SICKNESS IN CAMPS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3056, 17 April 1917, Page 6

SICKNESS IN CAMPS

;%■;:,;/■■:.;■ a /W 1 ;-. ■ .THREE CASES OF DIPHTHERIA. Three mild cases of diphtheria have been discovered at Trentham Camp imong t!he recruits of the Twenty-eighth iteinforcementsj who ' were mobilised .last week. The men had contracted, the complaint in their own homes, and it: is a curious fact that one patient' came from Auckland, one from Wellington and the other from Dunedin. The cases were detected very soon after the drafts reached camp, and were promptly isolated. Steps have been taken to examine possible contacts and check auy.spread of the trouble. .■■■■ ': ■'■ ■:"'• ■:■' ■-' .

,-~A" case of cerebro-spinal meningitis is'^r epbrted f r6m -,-Tauherenikau. . The paffent'ifs- a.member °f ■ the.. Twentyeeyerith Reinforcements, and , entered ;,cainp three weeks ago from Otago: .Be is.making satisfactory progress. ■Referring to these'cases yesterday, Surgeon-General Henderson, DirectorGeneral of Medical Services, said that' as in many other instances the; infection had taken place outside the camps. 'Experience had emphasised the importance of a very .thorough medical.. examination -of, the recruits when they entered camp, with the object of 'detecting diseases before it could spread from one man to another, and he hoped that it would soon ; be possible to take "swabs" of-the men's throats immediately' after : ; mobilisation. .The: system would entail a. very large amount of work, but it .would,.enable.the medical staff ito- detect, such, troubles as diphtheria", arid meningitis at a, very early' stage,, and it'would - also assist,in the elimination :pf■"carriers." ■'.• The treatment given in the camps and on board; the transports,- including "swabbing"' and ■ inhaling, undoubtedly had proved effective. ■ "No. , 'fatal case .of cerebrospinal meningitis had taken pface on board 'a\ New Zealand transport since September; last when the inhaling chambers were first installed on the vessels. The, inhaling chambers in use in the camps had given excellent results, and the,general health of the men in camp at the present time was particularly good. ■ , ,