oor con' ditioii from want of sufficient-, food.

The-report of the committee apnnintod by Eivrl -Carrimrlon in March. 1910. to investigate Hie British export trade in live stock sho\>;s Hint, tho export of inferior animals has ciuifro] considerable injury to the trade.at.various periods. A British tumulus has been found on Lord Durham's estate near Kundcrlond, and boncaUi it the-skeleton of a woman with knees ■ doubled "P/ '» t'.'" chin. Several urns containing hones and ashes and a (lint knife w-rre contained in the grave. The burial-place is believed to l>c 1000 years old. A woman who had pone to-Reno to pet a divorce learned Hint her husband had fallen heir to .£500,000. She withdrew her petition. . . .- l-'or Chronic Chest Complaints, foods' Great Peuneraint Cure, Is. 8/J ,