49

H.—l9

The following were the causes of total and partial rejection :— Total Rejection. „ _ , Per Cent. Physically disabled .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 Diseases of lungs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 ~ heart .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 „ kidneys .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 ~ nervous system .. .. ... .. .. .. 7 ~ digestive system .. .. .. '.. .. .. 4 ~ skin .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 ~ ears .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 ~ eyes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 Defective vision .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 Deafness .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Underdeveloped .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Varicose veins .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 Partial Rejection, Physically disabled .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 Diseases of lungs .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 ~ heart .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 ~ kidneys .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Nil ~ nervous system .. .. . . .. .. .. 7 ~ digestive system .. ... .. .. .. ..21 ~ skin .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 2 ~ ears .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 eyes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Defective vision .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Nil Deafness .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. Nil Underdeveloped .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Varicose veins .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 It was determined, taking everything into consideration, that there was no real necessity to examine Cadets, judging from the previous year's examination; there were very few boys who would not derive benefit from the Cadet training, and these few could be easily eliminated. The examination of Territorials was a most stringent one, as only thoroughly fit youths could be of service in the army. There were practically no rejections for bad teeth, under the new regulation those with bad teeth who would have been otherwise rejected being drafted into the Rifle Clubs. The principal causes for rejection under class (a) were physical disablements, diseases of the heart, and defective vision. A marked improvement in the general care of the mouth was noticed, and there was also evidence of an improvement in the general physical condition. The majority of disordered hearts was undoubtedly due to cigarette-smoking, particularly the inhalation of cigarette-smoke. The various Ambulance Corps in the Dominion, four field ambulances and four mounted ambulances, with the exception of No. 4 Field Ambulance, went into camp for their annual training with the regiments in their immediate vicinity. The No. 4 Field Ambulance held a successful camp of their own at Seatoun. The various ambulances mustered in practically full strength, and the training was carried out in a most efficient manner. Over and above their own training, the officers and men of the ambulances attached to regimental camps rendered most efficient, valuable, and willing help in general sanitary and medical work. A fair proportion of regimental officers attended the various camps. In no case was any camp held without reasonable and efficient medical attention. The medical equipment was found to be in some instances inadequate, and had to be supplemented by local supplies. A full and complete universal equipment both for ambulances and Regimental Medical Officers has been laid down and approved,, so that in future everything necessary will be reacly to hand. There were very few serious cases either of illness or accident in the camps. Most of the cases attended were ifor slight accidents and illnesses of a trivial nature, It was noted that in all the camps a large proportion of men was treated for sore feet. The majority of such cases was due to badly fitting and improper boots.. It is to be deplored that more men do not wear the admirable boot supplied by the defence authorities. If this boot were universally worn there would be quite a 90-per-cent. reduction of men suffering from sore feet. J. R. Purdt, Colonel, Director of Medical Services.

7—H. 19.