Right thumb, abscess and deafness was rejected on the ground that a ratable degree of disability from said causes was not shown from date of filing application.

            The muster rolls of claimant’s company report him as sick in quarters June 10 to 15, June 22 to 27, June 29 to July 2, July 8 to 18, August 27 to September 1, September 30 to October 1, October 13 to 23, 1898, and January 7 to 15, 1899; all dates inclusive and all sickness not in line of duty; also sick in quarters February 5 to 10, July 5, July 9 to 12, July 21 to August 4, August 30 to September 10, 1899; sick in First Reserve Hospital, Manila, P.I. July 13 to 20, 1899; all dates inclusive and all sickness in line of duty.  The muster rolls further show him as wounded in right thumb in action near Manila, February 5, 1899.  The medical records on file in the War Department show him treated in service as follows:

            May 16 to 24, 1898, chancroid, venereal, not in line of duty, cured; July 8 to 19, 1898, acute gonorrhea; January 8 to 16, 1899, malarial fever; May 10 to 17 and July 3 to 6, 1899, diarrhea, acute; July 8 to 11, 1899, otitis externa, right ear, acute, in line of duty; July 11 to 20, 1899, acute suppurative, otitis externa, right in line of duty; August 31 to September 20, 1899, abscess right axilla caused by irritation, in line of duty.  No additional record of disability found.

            In his examination preliminary to discharge claimant declared to the discharging officers that he was suffering from dyspepsia and indigestion, rheumatism, and kidney trouble contracted in service.  His captain, however, certified that he knew of no disability from which soldier suffering, and a board of Army surgeons reported that none was found after physical examination.

            Two comrades testified in affidavits filed in the Pension Bureau that soldier contacted rheumatism and had abscess in left ear and was in hospital in Manila during the month of July, 1899.

            Another comrade in letter dated April 25, 1909, addressed to Commissioner of Pensions, stated as follows:

He (soldier) asks me to make an affidavit in support of his claim for a pension for rheumatism contracted in the Army.  I have a distinct recollection of his having been afflicted with various venereal diseases from shortly after his enlistment until the regiment was mustered out.  He was excused from duty a larger part of the time on account of these disabilities not incurred in the line of duty, and it is my firm belief that whatever disability he might have now is a result of the same thing.  I have known him for many years, and I have always, when in the same locality with him, been on rather friendly basis with him, but do not think I can afford to swear that I believe he suffered any disability incurred in the line of duty, because he was on duty such a small part of the time.

            Neighbors have testified to the effect that claimant has been afflicted with rheumatism and of his being bothered with abscess in left ear from the time of his discharge from the Army.

            Claimant, who is 41 years of age, was first examined March 2, 1904, by a board of surgeons, who rated him $2 on wound of right thumb and $4 on rheumatism.  He was examined July 20, 1904, by a second board of surgeons, who rated him $2 on wound of right thumb; $4 on disease of ears, and resulting deafness, and $4 on heart disease.

            Accompanying the bill is the evidence of three neighbors, who state that they have known claimant for over 10 years; that he has been troubled more or less and at times very severely from rheumatism; that he has been wounded in right thumb and has an old abscess in left ear; that he is suffering from general nervousness, impairing his health, and that he has been and is incapacitated one-half from what should be his normal condition.

Also affidavit of Dr. E. P. French, who states, January 24, 1916, that he has been soldier’s physician for more than 10 years past; that during this period he has treated soldier for rheumatism, stomach trouble, kidney and bladder trouble, all of which has impaired his health.

This committee report the bill favorably and recommend that he be granted a pension at the rate of $6 per month.