Physical Standards in World War II

The Hospital Committee was more adventurous in those days than now would be considered proper; they appointed Maudsley when he was only twenty-four, and his successor George Mould, when he was twenty-seven. In both instances the governors' courage was justified by the flourishing state of the hospital under the guidance of these two able men. In the present generation the medical direction has similarly been in capable hands. The prominence now given to occupation in the treatment of the patients had been part of an energetic and far-sighted therapeutic programme. A regrettable change of policy occurred in 1923. The Committee of Cheadle Royal in that year gave notice to the University that they could no longer provide facilities for medical students to attend for clinical teaching; this terminated an arrangement which derived from the original association with the Royal Infirmary. In the wars of this century the medical profession has played an increasingly important part in conserving manpower by enabling a larger proportion of the sick and wounded to return to active duty. Another valuable but not so spectacular duty they have performed has been the examination of recruits and the estimation of their suitability for various posts; for this purpose certain physical standards had to be set up, and this volume deals with the physical standards adopted by the medical department of the United States Army in the World War of 1939-1945. The first 127 pages contain a general account of the principles adopted and regulations issued during that war; this is followed by more than 200 pages giving the text of the regulations accompanying mobilization, and the Army orders sent out at intervals during the war. The book concludes with a tabulated summary of physical standards and a useful index. More than a year before the entry of the United States into the war, Congress authorized the Selective Service System which had the function of choosing those men who were physically fit and able to be spared from their civilian employment. For the medical examinations a total of 6,443 medical boards, each containing eleven medical officers and one dentist, were formed throughout the States. When the U.S.A. entered the war greater urgency for a time required each board to examine 200 candidates each working day of eight hours-rather too quick for thorough examination. Available men were examined again at the Army stations before being inducted, and at a …