the obvious liability to injury, and in case of inflammation, the constriction that must result are, exclusive of other reasons, sufficient to establish these positions of the testes inadmissible in a soldier.

The position of one or both testes in the abdomen is, however, free from these objections, and medical officers differ as to whether a man so formed is fit for a soldier. The virility of such men may be little, if in any way impaired. Men so constituted have been admitted into the army, and instances, I dare say, could be produced of their perfect efficiency; yet, I believe, there are grave objections to their enlistment. The testicles may possibly descend at any time, the active duties of infantry or cavalry soldiers render the possibility more likely; if the descent did happen, a rupture must likewise appear. The testes are very liable to inflammation from gonorrhoea, occasionally also from syphilis, venereal excitement, &c.; if such occurred in the undescended organs, the treatment would be most unsatisfactory, and even the diagnosis might occasion some difficulty. Sir Astley Cooper remarks, that in these unnatural situations, the testes are prone to disease of a malignant character. Another objection would prevail in the circumstance, that a man so formed, would be the constant object of the ridicule of his comrades. This mal-position can be rarely witnessed in recruits, wherefore but little could be lost to the service by their rejection, and their admission would, in all cases, at least provide a hazard.

Distinct atrophy of both testes, to any amount, is an uncommon occurrence, and must depend, I conceive, upon some depraved state of the constitution; wherefore it ought to constitute unfitness. Atrophy of a testicle is said to arise from injuries, inflammatory affections, particularly in strumous habits, from diseases and obstructions in the chord, from excessive venery, &c. I am aware that great diversity of opinion prevails as to the disqualifying effect of partial atrophy of one testicle, and regret that I have no experience to offer on the subject; but I have obtained the opinion of some experienced medical officers, which certainly appears to me to comprehend the question; which is, that if a recruit was otherwise eligible, no strumous taint or disease of the chord appreciable, and the other testis normal, he should be judged fit.

I have, not infrequently, met in young men a condition of both and occasionally of one testis which may be designated a tardy developement, in which the full size of the testes is late in being established. The maturity of puberty is occasionally found slower in some young growing lads than in others; when the diminution is not excessive and there is no undue size of the breasts, and the voice is natural, there is little doubt but virility, in such cases, will be established; the question of fitness is then more connected with the sufficiency of robustness and the general appearances of health.

Hydrocele is in all cases disqualifying; it is often

seen in conjunction with enlargement of the testis, is usually a chronic disease, in soldiers nearly always progressive, often requiring surgical interference, and the result not always satisfactory.

If hæmorrhoids are complicated with hepatic, pulmonary or other affections, no observations are requisite to confirm the unfitness of the individual. When they are of any amount either in the congested or flaccid state, even though complication is not recognizable, a similar estimation should attach to them. But the stoutest and healthiest looking men are sometimes, on examination, found the subjects of one or two small hæmorrhoidal tumours external to the sphincter, a temporary production of trivial consequence, which, in my belief, ought not to cause rejection.

Fistulæ in ano and perineo are carefully to be looked for, especially the former, as a fistula may be situated in a fold of the nates, or skin, very small, and not be otherwise detectable. Fistula, in either of these situations, should cause rejection.

"15.-Debility of the feet or legs caused by varicose veins, old fractures, malformation (flat feet, &c.), palsy or lameness, contraction, mutilation, extenuation, enlargement, unequal length, bunions, overlaying or supernumerary toes, ganglions, &c. &c."

There are many divisions of varicose veins established, all based upon the degree of structural change rather than the extent. As occurring in the

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inferior extremities, the internal and external saphena veins almost exclusively require attention, as here or in their branches morbid deviations are usually found. Tall men and men of weak habit are said to be by much the most liable, yet all sizes and conditions are occasionally the subjects of varicose veins. Standing and walking must be chiefly considered as the exciting cause to soldiers, a varicose condition being very common in infantry, but much less so in cavalry. The commencement is usually by a dilatation of a vein or veins, is gradual in its increase, and, if extensive, becomes a most formidable injury to a soldier. As no prophylactic is possible, the constant exercise of the limbs nearly always increases the disease, producing pains in the limbs, swelling of the feet and legs, and varicose ulcers No one would think of passing a man having tortuous, elongated, or sacculated veins. The chief difficulty appears to consist in the amount of structural change, which ought to constitute unsoundness in a recruit. Dilated veins alone are not accounted true varix, and are seen in robust well proportioned men of trifling degree and importance; yet, I am inclined to think, if this condition was found engaging much of the superficial circulation in the main trunks of the veins, or their communicating or subsidiary branches, it should cause disapproval in an infantry recruit; the limit might be somewhat more extended for cavalry. However, it is not to be forgotten, that for no arm of the service

is a man with varicose veins to be approved. The ordinary exercise used during the examination is generally sufficient, but instances occur where it is necessary to enjoin greater exertion before the disability becomes fully apparent. By directing a recruit to stand upon his toes, the contraction of the gastrocnemii and soloei often render dilated or tortuous veins prominent.

Traces of fracture in the inferior extremities are to be esteemed almost invariably disqualifying; some of the remarks on this subject connected with the upper extremities are likewise applicable here; the power of alleging a disability is not to be lost sight of. The perfect integrity of the legs is so essential to a soldier as never to justify the passing of a man where the possibility of defect admits of a doubt.

KNOCK-KNEE requires more than a mere enumeration, since, with the exception of flat feet, it is the most common deformity connected with the lower extremities; in addition to which, I conceive, when the yielding at the knees is at all extensive, or even when in a minor degree it is connected with a slight frame, small muscle, or a habit of body in which the characteristics of a vigorous constitution are not fully apparent, that men so characterized are very ineligible recruits. Knock-knee appears, in some instances, to be hereditary; but is much more usually a condition arising in youth, when its developement is nearly always preceded and accom