MOBILE LABORATORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 August 1940, Page 7

MOBILE LABORATORY

INNOVATION IN AUSTRALIAN FORCES.

Among recent defence and military advances in Australia is the provision of a .mobile laboratory for the Australian Imperial Force. The purpose of this innovation is to secure the quick determination of the nature of disease outbreaks that might occur among widely separated units of the army. A despatch issued by the Australian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand describes the nature and value of this innovation.

If a bacteriological specimen were taken, say 300 miles from a stationary hospital, many days might elapse before a report could be obtained. A mobile unit could go at once to the area of the outbreak and give an immediate report. This would allow the earliest preventive steps being taken against a possible epidemic.

Dr. Edward Ford, of the Commonwealth Health Department, has been appointed to the A.I.F. with the rank of Major to command the laboratory. He will have with him three trained laboratory assistants 1 . The Australian Government is contemplating doubling the strength of the Army's stall for teaching instructors in physical and recreational training. This would bring the staff to twelve officers and thirty warrant officers. The idea behind the proposed increase is to cope with the recreational needs not only of the 90,001) A.I.F. men in camp in Australia, but also of the great number of Citizen Force trainees who will shortly be entering camp.

Physical training in the army these days is combined with recreational training, games, sports and athletics. Its object is not only the promotion of physical fitness, but also of mental alertness.