The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1920. PHYSICAL UNFITNESS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 June 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1920. PHYSICAL UNFITNESS.

The striking return prepared by the medieal branch of the Defence Department showing the results of the medieal examination of re-1 eruits during the period of con-i .scription (1916-18), discloses a state of affairs that calls not only for serious consideration, but more especially for remedial ac- 1 tion. It is startling to learn that out of 135,282 men of military age I (20 to 45) examined by the boards, only 57,382 were accepted for training, the number of actually fit men amounting to the low total of 46,488, while those unfit for service abroad numbered 74,689, and the permanently unfit for any service 3211. It should be noted that these figures relate to men who, from an age point of view, should be physically at their best, and they open up a-very urgent question for investigation. Few countries possess such manifest advantages for attaining good health and physical fitness as New Zealand, yet we arc faced with an unenviable record of a great preponderance of the unfit over the fit. By way of explanation, the return includes the causes to which the rejections were due, and the list is such as to indicate the need »for constant medical ex-, animations of the rising genera-1 tion. No fewer than 15,396 men were turned down owing to heart disease, 10,055 for defects of the j upper and lower extremities, 1715 J for tubercular disease, over 4000 for impaired constitution and debility, over a thousand for malformation of chest and spine, 1200 for diseases of the nervous system, 6423 for defective vision, 4994 for varicose veins, 2056 for respiratory diseases, 4530 for hernia, 1715 for impaired digestion, 3211 for flat feet, 1681 for goitre, and a number of others for various other imperfections or diseases. In face of these alarming figures most people will think twice before boasting of the stamina and physical fitness of New Zealanders as a whole. The men examined were not all born in the Dominion, but out of the total examined there were 97,360 who claimed this country as their birthplace, only 28,000 being born in Britain. It should be remembered that the military' tests and standards were on the high side, and that many of those rejected, would, in ordinary course, pa»s muster as fairly fit citizens, but no good purpose is served by minimising the results of the examinations- In giving the causes for rejection.the return furnishes the basis forftn exhaustive inquiry in. io the mm». fer so. large agro.-

portion of the Dominion's manhood being physically unfit, and the remedies to be adopted to overcome—or prevent if possible —the defects referred to. It may be assumed that, primarily, sufficient attention has not been paid w the physical condition of! the children in the past, and it may be that overstrain in school games and sports plays a prominent part in impairing the constitution. At any rate it is obvious the nee..l exists for frequent medical examination of growing children, and as they are a valuable asset to the country, the Government sh'juld see to it that there shall be no lack of medical supervision over school children, especially in the ca.se of lads who take part in strenuous recreations. One of the remarkable facts disclosed in the return is the number of men (1681) rejected for goitre, Canterbury contributing 1009 of the total cases. This disease is far more prevalent than is generally known, and it would seem necessary to combat it vigorously. Defective vision is another ailment that calls for treatment; and there should be some means of considerably reducing the large number of cases having defective upper and lower extremities. The real value of the return consists in its making known the great extent of the physical maladies to which the manhood of the country is subjected. In the light of this knowledge, and the vital importance to the Dominion of improving national health and physique, it will be interesting to watch to what use the Health Department will put that knowledge. The' reyelations in the returns are such as to be a blow to our national pride, and no steps should be left untaken that will help to secure for the country a reversal of the present unfitness, and making its manhood—and womanhood—as physically and mentally fit as could be desired. The conditions of life in New Zealand are such as to warrant exceptional fitness, provided the right methods are adopted.