RACE DEGENERACY.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 305, 29 June 1909, Page 4

TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1909. RACE DEGENERACY.

The Advocate.

[Established 1888.] [PUBLISHED DAILY.] OLDEST ESTABLISHED PAPER iitiXD GUABANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN TEB DISTRICT. •

At tlio present time, when matters relating to the defence of the Empire are being so widely discussed, it is important that all phases of the .subject should have due consideration. In this connection an important paper was ; recently read before the Manchester Medical Society by Dr William -Coates. This paper was entitled "Ait address on the duty of the medical profession in the prevention of national deterioration." The address is of the most searching character. , It is altogether too lengthy for reproduction in our columns, J)ut we will endeavor to give our readers a summary of the principal contentions of the writer, and particularly of that portion which deals with recruits for the Army. Dr Coates has conducted the medical exam inatiou for Army recruits, and lie states that year after year the increasingly wretched physical condition of the majority of the youths appearing for examination has deeply impressed him. This also applies with equal foi-ce to the applications • for admission to the Navy, for it is incidentally mentioned that on au average no less than 35,000 boys are annually rejected to obtain the 5000 required for his Majesty's ships! The standard for admission into theArmy is lower than in former years, and move men are examined and rejected before casualties are replaced. Quoting from Dr Coates' address, we learn that fifty years ago, as now, a recruit could enlist at the- age of 18 years. The minimum height was then oft. 4in. It is now sft. 3in. ; fifty years ago, however, a height of oft. 4in. would only admit a. recruit into the Ar-rny as an artillery or engineer driver, and the number required was small; oft. 6in. was the height for a lino regiment; oft. 3in. will enter into any^ line regiment now. Previous to 1883 a recruit could not enter the Army unless his minimum chest measurement was 34in. Ho can now enlist inio"some units with a chest of 31} in.. provided he has 2in. expansion. In 1862, 416 recruits per 1000 weighed under 9st. 41b. In 1907, 657 recruits per 1000 weighed under 9st. 41b. In 1862, 52 recruits pwf 1000 weighed under 7st. 121 b. In 1907, 83 recruits per 1000 weighed under 7st. 121 b. Fifty years ago, when the physical

roquiremenis for enlistment weremuch more stringent than now, 37 per cent, only of the recruits examined were unfit for service. In J907, 39 per cent, wore rejected by the medical officer; and General Sir Frederick Maurice" considers that, when the numbers that are sent away by the recruiting sergeants and those dismissed as unfit after three months' service are taken into acoount, ai least 60 per cent, are now lost to the Army through physical unfitness. This obvious deterioration of the class from which recruits are .drawn is condoned by reference to unemployment and starvation; but tIIGSG) agencies have not been proved to be much more active now than in earlier times, taken over a series of years, and as the physical standard for admission into the Army has been so often and progressively reduced, until it is now lower .than qver before during peace, and as the population of- the country is vaster by millions, the figures quoted should cause apprehension. As a remedial measure, the writer argued strongly in favor of more co-operation in the medical profession being required, and of co-operation between the medical profession and educational^ ists. He considers that if this were brought about the cxiltivation of sound health would be a more pro?" minent feature and stronger generations would follow. He insists upon the value Of judicious.- physical exercise,- calls attention to the necessity of . .playing/ fields, and. asserts - that public gymnasiums should be f provided, by the niiinieipartity in fell .large towns where out-of-door exercise and field sports are difficult to obtain. After dealing with several causes which lead to race decay, the writer strongly emphasises the effect of universal military service on the stamina of the xace.'-." He points out that ' 'in the <lays of; Roman greatness, before signs o| degeneracy appeared, every Roman was a soldier and every soldier was a citizen. It has been so in England, and when it was so the name of England was never more respected and feared abroad, nor, considering the period, were the liberties of ; Englishmen ever more secure, than 'when every able-bodied man in England was trained to the use of arms, and thus prepared to effectually defend his country from the enemy at her gates." The writer makes out a strong case in favor of an universal military training scheme, which he regards not only as necessary for maintaining the place and, honor of Britain amongst other nations, but as essential" for the improvement of our national health. Finally, Dr Coates contends that in the great campaign against decay the profession of medicine should be one of the most formidable weapons, and he sums up his reflections in a sentence; ."He" does a great deed who heals the sick ; but the watcliful physician who inculcates sound habits amongst a. people performs a nobler task." .