TROOPSHIP EPIDEMIC

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 2, 27 September 1918, Page 6

TROOPSHIP EPIDEMIC

COURT OF INQUIRY

FINDINGS AND GENERAL HENDERSON'S

COiiliHliN'i'S

The Minister of Defence has received the roport of tho Court ui Inquiry which lias been held in England regarding the epidemic on the troopship o» which the. Fortieth Reinforcements were taken to England. The personnel ot the Court has not been communicated to the Minister, 'lhe. Minister gave to the Press the report, as follows, the portions in parentheses .being merely explanatory, and not part ot the report: "The disease wsb reported to be purulent bronchitis. The infeotion occurred at (the last port of call before the ship reached tho destination, and a port at which tho troops did not land). The high mortality was caused by bad ventilation through enforced closing of the ports. (The ports ore closed by Admiralty order for the sake of safety from'submarines.) There are differences of opinion in the expert evidence- as- to the effectiveness of the inhalation chamber, but the Court considers, it should have been used. The steps taken to oops with the epidemic were successful, in view of the fact that it was under oomplete control within ten days. Evidence of experts was given to the effect that all was done that could have been done. The'supply of drugs and stimulants was ample for normal conditions, but provision should be made for a greater supply in future in readiness for outbreaks of epidemics. - "Sister Maxtield' and the nurses did excellent work, but the medical orderlies were apparently inefficient. The master of tlio ship, Colonel Allen (not the Minister), tho medical officers, nurses, and men who volunteered ,as medical orderlies, rendered oxcollent service. "In future hammocks should be eighteen inches apart. Vaccination- for smallpox should be carried out before embarkation. The inhalation chamber should be' used after leaving every port of call. If mixed catarrhal vaccine inoculation is given before embarkation the resisting power of the meu will be increased. Supplies of anti-strepto-coocus serum should be available on board all transports, more than one strain if possible, and should be renewed in England and New Zealand. "The cases treated here are certified by experts to resemble those alfected by the epidemic at Sling Camp oar.ly this year. The Director-General of Medical Services in New Zealand, General Henderson, makes the following notes on the report:— . , Purulent bronchitis: During 1910 and 1916 tho opinion amongst the medical officers in the camps and tho sanitary officers was that this type of bronchitis and pneumonia was due to meningococcal (cerebro-spinal meningitis) infection. Pathologists in Britain do not yet admit the part played by. tho meningococcus in these outbreaks. Lieut.-Colonel Mill informs me that it is recognised in America. Use of inhalation chamber: It was probably too late to stop the epidenuo by this means when it had once taken hold. The recommendation that tho inhalation chamber should he used as a prophylactic after leaving every port has already been made-in consequence of the epidemic in ttie Thirty-ui'fit Hemiorcements, but the instructions were not issued until the (the ship carrying tile Fortieth Reinforcements) had left New Zealand. . Hammocks: The distance of eighteen inches between tho hooks carrying tlie hammocks was provided 1 in the ship, but owing to irregularities in tlio holds tho distance actually obtained was somewhat irregular. It is a matter tvhicli must bo taken lip Willi the Naval Transport Olhcor, and 1 have instructed the Director of Movements and yuartering accordinglyVentilation: IroUuuly thebost arrangement would be that an extraction shalt.in wliioh electric fans work should be pluced at various points in tlie holds fitted up for habitation. BJowers would tend to create a draught. Every transport would liave to be considered, separately, and fans arranged in accordance wiui circumstances. It. is a matter which will be taken up with the Naval 'transport, wiia, as representing tho Admiralty, control these matters. (Sir James Alien, interposed liore that he had discussed this matter of mechanical ventilation on previous occasions, but tlie Government had the greatest difficulty in procuring those fans. A few of them had been obtained.). Vaccination: I thould like to consider the'evidence whereby the after-effects of vaccination were supposed to have affected the. resistance of the men. Personally i am sceptical on the point, owing to tho lengtn of time between vaccination, which occurs early oil the voyage, and the date of the outbreak. Mixed catarrhal vaccine: We do not know on what grounds tho suggestion to use vaccine is based. Catarrhal infections are not protective, but rather decrease resisting power to subsequent infection. I consider that no action should bo taken until full evidence is before ,us. . . . Anti-streptococcal infection: this is Teconiuiended obviously in the belief that tho bronchitic infection is ot streptococcal origin. I think that it was tried without success in the camps in 1916, but 1 am asking the P.M.O.'s to report on tlie mattor. In any case, this seruiu is always carried on our transports. 'Wo cannot to increase the supply until wo are infor.ned ot the .drugs which were insufficient to meet the opidemic. Medical stall": The senior non-com-missioned officer was a man ol many years' experience, having been previously trained in the R.A.M.C. The dispenser was also a non-commissioned officer with two years' experience of tiansport work, and very efficient. Iho orderlies had. received tho usuiu foul months' training, and were as efficient as could bo expected after.so Lnel a period of instruction. It is most satisfactory that the Court found that the steps taken were effective, and that tlie experts' evidence was to the effect that all possible stops were taken.