MEDICAL EXAMINATION (?) OF MILITARY RECRUITS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3150, 31 July 1917, Page 7

MEDICAL EXAMINATION (?) OF MILITARY RECRUITS

Sir,—Following, my letter in yours of July 18, showing the alniO3t entire lack of adequate medical examination cf military recruits before they aro sent to camp, I now shall givo the principal ■ troubles due to which hundreds of inen every month are sent out of camp on "leave without pay":— Defective eight, flat feet, haemorrhoids, varicose veins, neurasthenia, effects of I old accident, chronic alcoholism, tachycardia, debility (nervous or general), short leg, myalgia, poor physique, anaeuiia, heroin, chronic gastritis, rheuma-. tism, varicocele, prematurely old, dyspepsia, catarrh, periostitis, qld necrosis, undescended tosticle, below the standard, bladder trouble, drugging (cocaine, morphia, etc.), deafness, appendicitis, goitre, bronchitis, gastro enteritis. Almost all these defects are very ob- ■ yious, .many are noticeable- to any intelligent layman who looks at and questions a recruit who is stripped. The men, however, month by month, are being sent to camp suffering from one or more , of these troubles, and the medical cxam- / ination certificates that nro sent with them generally read so well that one would think that in New Zealand there are very few of our population who aro not physically supermen. The absurd blundering methods in vogue aro best shown.when I say that one of the questions asked in the recrut's examination, paper is, whether the examiner (tho doctor) has ever had a fit! This is the final and what it has to do with the recruit's physical fitness no one knows. However, it has appeared in every attestation paper for fully a year, and from what we have seen of New Zealand's military methods, it will probably keep on appearing as long as the war lasts.

Questions are asked in the examination form whether the recruit suffers from haemorrhoids, varicocele, varicose veins, etc., and in most cases a definite '"No" is given in reply. Very simple personal examination by ■ the examining doctor would show, whether such were the case or not, but I hardly think it is usual for any such examination to K; made, as the troubles seem not to be discovered till after the man has been in enmp some time.

The examination of recruits before they come to camp is appareully a gigantic, and heartless game of "make believe." Unfortunately it and its effects are costing our country well on for—if uot over —a quarter of a million sterling per annum. We already have a large number of district and travelling medical boards to maintain, and we are being told through the Press that still wo haven't- enough of them to keep up with the work'. I quite believe that the military medical authorities do stop some unfit men from being brought to camp. Judging by those they allow to come, those who aro rejected must be physical wrecks whom any blind layman would stop.

Mr. Horatio Bottomloy has for many years in England been working with all his remarkable ability to wake the people lip to demand ft "business "Government." Lately, since England las been in peril, since her hour of direst need l;as come on her with all Hunnish ferocity, Englishmen are welcoming Mr.' Jlottomley wherever he goes, for they see that he isone of the men who can and •vill.telp them. Most of our Government Departments are singularly deficient iii business men, even of mediocre ability, and at present;l do not intend to "deal with them. As, however, the war is on, and we. are in great danger, we require, and. the public should insist, that we have at least one business man at tlie liead of-the military medical department. Such an idea would be scorned by the responsible' medical men, ,but we can judge these latter only, by their unfortunate and, useless national costs, after nearly three years' trial. Our M.P.'s have been found so'incapable that they have delegated most

contentious mntler to the Bo.ird of Trade, Boyal Commissions, or tlio Efficiency Bonrd, which latter body does seem to bo both able and willing to do groat and most neccssiir.v work. Jhiy the Government only givo them every assistance. However, a business man is especially needed at; the. head of (ho military medical department. At present it is k-ing jealously guarded as a close, conservative corporation, but not for the national welfare.—T am, etc., VOTDEX. Wellington, July ,10, 1917.