NEW ZEALAND DOCTOR AT THE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2708, 1 March 1916, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND DOCTOR AT THE FRONT

LIEUT-COLONEL FF/NWICIt'S EXPERIENCES, Lieut.-Colonel Fenwick, a Nciv Zealand doctor, returned to Australia with the hospital ship Karoola, alter spending 17 months at tlio front, and reached Wellington on Monday. Colonel Fenwick was connected with Major-General Godlcy's staff. Ho said the tusk set the. Australian and New Zealand Army Corps was one oF the severest tests sot any army in the war, and the way they had aequitted themselves had thoroughly merited the unstinted praise that had been expressed by the highest military commanders. Colonel Fenwick had been through Bloemfontoin during the severe epidemic of enteric fever that played such havoc with Lord Roberts's army, and expressed the opinion that the scourge was : even more severe at Airnc; but, he added, "the organisation of the medical service and the improved facilities for treating patients, both in the matter of transport and hospital treatment, had secured a considerable decrease in the percentage of deaths from iever. Nevertheless, the loss of effective fighting men from sickness was still a serious factor. A soldier who was not severely wounded would, in.the majority of cases, be able to return to ills unit in a few weeks, but when fever and dysentery claimed, them, only a small proportion were again able to tal;e their places in the firing line. The climatic conditions in Egypt also were particularly trying, and. were to a great extent responsible for the very severe strain placed on the hospital staffs, who, the colonel added with emphasis, had done remarkable work, and the organisation had reached the highest stalo of efficiency. The call for medical men was urgent, because the doctors who had volunteered early in the war had been through such strenuous times that they should in fairness be relieved ana enabled to take well-earned rest. The strain of hospital work at the front and ttio large bases was particularly severe, and when sickness depleted the effective staff the remaining .A.M. U. officers had to undertake duties that would break the strongest constitutions. Dr. Purdie, formerly Chief Health Officer in Sydney, was on Colonel Fenwick's staff, and the latter spoke in glowing terms of the splendid workDr. Purdie had done intlio matter of sanitation in Egypt, which was at Eho outset one of the most difficult problems the army medical service had to deal with. Dr. Purdie had brought about great improvements, and was an indefatigable ofticor. Referring to the hospital ship Karoola, Colonel Fenwick remarked that he had seen a great number of the larger hospital ships in the Mediterranean, and had no hesitation in stating that this vessel was without a doubt the best-equipped hospital ship he knew. It had been fitted up, the doctor said, with great foresight and attention to details that counted so much for efficiency at sea. He paid a high tribute to the splendid organising and administrative abilities of Colonel Craig, the medical officer in charge, who, he said, inspired the greatest confidence in his staff, and. was very popular with the unfortunate soldiers under his care. The voyage from Egypt had greatly benefited the sick and wounded on board, and the satisfactory way in which most of the returned soldiers were able to land was the best evidence of the skilful treatment and comfort that Colonel Craig had secured for them during their sojourn on the Karoola. •