Volume 1

Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Physical Deterioration.

  • Great Britain. Inter-Departmental Committee on Physical Deterioration.
Date:
1904
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Physical Deterioration. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/152 (page 2)
    2 6. The Royal College of Physicians were, however, disposed to think that an inquiry into the present physical condition of the nation would be of great value ; but the Royal College of Surgeons, on the other hand, did not see any particular need for any such investigation on a large scale, deeming that the well-known facts relating to public health were sufficient to dispel anxiety. 7. Both Colleges having laid stress upon the fact that the figures them to support the view that an increasing deterioration in physique is taking place in the classes of the population from which military recruits are chiefly drawn, and the Royal College of Physicians having failed to obtain information through the Home Office which might explain the apparent. contradiction between the general tone of the Memorandum and the figures given, the Committee thought it expedient to ask the Secretary of State for War to obtain from the Director-General some further explanation of his views. and also to furnish any information in the possession of his Department that: hrew light upon the figures included under Head 1 of the first Table in the original Memorandum, comprising ‘labourers, servants, husbandmen, etc.,” from which classes by far the largest number of recruits were drawn. ‘To the first request the Secretary of State for War was good enough to respond at once, and in a Memorandum, which was supplemented by some valuable the opinion that the idea of ‘progressive physical deterioration” had occupied a much too prominent position in the minds of those who had had to consider and report as to the advisability of inquiry. ‘The Director- General went on to say: : ‘“‘T consider that it is impossible to obtain reliable statistical or other data regarding the conditions that have existed in the past; and, consequently, as no reliable dafa are obtainable for purposes of comparison, I do not see how the question can be dealt with from the progressive deterioration point of view. Whether or not there has been, or is, progressive physical deteriora- tion among the classes now in question is a matter of very great importance, no doubt; but, in my opinion, it is not the chief question from a practical standpoint. To my mind the principal question for the Committee is to inquire into the causes and present extent of the physical wnfitness that undoubtedly exists in a large degree among certain classes of the population. The question dealt with in my original Memorandum was not that there was evidence of progressive physical deterioration of the race, either in whole or in part, but that it isa most disturbing fact that from 40 to 60 per cent. of the men who present themselves for enlistment are found to be physically unfit for military service. Even if the proportion is no greater than in the past, surely itis a state of matters worthy of the closest investigation, and one which no thinking man can wish to see continue. Moreover, it would be out of keeping with the progressive spirit of the times we live in for us to be content with the consolation that we are no worse off than we were fifty or even twenty years ago. I trust that the inquiry may end in suggestions that will lead to the institution of measures which will result in bringing about a marked improvement of the physique of the classes from which our recruits are at present drawn.” 8. The Committee proceeded to forward copies of this Memorandum and the accompanying Tables to the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons respectively, with the request that they would take them into consideration ; and while favouring the Committee with any observations it was desired to make, would be careful to state whether the perusal of the sapplementary matter so furnished suggested the modification in any degree of the opinions previously expressed on the subject. 9. In their replies, it was noted by both Colleges that some little misapprehension had been caused by the tenour of the first Memorandum as to the question which it was intended to place before them, but the College of Surgeons did not think it had appreciably affected their judgment, which remuined the same after a perusal of the second Memorandum. ‘The College of Physicians, on the other hand, while adhering to the opinion *‘ that sufficient data were not available for forming a judgment on the extremely complex question of the occurrence or not of progressive degeneration in the classes from which recruits are mainly drawn,” expressed themselves in favour of ‘“‘an,inquiry into the present extent and causes of the alleged physical disability for military service of certain classes of the population.”