TRENTHAM CAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1915, Page 2

TRENTHAM CAMP.

CONTINUATION OF ENQUIRY. \ DR. TRACKER'S EVIDENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Thursday. To-day further evidence was given" bofore tint Trontham Camp Commission. P. Newnham, assistant engineer at the. Public Works Department, said that the \ Government land at Trentham was -100 I acres of Hat and BIKI acres of billy country. 'Hie greater part of the flat area euuld be used, for only a small part was swampy. There were approximately 80 tents to the acre, lie was informed by Captain M-Chnstell that he thought the old latrines were within the tent area, but, no tents had actually been pitched on the site.

Dr. Henry Thomas Thacker. M.P., said he was a surgeon-captain in the reserves of the New Zealand forces. He contended in the first place that the military authorities had previously been warned of an epidemic by an "experience at Clirislehurch. The authorities knew that Trentham was likely to be muddy, as it was at the winter races; they knew, also, that there would bo a shortage of tents and they would have to rely on hutments, but they did not get the material on the ground in dry weath ;r. and eventually had to use damp timber. No provision was made for reading, whereas, if the authorities had taken the matter in hand early, they could have put down tarred macadam roads. Fog hung very heavily over Trentham. Had the authorities desired to avoid a great deal of the mud they might have put in a railway siding to the camp as far back as October and November. Witness had troopers from Trentham calling on him at Cliristcliurch, suffering from septic throats. One June 28, witness continued, lie went to Trentham and met four stretcher-bearers, who said they had just carried an unconscious man from a tent to the kiosk. One of the stretcher-bear-ers himself should have been in hospital, his throat having been completely ulcerated. In the tea kiosk were about 220 men in their cam)) clothes, with one or two blankets. Some of their clothes were semi-damp, and two-thirds of them hud sore throats. His Honor: "Did you examine them!"' Witness: "Yes." His Honor: "Then you must have examined 150?"

Witness: "No, but you could tell from the way they spoke." Mr. Ferguson: "How many did you examine?" Witness: "About nine in different parts of the kiosk." Dr. Thacker continued that everything was in a chaotic state. There were no pillow-slips, sheets, lavatory accommodation, bed-slippers, or hot-water bottles. Witness looked for the patient who had been carried in, and found Dr. Ferguson shouting, "in a super-voice," to ask him if iic had any pain, who he was, .and where he, came Witness found the man was semi-conscious, and his brain partially narcotised. He concluded that he had cither typhoid, pneumonia, or ccrebro spinal meningitis. The man died the next day. Swabs should have been taken of the throats and cultures obtained. Mr. Ferguson: "How do you know that was not done?" Witness: "The answer given to me in 1 the House was that the men had colds and influenza. Ccrebro spinal meningitis had been experienced in English camps, and medical journals which had come to New Zealand had described the symptoms and treatment. The military medical authorities should have been placed on their guard and have watched for something more than influenza and sore throats." Dr. Thacker said he saw no signs of proper feeding. There were three sisternurses, who had arrived the day before. Previously the nursing had been in die hands of orderlies, who did their best, but did not understand the work. Mr. Ferguson: "Could they have got a nursing staff together in the time?" 1 Witness: "Certainly. It is not for mo to say what they should have done, but I know what I would have done. What they wanted were not expert" qualified nurses, but capable women such as they have now." The means of transport for men suffering from measles and incipient pneumonia was, witness added, in open motor cars. His Honor: "Do you consider that two doctors were sufficient?" Witness: "No; it was impossible, They needed three to five more doctors." Dr. Thacker said that in the AmericanSpanish war men camped on marshy ground and slept in hammocks slung from the centre pole. He had suggested that that should have been done for the men at Trentham, and the Minister of Defence had replied: "I'll send the men to the moon," or some other idiotic remark. His Honor: "I can't let that go in the evidence." Dr. Thacker: "But it is important Ilia public should know it." His Honor: "Well, I can't let it go iu the evidence. The newspapers can do as they please." Dr. Thacker: "Well, if the newspaper* put it in, that is enough for inc."'' His Honor: "This is not the place to make to newspapers." Dr. Thacker: "I am not doing so." His Honor: "You say that you v.v.nt to make this statement public." Dr. Thacker: "No; I want to make it to you." His Honor: "We cannot t:il;» notice of your comment on what the Minister says in the House. Your observation may be perfectly justified, but it is not a matter for us. We will continue with tlie evidence."

On Tuesday, dune 20, witn.-s vjsiicil the Victoria ward, which was cVowd--.l with patients. There were thive ci-.s of septic pneumonia in the same ward a'llie convalescent measles case. Apparently the Jiursinir stall was bisufUcii-nt there also. He believed that at this tine the honorary visiting stali' were not !aing anything with these'ea--'-.. .is -'■.■".- understood they were l not wanv 1. I\h\ Ferguson: "How do vail know Witness: "I was told by ''-'■' ■■:' '')' visiting stall'. Dr. Thacker described w!ar >a> -ay ■ :i his visit to licrhampuiv. :■■:::■ o.' '.-.r principal inconveniences, he wa- told, whs that wafer had to be carr':..! up to the main building. Si mi--h-k >.:>•'.! put to attend on men who >,-:■ i.jd u:-. t'ordhani and I'.dlc.rd v. ■:■•■ r :■■.: on stretcher-beds under co!,l -. aniaa.\>tli no arrangements ;Vr a: iii'vjally wanning the air. In pneumonia. % „ wis patients witii facilities f,,r -.aa'i:::; ... >:icalcd steam round. Dr. IMaiiin remarked thai. :ai- ■,,■.■- •■ matter of opinion. (diar .'...:■:•.,■-: '■' I mo do it. " j Berhampore. vifue-s. -,::,]. aa- > ■■■]. | Not far from (he hospital \vi- .: Vai '.i- I fill new school, and h»l the ..;;■:.a:'.; - ! mandeere.l (he Imihlin". put "a. ei.-,-. ;•!■■ wires, and very soon ha\" had if \. -y coinfoHablc with radial..r- 'i"ia-ia- .. - also a fine school at Unit, w'.Ya a ■> ■■! have been used for measles The aanhoriLies. instead, fried to do with, a minimum. At the kiosk, nam who w. re getting up as convalescent, Were putting and not properly dried, and al-o clothes not properly dry. Home of the nnr-es at Trentham had taken meiisle- and Septic throats, which pointed to the \',!•'!- lence of the trouble, .Sick men who had been at Trentham said the food was often indifferently cooked. They stidom i saw fresh vegetables.