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 Duke University Libraries 
 
 Circular / 
 Conf Pam 12mo #761 
 
 
CIRCULAR. 
 
 CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 \\ \li lMl'ARTMKNT, 
 
 Richmond, Va.% December 10, 1863. 
 
 The following additional instructions arc published for the information 
 end guidance of medical officers and employed physicians on conscript 
 dut.v : 
 
 J. AttentioB is urgently called to the requirement* of General Orders, 
 No. 22, in connection with section 1. paragraph [V, of which it is further 
 required, that in all cases of debility, the cause to which it is attributable, 
 or upon which -it is eonsequent, be cl< sely Investigated as to its temporary 
 or permanent nature, and that this cause be si ( forth in all certifieate 1 * and 
 reports required from Medical Boards foV tin examination of conscripts. 
 
 2. In rheumatism, not only its duration, and its nature, whether acute 
 or chronic, articular or muscular, must 1"' determuied and designated, 
 hut also whether there be swelling, contraction of the joints, waste of 
 tissues, or any accompanying 
 
 ;t. Very many dyspepti :s air benefited, if not entirely relieved by the 
 change id' life, and tin' active duties of a soldier in the field. Dyspepsia, 
 therefore, ooless of an extremely aggravated character, and accompanied 
 with much emaciation and debility, is not accept' d as authority for ex- 
 emption. 
 
 4. Large numbers of the subjects of urethral stricture, as a general 
 rule, perform, and arc capable of performing the active duties of civil and 
 military life. This, their, unless of an aggravated character, will not bo 
 recognised as a cause for exemption. 
 
 f>. The mere determination and announcement of the existence of such 
 diseases as scrofula, hepatitis, spinal irritation ami cachexia, do not war- 
 rant exemption: their special seat, degree of development, and the con- 
 sequent disqualifying condition, as well as the general state of the sys- 
 tem, must be disii raid ami intelligibly reported. 
 
 li. In cases of atrophy of the limbs, definite and satisfactory explana- 
 tions must be made as to its cause, exteut, and the accompanying loss of 
 power. 
 
 7. In tuberculosis, the extent of the disease should, as far as practica- 
 
ble, be diagnosed, and full statements made as to the lose of flesh, and 
 other prominent symptoms. 
 
 8. Whenever discernible, in all cases not accepted, the degree or extent, 
 and the seat and duration of the existing disability should be distinctly 
 set forth. 
 
 9. All cases, of which the decision is doubtful, according to instruc- 
 tions herein published, or now in force, concerning special diseases, will 
 be decided upon the following principle, viz: 
 
 When a conscript is found equal to, or in the performance of the active 
 duties of the various occupations of civil life, he is able to discharge the 
 duties of a soldier. 
 
 10. Conscripts previously examined and reported, on bciug again en- 
 tered on the Record of Conscripts, will be noted " Re-examination." 
 
 11. When an exemption is only temporary, it will be distinctly noted 
 in the Monthly Record of Conscripts as a "temporary exemption ;" and 
 the terms " furloughi-d" and " discharged" will not be used therein, or 
 in certilieates, instead of, or in the place of the terms temporarily ex- 
 empted, and exempted. 
 
 12. Members of the Examining Hoards are prohibited from recommend- 
 ing furloughs to conscripts. In connection with this prohibition, their 
 attention is called to paragraph I, General Orders, No. 135, current series, 
 here quoted for their information, viz: 
 
 • "I. Recruiting officers and others are forbidden to grant permits to 
 conscripts or deserters, allowing them to visit their homes, or to. remain 
 there fox any purpose. The notice already given conscripts is deemed 
 sufficient, and deserters aie not entitled to indulgence." 
 
 13. The concluding clause of paragraph XI, General Orders, No. 39, 
 current series, Adjutant and Inspector General's office, prohibits the 
 granting of temporary exemptions for a "period beyond thirty days." 
 
 14. Temporary exemptions will not be granted for the purpose of al- 
 lowing conscripts to hunt up evidence of disability. If proper certifi- 
 cates are not, presented on their appearance before the Examining Board, 
 the action of the Examining Board will be based solely on the opinion 
 formed from personal examination. Certificates, either from medical offi- 
 cers or private physicians, unless sustained by the opinion of the board, 
 will not influence' its action. 
 
 15. Temporary exemptions will not be granted in cases of trivial disa- 
 bilily or of a temporary nature, in which recovery can be as satisfactorily 
 accomplished at the camp of instruction as at their places of residence. 
 
 10. Temporary exemptions are not to be granted at all, except in cases 
 
of acute or serious disease or injury, where the disability is probably not 
 permanent. 
 
 17. When the conscript, by reason of alleged infirmity, cannot appeal 
 before the board, and his case cannot be axamini d and n port '1 apon by 
 a medical officer, the certificate 6f the local 'enrolling offic. r, on personal 
 inspection, aeeompanii d by a physician's certificate, will be acropftofl as 
 a satisfactory reason for his non-appearance. 
 
 18. In the examination of men, not subject to conscription, for accep- 
 tance as substitutes, the members of the Examining Board for Conscripts 
 are instructed to carefully guard the interests of the service, not only by 
 a rigid search for existing disqualifying defects, but by the. institution of 
 a close scrutiny as to the probability of the future developsienl or the 
 reappearance of disabling affections, to which men are more subject in 
 declining life. 
 
 19. In accordance with the requirements of paragraph VI I, Genera! 
 Orders, No. 141, current series, A. & I. G. O., no person will be received 
 as a substitute who does not meet the full requirements of paragraph 43, 
 Medical Regulations. 
 
 20. The decision of the Examining Board for Conscripts is final against 
 all other medical tribunals, except the action taken at camps of instruc- 
 tion, in accordance with paragraph II, General Ordete, No. 107, and their 
 own revision, as authorized in Genera] Orders from the Adjutant and In- 
 spector General's department, or directed by the Surgeon (ieneral. upon 
 finding the causes alleged for exemption, in the Kecord of Consciipts, to 
 be invalid. 
 
 JAS. A. SEDDOX. 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 
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Hollinger Corp. 
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