What this is about and why it matters
This book presents a comprehensive look at the physical examinations of the first million draftees during mobilization. It compiles the methods, standards, and results used to assess fitness for service in a large-scale draft, offering historical insight into medical screening at the time.
What you’ll find is a detailed record of examination practices, the standards applied, and the kinds of defects that were identified across many states and districts. The work integrates classifications, the role of medical advisory boards, and the impact of urban versus rural conditions on health findings. It reads as a field-wide snapshot of public health and military medicine in a formative era.
- Descriptions of the physical examination standards used in mobilization camps.
- Statistical results showing how many recruits met or failed key health criteria.
- Curated data on common defects, from vision and heart conditions to skin and musculoskeletal issues.
- Comparisons across urban and rural districts and across major cities.
Ideal for readers of military history, public health, and historical medical statistics, this edition provides both context and concrete data from a pivotal period. It’s a resource for researchers, students, and anyone curious about early 20th‑century medical screening at scale and its implications for policy and practice.