DOCTORS & THE MEDICAL TEST

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2498, 26 June 1915, Page 6

DOCTORS & THE MEDICAL TEST

MODIFICATION URGED The tests for recruits adopted by the medical branch of the Defence Department do not appear to be meeting with \raanimous approval among the examining doctors, who contend that good men have to be rejected becauso of minor defects. In Nelson tho local medical men recently constituted themselves a sub-committee of the Nelson recruiting committee, and forwarded a number of suggestions on the subject to the Defence Department. The suggestions were- conveyed in the following letr tor: — "Nelson, New Zealand, "June 1,1915. "Sir, —A committee has been set up in Nelson to assist in stimulating recruiting, in order to facilitate this object, the committee desires to urge upon you the necessity of modifying the stringent regulations with regard to the medical examination, of recruits. "The committee is aware that at the outbreak of hostilities, when the supply exceeded the demand, it was possible to set up a very high standard, but the conditions have altered, and the committeee would humbly suggest a modification of the regulations other things being satisfactory, in the following directions:— "(1) Minimum height, 62 inchest "(2) Chest measurement, 33 inches, with 2J inch variation. "(3) Varicose veins: A mild degree existing in men who have been engaged in hard labour _ without being affccted by this defect should not bo sufficient reason for rejection. "(4) Varicocele: A moderate degree should not be sufficient for rejection. "(6) Teeth: In otherwise healthy, well-nourished young adults, who do not know what indigestion is, an apparent defective masticatory power should not prove a bar to acceptance, nor is it necessary or advisable to insist on the removal of every carious tooth. Of course, discretion hero is necessary, but in many cases a few natural teeth are of much greater service than a full set of hastily constructed artificial teeth. "(6) Sight: When the use of .glasses results in full vision or vison equals six-eighteenths they should be allowed. "Ambulance and A.S.C.: If 1, 2, 8, 4, and 6 cannot be modified in regard to combatant ranks, surely the same standard need not be demanded for ambulance and Army Rervice corps. These minor defects cannot incapacitate men engaged in these services, and tho effect of proposed modification would be to liberate the more physically fit for scrvico in combatant ranks. "The committee would point out these men are not taking up arms as a profession, but only for the duration of tho war. and this fact must make a difference in tho standard demanded. The comnnittop. finite rccognise that only those capable of sustaining a strenuous campaign should he sent to tlio front.— Yoms faithfully, "(Sgd.) G. A. EDMONDS, "Town Clerk "(Sec. to Recruiting Committee) "Tho yon. Minister of Drfeuoa, "''VaUmgten.'i