1164
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 33

the end of that period. A candidate so recommended will be re-examined at the end of six months, and will not be granted a commission unless he has then attained the standard which his increased age and height demand.

(c.) To reject a candidate as physically unfit.

No relaxation of the eyesight-test can ever be allowed.

Candidates who are pronounced unfit by a Medical Board in the United Kingdom under (c) will be allowed to present themselves for re-examination by an Appeal Board which will assemble in London a few days later.

Notification that a candidate will appeal must be made to the Director-General, Army Medical Service, War Office, London, S.W., within four days of the first medical examination, accompanied by a fee of four guineas, which will be returned if the candidate is passed fit. (Cheques, &c., should be made payable to the Assistant Financial Secretary, War Office.)

The decision of the Appeal Board will, in all cases, be absolutely final.

A candidate who is rejected by that Board can under no circumstances be medically re-examined, unless he be again nominated under paragraph 3.

Preliminary Medical Examination.

15. It is suggested that a candidate before commencing his course of study should undergo a thorough medical examination. By such an examination any serious physical disqualification would be revealed and the candidate probably spared expense and the mortification of rejection.

16. Candidates may undergo a preliminary examination by a military Medical Board, not more than three years before they compete, under the following conditions:—

(a.) In the United Kingdom applications must be addressed to the Secretary, War Office, London, S.W., accompanied by a fee of two guineas. (Cheques, &c., should be made payable to the Assistant Financial Secretary, War Office.)

In the colonies applications must be addressed to the colonial authorities, accompanied by a fee to be assessed by them.

(b.) Instructions will be issued for the examination to take place at the military station nearest the candidate’s residence where a Medical Board can be held.

In the colonies the Board will be constituted by the colonial authorities, and will be composed of military medical officers, or, when this is not practicable, of civil medical practitioners of recognised professional standing.

The result will be notified to candidates by the Board.

(c.) Candidates must pay their travelling-expenses.

(d.) Candidates found unfit by the preliminary Medical Board are not bound to accept its finding, but may, at their own risk, continue their studies, and if nominated may then submit themselves for medical examination by the final Medical Board.

(e.) It must be distinctly understood that passing such preliminary Medical Board is solely for the candidate’s information, and would give him no sort of claim to be accepted as physically fit when he is nominated by the University Board. His acceptance will depend entirely upon the report of the final Medical Board, which examines nominated candidates. Candidates may be fit for the service at the preliminary examination, but may become disqualified by some subsequent physical deterioration.

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX I.

Physical and Medical Examination of Candidates for Commissions in the Army.

I. A candidate for a commission in His Majesty’s army must be in good mental and bodily health, and free from any physical defect likely to interfere with the efficient performance of military duty.

II. The attention of the Board will be directed to the following points:—

(a.) That the correlation of age, height, and chest-girth is not less than that which is given in the following table:—

Physical Equivalents.

(b.) Measurement of height.

The candidate will be placed against the standard with his feet together, and the weight thrown on the heels, and not on the toes or outside of the feet. He will stand erect without rigidity, and with the heels, calves, buttocks, and the shoulders touching the standard; the chin will be depressed to bring the vertex of the head level under the horizontal bar, and the height will be noted in parts of an inch to eighths.

(c.) Measurement of chest.

The candidate will be made to stand erect, with his feet together, and to raise his arms above his head. The tape will be carefully adjusted round the chest, with its posterior upper edge touching the inferior angles of the shoulder-blades, and its anterior lower edge the upper part of the nipples. The arms will then be lowered to hang loosely by the side, and care will be taken that the shoulders are not thrown upwards or backwards so as to displace the tape. The candidate will then be directed to take a deep inspiration several times, and the maximum expansion of the chest will be carefully noted. It is often attempted to conceal the true minimum measurement, but it can be obtained by a little manipulation and by drawing off attention from the examination by a few questions.

The maximum expansion rarely exceeds the average minimum by more than 2 in. to 2½ in.

The minimum and maximum will then be recorded thus,—

33 34 &c.
35’ 36½

In recording the measurements, fractions of less than ½ in. should not be noted.

(d.) The candidate will also be weighed, and his weight recorded on the proceedings of the Board.

(e.) Eyesight.

The regulations regarding the examination of eyesight are as follows:—

The army test types and Snellen’s optotypi (1892 edition) will be used for the determination of the visual acuteness.

If a candidate can read D = 6 at 6 metres (20 English feet), and D = 0·6 at any distance selected by himself, with each eye without glasses, he will be considered fit.

If a candidate can only read D = 24 at 6 metres (20 English feet) with each eye without glasses, his visual deficiency being due to faulty refraction which can be corrected by glasses which enable him to read D = 6 at