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Show THEIR JOB TO FIND ARMY NOT EXCUSES Dr. Benj. E. Merrill, a California physickiii, member of a county examining exam-ining board, has the following very timely and pointed answer to criticism criti-cism regarding denial of exemptions: "The board wishes it understood that we are not examining men to find if they are physically flawless. The purpose is to find if they are strong enough for Uncle Sam's work. The gentleman with the sore nose would not be a prize-winner in the Letter Baby Contest, but soldiers neither march, dig trenches nor fire riiies with their noses, and he could not be exempted from the drafted army on account of some slight defect de-fect in his nasal organ. '"We are here to find soldiers, men, for the national army, not Apollos. . "To answer various inquiries and criticisms, it may be well to state that the medical examination of drafted men is being carried on ac- cording to" government instructions, Jalid solely for the purpose of getting an army of men (it for training. "It is not supposed that men can be found who have never had an illness, ill-ness, or who are now perfect specimens. speci-mens. "Certain defects cause rejections, others do not. In case the first three physicians give a man a 'red card,' he is examined by three more, and often as long as one-half hour is spent in special examination. "The idea is to pass every man possible, not to find an excuse to keep one at home. "Every man exempted, causes some other fellow to come up for examination. ex-amination. "When this new army reaches its first mobilization camp, each man will undergo a most rigid physical examination, and if any man is found deficient in health, or ifany defect exists, so that he cannot be trained to be an efficient soldier, it will surely sure-ly be discovered. "The examination board and its examiners are tying to do their duty according to instructions and with patriotic purpose. Doubtless this is appreeiated by the people, even though they are called upon for great sacrifices." |
