MEDICAL INSPECTION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 73, 20 December 1918, Page 6

MEDICAL INSPECTION

OF RETURNING SOLDIERS

STATEMENT BY DR. VALINTINE

Speaking to a reporter yesterday with reference to the arrival of a troopship in tlio stream at Wellington on Wednesday i'vi:. ".;,- and the action subsequently tau-o.i '■■: i'k' Department of Public Ileal)!' v.. 1 ..! h view to minimising the risks n, ...y infectious disease being ] bi'ougui: into tae Dominion by an overseas vessel, Dr. Valintine, Chief Health Officer, stated that there was no truth I in the statement published in Thursday morning's papers that a dozen soldiers on the vessel were suffering from infectious diseases and that it was on that account that: the Defence authorities were not able to carry out the necessary procedure prior to''disembarking the men. Dr. Valintine mentioned that the Health Department was not takttig any risks which might lead np to a recrudescence of the epidemic, and when the Port Health Officer found that there was a suspicious case of influenza on Ward lie promptly reported the matter to the District Health Officer, and at the same time to himself (Dr. Valintine). TJie result was that both Dr. Watt and he himself accompanied the Port Health Officer out to a visit of inspection of the vessel, and owing to the suspicious nature j of the case on board it was considered desirable to prevent the Defence Department from carrying out its wot!: until a thorough inspection had l>een made. To have allowed the officers of the Dofence Department on board the vessel under the circumstances might have been attended by dire results. On arrival at the vessel steps wore immediately taken to-have the temperatures of all suspicious cases on board registered, and in only the one single instance previously reported by the Port Health Officer was there any reason to suppose that there was a case of influenza among the eight hundred 'soldiers on board in addition to the ship's personnel. As soon as the examination was completed the medical officers returned to town and arranged for the suspicious case to be admitted to the General Hospital for observation purposes. Instructions were then given for the vessel to be cleared, and an intimation was sent to the Defence Department that it could commence its work in the morning. This was accordingly done, and at seven o'clock yesterday morning the necessary staff for carrying, out the boarding of the men went off in the Government steamer Janie Seddon. This work was not completed until close on two o'clock in the afternoon, and the vessel berthed at the Glasgow Wharf threequarters of an hour later. hi renly to a question as to whether the actioii in allowing the- vessel to be boarded by the Defence officials yesterday morning was unwise, as was thought by a number of citizens, Dr. Valintine said that he had not the slightest hesitation in saving that it was not so. "It is evident," said the doctor, "that a .good mam- people are not aware of the true position, and are apt to over-estimate the i possibilities of infection. Personally, I do not consider that there is any risk to the Dominion by allowing the soldiers from the troopship in question.to land. I must stand or fall by my decision, for which I accept full responsibility. Even if events should prove that I have been mistaken. I feel confident that the people of the Dominion had rather accept a ha'porth of risk on account of their sons who have been undergoing ten pounds of risk' in (he trenches, and then: upheld the honour of the flair, than that they should be debarred from getting n» snecdilv as possible to their homes for their 'long-deferred but' well-deserved Christmas. Tf the people of the Dominion," concluded the Doctor, "are not prepared to accept that ha'porth of risk so that their sons may enjoy this Christmas in their own homes, well, I don t wish to serve them any longer." Dr. Valintine added that it would be reassuring for the public to know that as a result of the medical boarding.carried out bv the Defence medical officers yesterday morning not a single suspicious case had been found. Instead of the two medical officers who usually earned nut tho werk there were five on this occasion, thus enabling greater attention to bo given to each individual case. Every soldier on board the vessel was required to pass before the doctors, and not one single man complained about feelins unwell except as regards lus war disability. _____