C.O.
The Neck. Goitre; ulceration of cervical glands; cicatrices of tubercular ulceration; tracheal openings; wry-neck, chronic laryngitis &c.
The Chest. Malformation of; badly united fractures of ribs or sternum sufficient to interfere with respiration; caries or necrosis of ribs. Deficient mobility; evident predisposition to phthisis; phthisis pulmonalis chronic bronchitis; asthma; organic disease of the heart or large arteries; serious functional derangement of the heart; dropsy.
The Abdomen. All chronic inflammations of the gastro-intestinal tract, including diarrhoea and dysentery; diseases of the liver and spleen; ascites; obesity; hemorrhoids; fistula; hernia,
The Genito-Urinary Organs. Any acute affection of, phimosis; stricture of urethra; loss of both testicles; any chronic disease of testicle; hydro- cele; varicocele; malformations; urinary fistulae; chronic cystitis; all diseases of the kidney.
Affections of the extremities: Chronic rheumatism; chronic discase of joints; severe sprains; tistulac connected with joints or bones; badly united fractures: rickets; caries; necrosis; extensive, deep, or adherent cicatrices.
Total loss of either thumb; loss of any two fingers of one hand. Knock-knee: club.foot; bunions; loss of great toe or of any two toes of the same foot; ingrowing of the nail of great toe.
There are many other conditions, eg, dislocation &c, to which attention is not drawn speciallly, as they obviously would disqualify a candidate straight away.
Such infrmities as insanity, intemperance in use of stimulants or narcotics; epilepsy; chorea; neuralgia; stuttering are obvious disqualifi- cations.
As regards height, chest measurement, and age the following figures show the minimum required.
18-25 yrs
Europeans
5ft
8 inches
33 inches
Indians
Chinese
5ft
8 inches
38 inches
5ft
4 inches
30 inches
20-26 yrs 19-26 yrs
23221
RECE
RULES FOR THE MEDICAL INSPECTION OF RECRUITS REG 27 JUN 14,
In the inspection of recruits the principal points to be attended to are:—
That the recruit is sufficiently intelligent. That his vision, with either eye, is Up That his hearing is good.
That his speech is without impediment. That he has no glandular swellings.
to the standard.
That his chest is capacious and well formed, and that his heart and
lungs are sound.
That he is not ruptured in any degree or form, That the limbs are well formed and fully developed. That there is free and perfect motion of all the joints. That the feet and toes are well formed.
That he has no congenital malformation or defects.
That he does not bear traces of previous acute or chronic disease
pointing to an impaired constitution
That he possesses a sufficient number of sound teeth for efficient
mastication.
The height, weight and chest measurement should accord with each other, and with his age, according to the table of standards. So far as regards weight, this table is to be regarded as a guide only, and the medical officer is to exercise his own judgment as to the general fitness of the man under examination.
Should a recruit bring no satisfactory proof of age, the medical officer will by comparing the height with the weight and general development, and also from the recruit's appearance, estimate his age, which will be entered as "apparent age"
The examination should in the first place be directed to ascertaining the
recruit's
Height, Weight, Chest measurement, Vision.
If he satisfies requirements in these respects and appears otherwise cligible, the general examination is then proceeded with.
In estimating physique there is a correlation of importance to be considered viz that between the beight, weight and chest measurements, good weight for height being of the first importance. An easy rule is that up to 5 feet 7 inches twice the height in inches ought to be about the weight in pounds; and add 7 lbs. for every inch above 5 feet 7 inches,
"The weighing machine is the best of all means we have for testing the general fitness of the recruit."
The measurement of the "chest capacity" is of great importance in determ- iuing the vigour of the recruit. The thorax contains the vital machinery and represents to a great extent the staying power of the man. The size of the chest is an excellent indication of the vital power of the individual. It should be large, well-formed and inclined to rotundity rather than to flatness.
A man whose chest measures less than 32 inches in circumference on expiration should be rejected.
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