Short-arm inspection
Introduction Painting by Carel Weight of British Army recruits undergoing medical inspection, 1942 (Imperial War Museum art collection)The term "'''short-arm inspection'''" is a military euphemism referring to the routine medical inspection of male soldiers' penises ("short arms") for signs of sexually-transmitted diseases and other medical problems.The precise origin of the term is uncertain; however, American and Australian troops are known to have used the term during the First World War.
Examples The practice within the Imperial Japanese Army during World War 2 was described by an anonymous American soldier, who had been forced to work as a truck driver while held as a prisoner of war, and who came into daily close contact with Japanese soldiers.
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