THE DOCTOR DECIDES

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 65, 17 March 1915, Page 5

THE DOCTOR DECIDES

RECRUITS PASSING THE.TEST.

STETHOSCOPE FRIGHT.'

An extraordinary, degree/of nervousness seems to affect the recruits''who come before the doctors at the Drill Hall for examination. It seems that the man are not actually afraid of the examination, but. are seized by % feeling akin to that' with which ' one surrenders to a-dentist, or makes a first '"speech m public. It • seems ■to 'be pretty; l certain that shyness of the medical inspection accounts for a-goodly number-of--non-appearances. It is not only the physically inferior of the men who are/af-

feoted with,.this .species, of agitation; the biggest and anost healthy specimeia are equally nervous, and are'often in a state bordering npon'coDapse-Tvhen'the inspection is finished..-, .. -'""."'.' v

There is nothing in trie examN&tioa itself that need cause this perturbation. The recruit-takes' off his clothe* ia-the room occupied by, perhaps, two or three other men, whbuare to be examined., the doctors, and„a.. sergeant-major,^,who" records the doctor's decision.' -The 'examination proceeds as soon : as the/recruit has stripped, and occupies three or~four minutes. • - - . . .-.■- -: . ij«-*i ■

Testerday, a "Star' reporter attended one of the examinations, and-gathered a few impressions of the process?■- Tha first recruit to come before the doctors was a sturdy youth, ooviouslv from the country. Denuded of bis clothes, the young fellow's physical proportions ■were splendid.' it was obvious,' 'however, from the fluttering of the whole skin over the heart that he -was affected witb "nerves," and when the inspection actually began. Be was, reduced to a state of helplessness. ' ' --- --

"Hair fair, eyes. brown, complexion fair," .begins the doctor. The recruit takes rather more interest ia tho proceedings at this, apparently having not •before heard so 'many- interesting 0 particulars of his personal appearance. "Open your mouth,'* continued the medical man. "Teeth—urn, faulty." A tape measure 'Js passed around the recruit's chest, and shows that-Sis. lungs, at afl eventß, are in excellent, condition! Then the stethoscope, which': feus been dangling from the doctor* seek like a r.ecidaee, us adjusted, and the bell-shaped mouthpiece begins to move over ih'£> recruit's chest: It comes to a siiddzn stop over the heart, and there remains; while the subject has a sudden attack of in-crcae-ed nervousmaas. "Heart," b'je docpyr 'begins, and then, pauses doubtful!-.-. "Yes, hesi-t ncrmal; just a IrHe bit fast from oervousneiH, but nothing wrong," •he concludes, to tha great relief of tae patient. The inspection then proceeds to the legs and feet, bat those arc satisfactorily healthy, and the examination oone.udes with questions as to whether bhe recruit has ever been ill or afflicted with fibs.

As the recruit TesunK6 his clothing, he j confides to the reporter that "It = was doadiy; :t ! G upset my appte-ca^t—look at my -h-aids," and he extends two rather s.-.xky members for inspectioai. As he foaxn from the room, however, the knowledge that ho ios been declared fit and has ait last been accepted for active service, acts like a tonic, and fe apparent in his improved bearing and happy co-untecajice.

The rest of the iaßpection passed off in much the same manor, but in some ',n----stenees it was *ho extremely unpleasant duty of the doctor to pass sentence of "unfit." Lv rlcceo casta tho recruit vvoukl t-oiiKitlmea expostulate, and assure the dot-tor that hw ww quite good cnoug.h ior the trenches. Jf he happened ■to have soon active service before he would roount his feate, and, perhaps, -,vax ingry at the doctor's declarM,, h\ ill these ca* fß the dejection of- the as he passed from .the room <ww,; nor .stoaßaßt'to'-witaisji, 1 ■ '.f. !?gs w &