DOMINION MANHOOD

Southland Times, Issue 18856, 23 June 1920, Page 6

DOMINION MANHOOD

MORE THAN HALF UNFITS. ANALYSIS OF MILITARY SERVICE EXAMINATION. A striking return has been prepared by the medical branch of the Defence Department showing the results of the medical examination of recruits from the commencement of the ballot under the Military Service Act in November, 1916, to November, 1918, when the Armistice was signed. It discloses the exact state of the prime of New Zealand’s manhood —the men of military age—from a medical point of view, and affords room for the most serious thought as to how the disabilities in such a large proportion may be obviated in the rising generation. 57,382 AtICEPTED; 77,900 REJECTED. Of a total of 135.282 men of military age (20 to 45) who were examined by the Medical Boards during the' period in question, only 57,382 were accepted for training, leaving a balance of 77,900 who were rejected. The detailed classifications as regards the fitness or otherwise of the men examined for active service beyond the seas are as under;— A. Fit 46,483 B. Fit if they undergo specified medical, surgical, or dental treatment! : (1) After operation in hospital 837, and (2) after recovery at home 3,250 4,087 C. At present unfit for service abroad, but fit for service in New Zealand: (II To proceed to Cl Camp for special training 6,807, (2) permanently unfit for service abroad 74,689 81,496 j D. Permanently unfit for any war service 3,211 Total 135,282 The startling figures in the above table are the large number of men classified C2 and D—74,689 and 3,211 respectively. The figures, applied to any body of men, old or young, would appear remarkable, but when they are those for men of military age only, they must raise the whole ques- ; tion as to whether the best possible is be- i ing done for the development of the phy- ! sique of the young manhood of the country. ! The birthplaces of the recruits examined : strongly emphasise the necessity for the '< fullest consideration of the subject. Of ! the total of 135,282 no less than 97,369 claimed New Zealand as the land of their birth, while 28,680 were born in the United Kingdom, 8,769 in other British possession;, and only 464 in other countries. SPECIFIC CAUSES FOR REJECTION. The causes for which men were rejected from Class A were as follow: Diseases. Men

88,895 The above table is instructive ns disclosing that no fewer than 15,396 men wore rejected for heart disease, 10,055 for defects of the upper and lower extremities, 959 for being under chest measurement, 295 for venerea] disease, 1718 for tubercular diseases, 4043 for impaired constitution and debility, 1011 for malformation ,of chest and spine. 1200 for diseases of (he nervous system, 1076 for defective intelligence, 6423 for defective vision. 4994 for diseases of the veins (varix), 2056 for respiratory diseases, 4530 for hernia, 1715 for diseases of the digestive system, 1340 for varicocele, 3211 for flat feet, and 1681 for goitre. ACCORDING TO OCCUPATION. Of the total rejected from Class A no less than 22,876 followed farming pursuits, 6696 were clerks, 2406 railway employees. 11,180 general labourers, 446 wharf labourers, 1479 seamen. 1146 builders and contractors, 3457 carpenters and joiners, 1537 engineers, 2192 mechanics, 1153 miners 1145 painters and paper-hangers, 2741 null and factory employees. 1057 hotel and restaurant employees, and 5793 shop assistants, warehousemen, and commercial travellers. The return is also of special value as showing the causes for which the men in various occupations were rejected. On! of 22,876 following farming pursuits who were turned down. 2800 were for defects in the upper and lower extremities, 799 for impaired constitution and debility. 387 for defective intelligence, 1411 for defective vision, 4374 for heart troubles, 1345 for diseases of the vein (varixl. 1129 for hernia, 916 for flat feet, and 592 for rhuomatism, Imbago, and sciatica. The 6696 clerks rejected included 582 for defects of upper and lower extremities, 107 for under chest measurement, 414 for impaired constitution and debility. 674 for defective vision, and 1283 for heart disease. The 2406 railway employees thrown out included 307 for defects of upper and lower extremities, 132 for impaired constitution and debility, 130 for defective vision. 411 for heart disease, and 163 for diseases of the veins (varix). Of 1107 postal cmployee rciects 207 suffered from heart disease. The chief complaints from which 11,180 rejected general labourers suffered were: Defects of upper and lower extremities 1372, impaired constitution and debility 364. defective vision 914, heart disease 1608, diseases of the veins (varix) 786, hernia 600, and flat feet 427. Carpenters and joiners rejected included 683 for heart troubles; miners 24 for tubercle of the lungs, 40 for impaired constitution and debility, 94 for defective vision, 176 for heart disease, 23 for diseases of the lungs other than tubercle, and 43 for other respiratory diseases; mill and factory employees, 119 for impaired constitution and debility, 512 for heart disease; and shop assistants, warehousemen, and commercial travellers, 103 for under chest-measurement, 100 for tubercle of the lung, 340 for im- , paired constitution and debility, 435 for defective vision, and 1033 for heart disease.

REMARKABLE DISTRICT. COMPARISONS. £

Detailed information is also given by districts, some of the comparisons being specially instructive. Of those rejected for impaired constitution and debility, Auckland claimed Rll9, Wellington 988, Canterbury 986, and Otago 745.* The interest in these figures lies in the fact that the Wellington Military District comprises about one-third of the total population of New Zealand. The Canterbury district also includes Marlborough and the West Coast. The rejections for venereal diseases from the respective military districts were:—Auckland 55, Wellington 68, Canterbury 106, and Otago 66. For tubercle of the lung, Auckland had 208. cases, Wellington 669, Canterbury 200, and Otago 262. The rejections ior goitre are even more striking, the totals for the respective districts being: Auckland 50, Wellington 306, Canterbury 1009, and Otago 316.

rejected. Defects of upper extremities .... 2,882 Defects of lower extremities .... 7,173 Under height 605 Under chest-measurement 959 Insufficient weight 68 Apparent age not in accordance with regulations 139 Over height 11 Syphilis 183 Other venereal diseases 112 Tubercle of lungs 1,429 Other tubercular diseases 289 Impaired constitution and debility 4,043 Other general disease 312 Malformation of ears 2 Malformation of nose and mouth 129 Malformation of chest and spine 1,011 Malformation of urinary or genital organs 136 Impediment of speech 297 Other diseases of the nervous system 1,200 Defective intelligence 1,073 Defective vision 6,423 Diseases of the eves and eyelids 168 Diseases of the middle ear (ineluding deafness) 2,455 Other diseases of the ears 114 Diseases of the nose and mouth 202 Valvular disease of the heart .... 10,879 Other diseases of the heart .... 4,517 Diseases of arteries (aneurism 1.. 42 Diseases of the veins (varix) 4,994 Diseases of the lungs (except tubercle) i 766 Other respiratory diseases 2,056 Loss or decay, of many teeth . . 20 4,530 Disease of the digestive system. . 1,715 Haemorrhoids 840 Diseases of the urinary organs . . 622 1,340 Other diseases of the generative organs (not syphlitic) .... 656 Diseases of the joints 1,431 3,211 Other affections of the bones and muscles 1,189 Ulcer, wounds, and cicatrices . . . 792 Other affections of the cutaneous system 1,149 1,681 672 6,106 Rheumatism, sciatica, and lumbago 2/144 211 Not classified 6,014