Missed my stop...

One or two centuries too far...
Jan 27 '12
Form to be filled out by the Surgeon examining a recruit.  If the recruit is under the age of consent (18), but has a written consent from his parents, Tripler’s Manual for the Medical Officer suggests the surgeon consider the following, which encapsulates some of the nasty things that could happen to you during a war: ” When young men of this age are well made and have a true aptitude for the profession of arms, they are capable of making excellent soldiers. But it must not be lost sight of, that there are few at this age, fit for this profession. The body has not yet attained the necessary strength, the organs have not yet arrived at that stage of vigor, which will permit them to pass rapidly without a careful transition, from a state of repose to one of violent exercise; and it must be borne in mind that by the term ” organs” we do not mean only those of locomotion ; as the expressions repose and exercise,we have just employed, might suggest; but we intend also to include the viscera themselves. ‘.Thus, at this age, the gastrointestinal mucous membrane is too readily over-excitable —the lungs are too susceptible of morbid impressions. This is the epoch of pulmonary congestions, of haemoptysis, of those obstinate bronchites, the frequent recurrence of which leads almost inevitably to phthisis. At this age likewise, the nervous system is far from having arrived at its maximum of functional development, its play is still most irregular. How then under so many disadvantages, is it possible to encounter successfully the fatigues and accidents of war ? How, with an irritable stomach, accommodate oneself to food the most diverse and frequently the most indigestible ? How with lungs so pre-disposed to disease, support such severe changes of temperature, heat, cold, moisture ? How bivouac, how sleep in the mud, in the snow, without shelter, without fire ? How with a nervous system still immature, at least in its functional relations, find in oneself sufficient moral energy to contend successfully against all those elements of destruction which surround the soldier in campaign?” The best question?: “Or have you ever had the ‘horrors’”?

Form to be filled out by the Surgeon examining a recruit.  If the recruit is under the age of consent (18), but has a written consent from his parents, Tripler’s Manual for the Medical Officer suggests the surgeon consider the following, which encapsulates some of the nasty things that could happen to you during a war:

” When young men of this age are well made and have a true aptitude for the profession of arms, they are capable of making excellent soldiers. But it must not be lost sight of, that there are few at this age, fit for this profession. The body has not yet attained the necessary strength, the organs have not yet arrived at that stage of vigor, which will permit them to pass rapidly without a careful transition, from a state of repose to one of violent exercise; and it must be borne in mind that by the term ” organs” we do not mean only those of locomotion ; as the expressions repose and exercise,we have just employed, might suggest; but we intend also to include the viscera themselves. ‘.Thus, at this age, the gastrointestinal mucous membrane is too readily over-excitable —the lungs are too susceptible of morbid impressions. This is the epoch of pulmonary congestions, of haemoptysis, of those obstinate bronchites, the frequent recurrence of which leads almost inevitably to phthisis. At this age likewise, the nervous system is far from having arrived at its maximum of functional development, its play is still most irregular. How then under so many disadvantages, is it possible to encounter successfully the fatigues and accidents of war ? How, with an irritable stomach, accommodate oneself to food the most diverse and frequently the most indigestible ? How with lungs so pre-disposed to disease, support such severe changes of temperature, heat, cold, moisture ? How bivouac, how sleep in the mud, in the snow, without shelter, without fire ? How with a nervous system still immature, at least in its functional relations, find in oneself sufficient moral energy to contend successfully against all those elements of destruction which surround the soldier in campaign?”

The best question?: “Or have you ever had the ‘horrors’”?

2 notes Tags: civil war medicine civil war medine doctor soldier history reenactor

  1. an-uncivil-affair reblogged this from cwlivinghistory
  2. the-fisher-queen reblogged this from cwlivinghistory and added:
    have you ever had the horrors? …goodness, I’d hope not…
  3. cwlivinghistory posted this