TRENTHAM CAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1915, Page 2

TRENTHAM CAMP.

I''UKTHKH EVIDENCE.. By Telegraph.—Press Association, j Wellington, Yesterday. I'ercv Morgan, ret-jilled, stated that the drainage from the camp, after piwing through the gravel, would reach the llutt liver and be conveyed to Wcllim;'lon harbor. It would reach the river ahoiit the gorge. He had examined it site at Kcalhcrstoii, where the .surface drainage would be better than at Trenlliam. If Trenthani was to be a permanent camp there should be some .special drainage provision, as in the course of years the soil and subsoil would become contaminated. lir ■Tames ) £s;-ott iMcl.anrin, (iovcrnment Analyst, wiu examined as to a report he had furnished concerning analysis he had made of samples of air obtained at Trenthani camp from different huts on July 2!tth. Mr. Justice Honking: "'What does it indicate; good ventilation?" "Witness: "Some of them are not good, inosl uf them are fairly good. No. S sample particularly is not good, showing ail excess of carbon dioxide."

After the luncheon adjournment the Commisssion spent an hour inspecting the buildings which had been used as a hospital at Berhamporc. Frederic Charles Gentry, supply o/liccr, stated that lie had asked the nurses to let him know what was to be returned from Bcrliampore, He told them through the 'phone that they did not wish to carry a way any books that might, convey infection. The books were left- at Berhainpore. He heard nothing about temperature charts, and nothing was said about them, He acted on his own authority. When. he-:.'heard, that.. the hospital was to be closed he told the nurses that everything to be taken away was to be thoroughly disinfected. He made no arrangements for the destruction of anything. The books lie referred to were those the patients bad been reading in the wards. Mr. Justice Hosking: 'Tf it is said that you gave orders for the books and charts to be burnt, is that not correct?" Witness: "Books, not charts; but they were not to be burnt. We did want anything that might spread disease. Charts were never mentioned." Private Henry 11. Bothamly, of the sixth reinforcements, stated that he had come forward in response to a subpoena. He joined two months ago. Three days after the tents were blown'down he reported on sick parade, and went to tlie racecourse hospital. lie had a high temperature and sore throat. After inoceulation his temperature was 104. He walked back to the lines and some of the men helped him to carry his things to the hospital, lie was asked whether he was fit to walk, and he replied "quite fit." He and another were lying on the ground; they had a waterprtJof sheeting and mattress. Once, on making a request to an orderly, iie was told to go to a hot place, and on another occasion he could not get, the door shut, as the orderlies were going on parade. He was afterwards at the kiosk, where the orderlies did not seem to know ''much about the game." Up to the time of his discharge there were no female nurses at; the kiosk. I). C. Bates, recalled, stated that when he was at the camp Colonel Gibbon drew his attention to the fact that no sickness had emanated from the sample but. This seemed to corroborate witness's idea that the want of ventilation '.vus the main cause of sickness. Hp maintained that in calm and frosty weather the huts were extremely diuucions toy want of ventilation ami the cooling of the atmosphere. A letter was read from Du.sti'i and Co., cunten proprietors, denying that there hid ];cen any shortage of soap in camp So lar as they were concerned they sold livm ;!tV to 40U cakes of soap per day, luoatlv carbolic, and thev had never run abort of the article. V.tj.'i- o's.ullivan gave ciiuencc a» lo getiing instructions to have Berhainpore hospital prepared for patients. He requisitioned the service.; of the Vacuum CliMi'ii g Company at .m-.-e, and ...iippl'i.l the requisites that were necessary, lie gave no instructions when the place wnclosed. Hi' supplied no temperature charts. Imt he believed seme were obtained from the Wellington hospital. ' Mr. Ferguson: "If the nurses say thai they rang up your department, and received instructions to burn them, who would be the right officer to give tlie instructions':" Witness! "1 got no such message. It is not likely any of the ollieers would give instructions to bum temperature charts or books." , 11 r.C't I.MMIIN DATIuNS OF DOCTORS. Wellington, Yesterday.

The recoiiinu:ndatioiis of (he medical eoniinitl.ee appointed to visit Trentham were placed before (he Royal Commission to-day by Dr. Kliott. The doctors reported that they were not satislied with (lie accommodation at Trentham I'or infectious cases. They considered I here was need for a change in the methods of medical administration and supervision. They were convinced that nice, were sent out on sick leave who mifiht possibly be a menace to tin' health of the community. It was absolutely nceessary to appoint a bacteriolo}ji»l to he in constant; touch with the medical ollicers of the military hospitals. They wire strongly of opinion thai a separate hospital stall' was required in every large camp,, in addition to the regimental and ambulance medical ''dicers. All ram>» of ccrebro spinal meningitis, in view of the inadequate accommodation for the present ea-es at Trentham. should be removed, and. in view of tlie probable extension of the epidemic), Mliey recommended thai a properly equippid fever hospital should be at once arranged lor, ami that a fully equipped hospital train for the convey amt of sick. men should be arranged. Thcie surest ions, it was stated, were not in any sense rcllcclion:; on (he eapa- • bilily and industry of the medical o : ii eers; who, (he committee believed, worked e.\e( t hard and did (he utmost ilia! any medical men could do to rone U'lilt the siluulioli.