THE TRENTHAM DISEASE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 66, 17 July 1915, Page 5

THE TRENTHAM DISEASE.

CEREBRO SPIRAL MENINGITIS. ’ *1 Prat Pn.r.ss As-iocm fc.js. I W'oi 1 in<iton, .Inly |tfi In the House this aften turn t in? Min jst<*i for Defence,. Hie Uoti .1 I Alien, rend i lie ioPouing iv/iorts I*.mi I Jr. \ *>. flie ui.‘d> 4 il nvestigat'oiis .into ti e efpi.lemi:. riven: D I prevalent' lit T ,- entli:ni camp. Tlie Hr:?ti report, dated July S, was ns followsV “I have to report that, owing to jepresentutioiis made hy jCaptain Harrison aaid Captain Ferguson tiiis morning, with, regard to the epidemic now prevailing in camp. I deemed it my duty to summon T)r. | Hector, of Cower Hutt. in consultation with the first-named officers.

After careful inquiry into the nature |of the epidemic,, and attendant symptoms and general featurns of the disease. Dr. Hector came to the conclusion that the disease which is now prevalent is associated with so many symptoms of typing that it is advisable to treat it as that disease, I am well aware of the responsibility that this involves on all concerned. ■ and the grave consequences that may accrue in case this diagnosis should, t unfortunately .be found to lie correct. (Nevertheless, I am strong’v of the opinion that there is only one course, and that is to immediately change ! the camp ground. It is obvious that it (would never do to break up camp and let the men go to their own homes. |as hy this means very fatal disease .might be distributed throughout the idominion. At this hour I can only ! advise you with all the emphasis at j my command to have the camp shifted at once. On the expedition with

which the camp can he shifted will depend the lives of many men.”

This was followed by a second report, dated July 16, addressed to the Minister for Defence: “In further reference to my memo, of July 1, I have the honor to submit reports from the Government Bacteriologists. Professor Champtaloup and Mr J. A.

Hurley, and from Dr. Bowie, assist-ant-medical superintendent at Dunedin Hospital. You will note that the disease at Trentham has now been definitely diagnosed as cerebro spinal meningitis. Epidemics of this disease have occurred in the United Kingdom during the present war, and cases have been reported amongst the troops in barracks where the sanitary arrangements and so forth have been above suspicion. The question will doubtless be raised as to whether this disease arose from any insanitary conditions at tho camp. There is absolutely no evidence to this effect. On 'the contrary, the disease, being due to a recognised organism (the diplo'cocus intracelulars), meningitis could not have arisen, and, de novo, could *not have been bred in camp, but must have been introduced from without, 'probably by means of a carrier, for I by this means recent epidemics in the L nited Kingdom and elsewhere are 'said to have been introduce i. Cases 'of cerebro spinal meningitis have occurred in the dominion before tho outbreak of typhus, as was feared be- ' fore the true nature of the disease 'was established by the bacteriologists. ' Though a very grave disease, cerebro ' spinal meningitis is by no means as 'infectious as typhoid or smallpox, 'ami, Uiougli it is advisable lo qu.aaii'tine certain places, and generally cake 1 proper precautions, there is every nope that it will oe possible to pre--1 vent the spread of the disease to any great extent. J am causing a lealiet to be printed and circulated amongst tlie medical practitioners of the domI inion, so that all necessary precautions can be taken to prevent its

spread.” Commenting upon these reports, the Minister said that a vaccine had been prepared and would bo useu ro prevent the spread of the disease. The matter was entirely in their hands,

and inougii there nugnt le a death or two, everything was being done to caeca the spread oi uio disease. \\ lien the matter was fully investigated, he felt sure, it would he found that Treutham had been branded with a reparation it did not deserve. sir Joseph Ward said that, while it was Very reassuring that typhus did not exist, the second report did not go tar enough, in that it did not explain numerous cases ol sickness. The

can eminent was i:ndouo„edl\ justified

in deciding U» net the map. but more inlormation.was desirable in reyard to measles and other eases. He uad a communication Ironi Palmerston .North, stating that a great many cases ot measles—

