MANHOOD OF NEW ZEALAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17978, 3 July 1920, Page 15

MANHOOD OF NEW ZEALAND

results of medical examinations. POOD FOB SERIOUS THOUGHT. A striking return has been prepared by •the medical of the Defencc Department showing the results of the medical examination of recruits from the commencement of the ballot tinder the Military Service Act in November, 1916, to November, 1918, when the armistice was signed. According to lie Wellington Post 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 suoh a large proportion may be obviated in the rising generation. MORE THAN HALF UNFIT. Of a total of 135,282 men of military age (20 to 45 years) who were 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 46,488 B. —Fit if they undergo specified medical, surgical, or dental treatment: (1) After operation in hospital 837, and (2) after recovery at home 3250 4,087 &—At present unfit for service abroad, but fit for service in New Zealand: (1) To proooed to Ol oamp for special training 6807, (2) permanently unfit for service abroad 74,689 81,496 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 3211 respectively. The figures, applied to any body of men, old or young, would appear remarkable, but when they are those for men of miliary age only, they must raise the whole question as to whether the best possible is bemg done for the development of the physique of the young manhood of the country. The birthplaces of the recruits examined strongly emphasise the neoessity for the fullest consideration of the contributing causes. Of the total of 135,282 no fewer than 97,369 claimed New Zealand as the land of their* birth, while 28,680 were born in the United Kingdom, 8769 in other British possessions, and only 464 in other countries. CAUSES FOR REJECTION. The causes for which men were rejected from Class A were as follow: — DISEASES. Ken _ , . rejected. Defects at upper extremities „ „ 2882 Defects of lower extremities — „ „. 7173 XJnier height _ ... ... „ _ ... 505 Under chest measurement. 959 Insufficient weight ... „ gg Apparent age not in accartkmoo with regulations _ _ _ _ 139 Over height H Syphilis ... ... I. ~ 183 Other venereal diseases ... „ 112 Tubercle of lungs _. !" 1429 Other tubercular diseases 289 Impaired constitution and debility ~ 4013 Other general diseases ... „ ~ 312 Malformation of ear ...■ ... ™ .T 2 Maiiormaikm of noee and month — _ ... 129 Malformation of oh est and spine ... ... ... ion Malformation of urinary or genital organs 13ff Impediment of speech 297 Other diseases of the nervous system — 1200 Defective intelligence .„ ._ 1075 Defective vision ... m Diseases of the eyes and eyelids ... igg Diseases of the middle ear (including deafness) ... 2455 Otter diseases of the ears 114 Dieases of the nose and month ... .1 J.'. 203 Valvular disease of the heart ... w 10879 Other diseaes of the heart ... ... ~ 4517 Disease of averies (aneurism) .7. 42 Diseases of the veins (varix) ...' ... ' ™ 4994 Diseases of the Itmga (except tnbercnle) .„ 766 Other, respiratory diseases .„ ... „ 2056 Loss or decay of many teeth ~ 20 Hernia ... ... ... j" 4530 Diseases of the digestive system 171s Haemorrhoids ... ... ._ ... _ ' Dieases of thA tuinory organs ... g22 Varicocele ... ._ _ 1340 Other diseases of the generstivo organs (not syphilitic) _ _ gt» r.7 r f !£! Other affections of the bones and mnsdee 1189 Ulcer, wotmca, find cicatrioec 702 Otter affocSona of the cutanooaa system ... 1149 ~ - 1681 Epilepsy _ _ Over age ... [" i 610S Jth«nznatism, sciatica! and lmnbafo 2044 Aiooholio ... ~ X?r Not classified - - I I I 6014 Total - •••-- „... 88,805 • above table ia instructive as disclosing that no fewer than 15,396 men were rejected for heart disease, 10,055 for defects ot tne upper and lower extremities 959 for being . under chest measurement, *295 for disease, 1718 for tubercular diseases 4043 for rtnpaixed constitation and debilitv' Jon£ r of chest and spine, laX) for diseases of the nervous system 1076 for. defective intelligence, 6423 for detective vision, 4994 for diseases of the veins (varbt 2056 for respiratory diseases, 4530 for hernia, » s^ases °f the digestive system, 1340 for varicooele, 3211 for flat feet, and 1081 for goitre. ACCORDING TO OCCUPATION. Of the total rejected from class A no fewer 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 carpcnters and joiners 1537 engineers, 2192 mechanics, 1153 miners 1145 painters and paperhangers, 2741 mill and factory employees. 1057 hotel and restaurant employees, and. 5793 shop assistants Qousemwn, and commercial travellers. ' The leturn is also of special value as showing the causes for which, the men in were rejected. Out of following farming pursuits who were turned down, 2800 were for defects in the upper and lower extremities, 789 for impaired constitution and debility, 387 for det c Sj, lr ? intelligence, 1411 for defective vision 4074 for heart troubles, 1345 for diseases of the veins (vara), 1129 for hernia, S/16 for flat feet, ana 592 for rheumatism, lumbago and ariatica. The 6606 olerks 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. 414 for heart disease, and 163 for diseases of the veins fvarix). Of 1107 postal employee rejects, 207 suffered from heart disease. The chief complaints from which 11,1P0 rejeoted general'labourers suffered were: Defects of upper and lower extremities 1372, constitution and debility 264, defective vision 914, heart disease 1608, diseases of the veins (varix) 786, hernia, 6CO, and flat feet 427. Carpenters and joiners, rejected included 683 for heart troubles; mine's—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—ll9 for impaired constitution and debility, 512 for heart disease; and shop assistants, warehousemen, and commercial travellers—lo3 for under chest measurement, 100 for tubercle of the lung, 340 for impaired constitution and debilitv. 435 for defective vision, and 1033 for heart disease. STRIKING DISTRICT COMPARISONS. Detailed information is also given by districts, some of the comparisons being specially instructive. _ Of those rejeoted for impaired constitation and debility, Auckland claimed 1319, Wellington 988, Canterbury 936, and Otago 745; and in this connection it may be mentioned 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 re spec- 1 tu-r> military districts ' were: Auckland 55, Wellington 68, Canterbury 106, and Otago 66. For tubercle of the lung Auckland had 203 cases, Wellington 669, Canterbury 200, and Otago 262. The rejections for goitre are even more striking, the totals for the respective districts being: Auokland 50. Wellington 306, Canterbury 1009, and Otago 316.