TREATMENT OF SICK SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1919, Page 5

TREATMENT OF SICK SOLDIERS.

SHOCKING CONDITIONS DISCLOSED.

Auckland, July 9. Shocking disclosures about the treatment of patients in Featherston Military Hospital were made by the Rev. J. 11. Burgin at a meeting of the executive of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association. Serious complaints liad been made about the rough treatment of patients, one consumptive having described the hospital as "the most dangerous place he could be sent to." The association thereupon asked Mr. Burgin to make investigations, in company with Mr. J. Durtayne, of the Wellington Association. two gentlemen, in company with Colonel Cowles, president of the Carterton Association, spent June 29 and 30 at the Camp Hospital, where there are about 100 tubercular cases and 40 patients with heart troubles. The chief object of the investigation was in connection with tire conditions under wheh consumptive coses lived. "We found," said Mr. Burgin in making his report, "that the complaints were Entirely justified. The delegation was shocked at many things it discovered, none of us believing it possible that such conditions could exist at a hospital where such victims of the war are treated." Mr. Burgin enumerated the d& fects as follow:—There was a general shortage of crockery, and all the sick men, including the tubercular cases, were using badly broken and chipped enamelware or rusty tin plates, a specimen of which was produced. The sheets were all badly stained with disinfectants, and sometimes they were used as tablecloths. One week a sheet might be used for Its proper purpose and next week it was a tablecloth. The tea towels were' in bad condition. One was issued weekly for every 24 men. The food generally was good, 'but there was a sameness about it. Pish was issued once a week. Poultry was issued on Sundays, but this was provided by ladies of the Wairarapa. In respect to clothing, no underpants were on issue, the men having to wear their pyjamas underneartb their blue uniform to keep warm. Singlets were of varying quality, men often receiving thick garments one week and thin ones the next. There was no issue of clothing by the Red Cross. There had bees difficulty in regard to the repairing of boots, but this had been remedied. Two men suffering from tubercular trouble had been without overcoats for some time, one for as long as si-c weeks. The Salvation Army had issued one hapdkerchief a week to each man, but the tubercular patients were not supplied with sputum rasp. .Only one pair of sock Was issued weekly, even to men who Wore doing graduated exercises. Old wooden hutments used by reinforcements were used as wards, which were comfortless, only one block being considered satisfactory. Ward 5 leaked badly after slaver. One ward had no bathroom. There was a shortage of firewood, and the patients, including those suffering from heart trouhle, had sometimes to carry their own wood. One was seen wood with a grubber, an axe not bein? available. No vocational training officer had been near the hospital, and the men had nothing definite to occupy their time and keep their spirits up. The patients had travelled to the hospital under serious discomforts. Onlv one menl ticket had been issued for a journey of twenty-one hours. Patients had arrived in the hospital in a shite of exhaust ion. One man suffering from heart trouble had been sent straight to the hospital from a transport. He had been there for five months and had not yet seen his next-of-kin, who lived in the north.

"The root of the trouble," said Mr. Burgin, "is twofold. First, there is a lack of co-ordination between the Ordnance Department and the Medical Department. This accounts for delays in getting clothing and" camp necessaries. Secondly, hospital orderlies are unsatisfactory." Mr. Burgin mentioned that the week before this visit General Richardson had visited the hospital and had given instructions for certain matters, including the crockery, to bo remedied, but no change had been made up to that time. Disgusting and insanitary plates were still in use. No complaint had been made about medical treatment of the patients. One sister had said she had never heard so many complaints, added that all were justifiable. After the visit the delegates saw General Richardson, who had been most sympathetic and had given his assurance that every defect would be rectified immediately. "We were informed," concluded Mr. Burgin, "that in August tubercular men are to be moved to the new sanatorium at Waipukurau, and that men with heart trouble are to be sent to a hospital near their home, but this action will not undo the shocking neglect which has been experienced by the men. Apparently the head of the Medical Department failed to grasp the situation and made no adequate provision for the tuberculnr cases until they arrived in New Zealand."

DEFENCE MINISTER SURPRISED. FIRST HE HAS HEARD OF IT. By Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington, Last Night. The disclosures regarding the hospital accommodation given to tubercular and other patients at Featherston Camp were brought to the notice of the Defence Minister to-day. Sir Janjes Allen said that the newspaper account oi the conditions was the first intimation he had that anything was amiss.: He was having inquiries made, and until he had the reports he >iould have no more ,to say on the subject, but he added: "We have been anxious to get the tubercular cases away from Featherston, but we have been very much disappointed with regard to the contract for the erection of the sanatorium at Waipukurau. We had expected it would be ready ere this, and we regret very much that there lias been delay. We hope to have the place by next month, but of this we cannot he sure, owing to the great difficulty being experienced in securing carpenters for this work. One section of the Cashmere Hills Sanatorium in the South Island has been completed, but an extension is to be made there."

COMPLAINTS WELL FOUNDED. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. Curtaync, secretary of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, referring to his visit to Featherston military hospital, said an unsatisfactory state of affairs was disclosed, and the matter was brought under the notice of the medical officer in charge. The following day the delegation interviewed Bri-gadier-General Richardson, who stated that orders had already been issued for the substitution of crockery for the somewhat Uwaaged eawnslwara .wlifch

had been in use. General Richardson alao promised to See that other grievances were rectified. Mr. Curtayne added: "The men's grievances were well founded, and I have kept closely in touch with the authorities since the matter was first represented to them. Some of the matters in dispute liave already been rectified, and active steps are being taken to remedy the others. In view of the fact that such action was being taken, and of the disturbing effect of such disclosures on hospital patients and their dependents, my committee had decided against undue publicity." URGENT INQUIRY DEMANDED. Auckland, Last Night. The City • Council to-night passed a I resolution to the effect that the attention I of the Miniser of Defence be called to the revelations in the press regarding the | treatment of tubercular soldiers at Featherston Camp. The hope was expressed that'provision for tlio men's comfort had now been made, and it was asked tba,t an instant and exhaustive : inquiry by a competent tribunal be held'