H.—l9b

4

influenza of lighter type had been present in the camps, but, save for an increase in cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis consequent, on the prevalence of catarrhal conditions, the statistics up till November were very satisfactory. Appended are reports by the Principal Medical Officers setting out the general sanitary measures taken throughout the year. These measures differed little from those which proved so successful the previous year. We had further evidence as to the value of the segregation of recruits, the routine examination of throats, and the treatment by isolation and by inhalation of all suspicious conditions. The failure of these measures to avert the epidemic of influenza is dealt with in the reports of the Principal Medical Officers and in my special report on the outbreak. Statistical. Death-rate. Owing to the Armistice and the consequent evacuation of the camps in November the records for the year are incomplete, and little value can be gained by attempting to work out a death-rate. In all 312 deaths have occurred, of which 287 can be attributed to the influenza outburst, and but for this misfortune the number of deaths would probably have been, lower than in any previous year. The following table shows the number of deaths in the Expeditionary Force during the last four years and a half : — Year. Deaths. 1914 (4Jj months) ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 1915 "... ... ... ... ... ... ... 61 1916 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 104 1917 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 46 1918 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 312 Total ... ... ... ... ... 529 The deaths in 1918 were distributed through the camps thus : — Trentham ... ... ... ... .. ... 97 Featherston ... ... ... ... ... ... 187 Narrow Neck ... ... ... . . ... ... 17 Awapuni ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 Hanmer ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 Total ... ... ... ... ... 312 The influence of the outburst of pneumonic influenza is shown in this way: — Prior to During Epidemic. Epidemic. Trentham ... ... ... ... ... 7 90 Featherston ... . . ... ... ... 10 177 Narrow Neck ~'.. ... ... ... 17 Awapuni ... ... ... ... ... 1 7 Hanmer ... ... ... ... 3 Totals ... ... ... ... 18 294 The following table gives the general causes of death, showing the years 1917 and 1018 for comparison. The influence of the influenza epidemic in 1918 has resulted in ten times the number of deaths from disease occurring in 1917, but deaths from accident and suicide were very low : —

Causes of Death. The attached table shows the causes of deaths in each of the four camps. Included under deaths from influenza infection are some cases in which the direct cause of death was meningococcal infection directly on (lie epidemic of November. They may reasonably be regarded as forming part of this epidemic.

Di& >ase. Accident. Suicide. Total Deaths. Camp. 1917. 1917. 1918. 1918. 1917. i 1918. 1917. 1918. Trcntham Featherston Awapuni Narrow Neck Rotorua Hanmer 10 18 I I 1 95 .184 8 17 2 1 1 1 13 5 2 7 1 30 1 1 1 7 ' 8 8 2 46 als, 280 in camps, and 4 not in hospital. 97 187 8 17 3 3 Totals 31 307 312 Of the 312 deaths 28 \ ere in ci' pil hospiti