.Ur .Massey: Not a great number. .Sir Joseph Ward said he uas told

that the cases were pouring in. .Ur .Massev said that lie had every

confidence that the right thing had (been done. Within five minutes uf 'the decision being come to to shift camp, he had announced it. Ho "as satisfied that it was not the right thing to keep men in one place for a. long lime, and they should lie shifted. Ihe men were now doing well, but sickness could not be got rid of all at once. There were thirty-nine ease* ill measles at Palmerston, iuifc no (•uses of meningitis. The men were jidi cheerful; they were all singing as they lelt lor the hospital, and acre tiie jolliest lot ol sick men lie ever saw. Ihe last lew days had ‘been a time ot great anxiety, and bis first concern was to see the men return to health, so that they might get ■uva.v to the other side of the world. 'j lb’. Thacker said that, if the diagnosis was correct, what was to heroine ol the 12,000 or 1-1.000 men left ,at Treiitham ? What they wanted was isolation, not quarantine. If the men were not isolated the disease Mould spread through the dominion. I Dr. Newman said there Mas no neeu tor scare. There Mas no case of typ- | bus in the country, and not likely to j be. There had been no case in the British Army, hut it has occurred in ,other armies where filth and dirt were tolerated. In New Zealand there was absolutely no occasion to lie frightened of typhus.Mr Wilford wanted to kmnv why the Government had not provided a base hospital at Trentham. when the I money and equipment had been subscribed!-' He also wanted to know (whether the establishment of the 'base hospital Mould not have prevented the spread of the disease ?

I The Hon. 11. H, Rhodes said that the questions asked by Mr Wilford were being inquired into by the Royal Commission, and were sub judice. The change of camps had proved beneficial to the men, and would go a long way to restore them to health.

The Hon. .1. Allen, replying, said that the present position was not out of which political capital should be made, but all should strive to allay the anxiety which had arisen. There had been twenty-five deaths since tho camps started, ami he proceeded to enumerate the dates and direct causes. Four of these were directly traceable to cerebro spinal meningitis, | but possibly there were eight. There jwas nothing to cause the House or countrv serious alarm, and our death J * ' j roll was very favourable, when compared with Australia. Neglect hod not accelerated the spread of the disease, or the death ol the men. Meningitis was carried from man to man, and did not arise from the condition of the camp, though men getting wet might be more susceptible. The ex--1 of a base hospital would not have prevented the disease. He would be pleased to have that question fully discussed. The medical profession had subscribed for such a hospital, but 'did not approach him for some time Lifter. When he was approached the plans were got ready m a few [days. He had never said he was not going to build a hospital at Trentham. but he did object to a base hospital of four hundred beds.* A hospital of eighteen beds was quite sufficient. A contract’ was let in May, and ought to have been finished on June 7. The contractor had now been given notice that if he does not complete the wont in a fortnight the contract would be taken over and completed at his own expense.

TO-DAY’S DOINGS.

Wellington, July 17

John 1). Louch, District Engineer. Public Works Department, gave evidence to-dav before the Royal Com-

mission inquiring into matters concerning the Treutham camp. Speaking of the construction of the huts, he stated that tenders were invited on Sth April, ami declined, the work being done by day labour. By July Sth, forty-four had been completed, and seven were iu course oi construction. Some difficulty had been experienced in obtaining corrugated iron, and men had been brought ironi all parts of the country. Towards the end some of the latter became frightened of sickness, and left. Other buildings completed included fourteen officers' hutments, six cook-houses, a power house, and other buildings. S)J erections in all. A hospital was to be built by contract let on April 2itb, for completion on dune 2<tb. Ibo work was not completed yet, as it was stopped lately. \e.sterday the contractor was instructed to begin again, and he should complete ins [work in three weeks.