Dr. Raiford's Physician's Affidavit, Opening Page
This printed "Physician's Affidavit" form is the opening page of the same examination whose closing portion appears on page 34, filed under the caption "Elias Roberts, Mex. Increase, for Pension" and received by the Pension Office March 12, 1894. M.D. Raiford, of 1409 Elysian Street, Houston, Texas, stated he had practiced medicine for 24 years and had known Elias Roberts for about fifteen years. Examining him that day at age 71, Dr. Raiford found a single inguino-scrotal hernia alone sufficient to disable him from manual labor, along with Diabetes Mellitus — confirmed by glycosuria in his urine that day and traced back to 1887 — now producing wasting and early ocular symptoms (myopia without lens opacity), plus incipient structural heart disease in the form of dilatation. Dr. Raiford noted he had personally treated Roberts for diabetes back in 1887, and that the combination of hernia and diabetes had since left him unable to earn a living by manual labor.
Full Transcription
(circular Pension Office receipt stamp, upper left, partly obscured/inverted: "PENSION OFFICE. U.S. MAR 12 1894")
☞ This affidavit should, if possible, be in the handwriting of the Physician. Marginal Instructions should be carefully read before beginning it.
PHYSICIAN'S AFFIDAVIT.
State of Texas, County of Harris, ss.:
In the matter of Elias Roberts, Mex. Increase, for Pension.
Personally appeared before me, a ......................... in and for aforesaid County and State
M. D. Raiford
(Name of Physician.)
who, being duly sworn, declares, in relation to aforesaid case, as follows: That his residence and P. O. Address are as follows: 1409 Elysian Street, Houston, Texas — that he has been a practicing Physician for 24 years, and has been acquainted with said soldier for about fifteen years; that he has this day examined said soldier for the purpose of ascertaining his exact present physical condition, and that he finds the same to be as follows, to wit: (See marginal note.)
I certify that I have this day examined the soldier Elias Roberts and have ascertained his physical condition. I find he is suffering from inguino-scrotal hernia (single) which alone at his advanced age 71 years, disables him from manual labor. That he has Diabetes Mellitus (pathognomonic glycosuria having been found in testing his urine this day — and has been in his case for years, since 1887) of that variety which is associated with wasting due to the lesions of the pancreas — which has of late developed ocular symptoms — a myopia, without opacity of the lens. I find also structural disease of the heart — Dilatation — which is incipient.
I certify that I treated the said soldier Elias Roberts during the year 1887 for Diabetes; his condition during my treatment was such as accompanies Diabetes Mellitus critical; till now it and Hernia together has incapacitated him from earning a livelihood by manual labor. Scrotal Hernia, Diabetes Mellitus and Dilatation
(text continues onto the next page — marked "[OVER.]")
(printed marginal note, left margin:)
☞READ. The physician should carefully examine the claimant, and state in medical terms all the diseases that he is now suffering from; the precise nature of each, and the extent the same would prevent a man from doing regular manual labor.
If the physician has ever treated claimant, he should give a brief statement of what his condition was during such treatment.
