October April
Henderson 2970 4598
Oakman 3445 5055
Morris 2543 4869
Zooman 3070 5457
Coffman 2835 6269
Steltz 2838 4581
Loewenthal 2463 5277
Sliney 3245 5307
Fritz 2504 5178
Cohn 2210 4002
Broyles 2560 5530
Here we see gains in strength of 100 per cent in some cases, while
Coffman shows an improvement so marked as to be almost marvellous. While
there can be no question that a certain amount of this gain is to be
attributed to the practice incidental to these months of work in the
Gymnasium, it is equally clear that a large part of the gain is due
to the improved physical condition of the men’s bodies, for which the
change in diet must be considered as responsible. In any event, the
change from the ordinary diet to a diet comparatively poor in proteid has
not resulted in any physical deterioration. On the contrary, there is
every indication of a marked improvement in physical condition. In this
connection the following note from Dr. DeWitt, commanding the detachment,
is of interest:
332 TEMPLE STREET, NEW HAVEN, CONN.,
March 30, 1904.
Professor RUSSELL H. CHITTENDEN, _Director Sheffield Scientific
School_, NEW HAVEN, CONN.
SIR,—In compliance with your verbal request I have the honor to
inform you that at this date the men of this detachment are all
in good physical condition.
Very respectfully,
(Signed) WALLACE DEWITT,
_1st Lieut. and Asst. Surgeon U. S. Army, Commdg. Det. H. C._
Finally, attention may be called to the photographs of the men, taken
just prior to the close of the experiment, from which may be gained some
idea of their physical condition so far as it can be judged by external
appearance. Certainly, there is no indication in these photographs
of any lack of bodily vigor. On the contrary, there is good muscular
development, without any undue amount of fat, and indeed every indication
of a good bodily condition, coupled with that appearance of quickness
and alertness that belongs to the well-developed man, in a state of
physiological balance. The photographs scattered through this section of
the book, showing the soldiers at work in the gymnasium, likewise give
some idea of the lighter forms of exercise they followed each day in the
training of bodily movements.
* * * * *
What now is to be said regarding the nervous condition of the men; _i.
e._, their ability to respond to stimulation or, in other words, their
mental quickness or reaction time? To study this question, the soldiers
were sent with regularity to the Yale Psychological Laboratory, where
their reaction time was studied with great care. The results of this
investigation are contained in the following report made by Dr. Charles
H. Judd, in charge of the Yale Psychological Laboratory.