in rather than be continually annoyed by taking it. These and other harmless means to act on the fears, feelings, and obstinacy of men, can be safely, properly, and adroitly used by the surgeon.

In the sequel it will be seen, that some desperate malingerers were detected when in a state of intoxication. They got drunk, their disability was forgotten by them, and thus they were exposed. How far is an officer morally excusable in resorting to this means of detection? The writer will not presume to decide for others in this matter. It is a fit subject for reflection, and for the decision of each surgeon's casuistry.

LXXI.

It may be a principal object with the simulator to be sent from regimental to general

hospital, because there he has a new sphere and diversified aids for imposition. While, therefore, the surgeon exercises sound discretion in keeping the man in hospital, he should never, while there is a shadow of doubt, send him to general hospital. He who has longest had charge of the patient, is the best judge of the propriety of giving him a certificate for discharge. Sometimes, by sending a soldier into general hospital, he may be placed under the care of a more experienced officer; or, in doubtful cases, if change to a healthier air is gained by sending him in, it should be done. Always remember that recruits and young soldiers should be as little as possible in hospital.

The soldier sometimes desires to be discharged in the advanced stage of incurable disease. As he is not at such a time the judge of what is best for him, the surgeon should not discharge him, unless the sick

man is near his friends, and they, with competent means, be willing to take care of him. The soldier thus situated is entitled to all the comforts of a military hospital.

PART II.

ON

DISQUALIFYING DISEASES,

AND THE MEANS OF

DETECTING FEIGNED DISEASES.

LXXII.

THE most conspicuous causes that permanently disqualify soldiers for military duty will now be briefly, but it is hoped, perspicuously considered. It readily occurs to the surgeon, that many causes which justify rejection of a recruit, demand the discharge of the soldier; and that proper reference to what has been said in a former part of this work, will save tedious repetition under this head.

When a soldier applies for a certificate of disability, the surgeon looks first for general signs of physical disqualification; and special observation is invited by the nature of his local complaints. If what has been said on the marks of ill health in former paragraphs is recollected, much ground is covered in the outset of the inspection by this constitutional view. When disease exists in organs of assimilation, emaciation follows necessarily on the loss of supply to the system. If rheumatic or neuralgic irritation is of long standing, medical physiognomy exhibits, in addition to other evidences, a peculiar anxiety in the countenance, as if the muscles, expressive of painful suffering, had become fixed in that expression. When youth or early manhood shows emaciation, though without local signs, destructive constitutional process is at work. By these general considerations the surgeon is readily introduced to those of local lesion