46 
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF FIRST MILLION DRAFT RECRUITS. 
stenosis, or regurgitation, or stated as "organic murmurs," it is coded as a defect and 
ranks next to hernia and venereal disease in order of importance. Cardiac hypertrophy 
or dilatation, whether slight or marked, is always considered a defect. Tachycardia is 
considered only when characterized as "constant," "persistent," or by any other 
term that shows it to be of a permanent character and not from nervousness as a result 
of the physical examination. 
In considering defects of the lungs, "rales," "dullness over lungs," "bronchial 
breathing," "rough breathing," etc., are not taken as defects. If the man is rejected 
- or discharged from the Army for any of these physical signs, it is considered a defect. 
If any of the physical signs are found to fit in with 
any previous illness with other parts of the examina- 
tion, such as underweight, poor physical develop- 
ment, persistent cough, hemotysis, etc., then the 
symptoms for which the man was rejected or dis- 
charged are coded as near as possible as a definite 
disease. Asthma, tuberculosis, and similar diseases 
are always considered major defects. 
Diseases of the genito-urinary organs, like syphilis 
and gonorrhea, are always considered major defects 
and rank next to hernia in order of importance. 
Varicocele is not coded a defect unless it is said to be 
"marked," "large," or "with symptoms." Hydro- 
cele is always coded as a defect. Atrophy of the 
testicle is not considered, but defects such as monor- 
chism, cryptorchidism, or hypospadias are always 
coded. 
Hemorrhoids are considered only when "ex- 
ternal," "large," "bleeding," or "painful." Small 
epithelial or skin tabs are not coded. Fistula in ano 
is always a defect. 
All degrees of flatfoot are coded as defects. Hallux 
valgus is considered a defect, but overriding toes are 
not unless they are of such severity as to be a cause for 
rejection, and pronated feet only when "marked" or 
"severe." Weak, flaccid and spastic feet or similar 
conditions of the feet whose function can be restored 
by treatment are not considered. 
VI. GROUNDS OF REFERENCE TO MEDICAL 
ADVISORY BOARDS. 
The medical advisory boards were de- 
vised as a result of the experience of the 
first selective draft and became effective 
with the second draft after the induction of about 527,100 men. 
The organization of the medical advisory boards is indicated by 
the following extracts from the Selective Service Regulations of 
November 8, 1917. In these Regulations section 29 reads: 
Each State shall be carefully districted with due regard to communication and 
hospital facilities for the erection of a number of medical advisory boards computed 
with a view to the equitable and practical distribution of the work of reexamina- 
tion as provided herein and to the convenience of registrants and economy to the 
Government in sending registrants before such boards. 
Fig. 4.-Sorting machine: Cards are 
set on the metal platform (A); the 
motor (B) causes the cards to he 
automatically fed into the machine 
by a "feeder" (C). As the punch 
holes of a single column of figures 
come in contact with an electric 
needle, the cards are sorted and 
carried by a card-conveying belt 
(D) into the collecting boxes (E). 
Each box is numbered to corre- 
spond with the series of figures that 
appear on the punch card.