On the growth of the recruit and young soldier : with a view to a judicious selection of "growing lads" for the army, and a regulated system of training for recruits / by Sir William Aitken.

  • Aitken, William, 1825-1892.
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the growth of the recruit and young soldier : with a view to a judicious selection of "growing lads" for the army, and a regulated system of training for recruits / by Sir William Aitken. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    of any army. The military medical officer, from the nature of his education and studies, ought to be better acquainted with the nature of the material of which armies are composed than men of any other profes- sion ; and, in order that none but able-bodied men should be put in the field, a thorough and systematic examination of them is necessary. For it has been fully demonstrated that the placing of growing lads in the field, who are physically immature, has not only been poor economy, but has sometimes been fatal to the success of military operations. Such lads have always been found disqualified and unable to per- form the duties or to endure the hardships incident to the life of a soldier. Nothing is so expensive as an unhealthy mili- tary force and an army raised without due regard to the choice of recruits was never yet made a good army by any length of service.^ The changes in the organisation of the Army and its Medical Staff during the past ten years have greatly increased the duties and responsibilities of the military medical officer, especially as to the selection of growing lads and young men for the services; and also in maintaining them in health and efficiency : (i) as recruits under training ; and (2) as soldiers in the ranks. The duties and responsibilities of medical men in civil life who undertake the duty of examining recruits have also proportionately increased. 1 Dr. William Farr. 2 Vegetius Renatus, De re Militan, vol. i. cap. 7-