25

H.—l9b

A new inhalation-room was built off the Medical hut, and during the November epidemic two large rooms were hurriedly appropriated and fitted up as inhalation-rooms with steam derived from the power-house to work the spray. This matter is referred to in the report on prevailing diseases. Equipment, Wellington Racing Club. —All the equipment on loan from the Wellington Racing Club has been handed back. The equipment for the operation-room arrived early in the year, and the room was then ready for use, and has been in use since. A copper cistern was attached to the hot-water service to store boiled water, which when allowed to cool provided cold boiled water for use in the operation-room. A new building for use as a bacteriological laboratory was started, but work ceased in November, and the building remains in the same state —that is, only just commenced. The waitingroom at the Medical hut has been boarded in, and is now ready to be used as a massage-room, with accommodation for sixteen massage-tables. New electric pumps were installed during the year for dealing with the septic-tank effluent, and these pumps worked well. The Jiot-water service of the hospital has been improved by an altered arrangement. All huts appropriated during the year have been handed back. The gardens around the hospital have been well looked after, and have become quite a feature of the camp. Officers, non-commissioned officers, and men worked excellently throughout the year, which was a very trying one. There were many changes in the personnel of this detachment, but everything worked smoothly. It is with regret I have to record the deaths of four members of the corps during the year : Major J. B. Sale, a very able and hard-working officer; Private N. Farland, who did excellent work for many days during the November epidemic of influenza until he fell a victim; also Private J. Connell and Private J. G. Kirby. both very capable and conscientious orderlies, and both of whom succumbed to influenza. J. P. D. Leahy. Lieut.-Colonel, N.Z.M.C, Principal Medical Officer. Recort of Prevailing Disease, 1918. The weather conditions of 1918 were much worse than in 1917. Cold winds—gales—snow, and frost were very prevalent. There was an increase in the prevalence of the following diseases: — Influenza (see special report attached). Measles .. ... ... ... 45 cases compared with 11. in 1917. German measles ... ... ... 65 ~ 15 ~ Mumps ... ... ... 11 ~ 7 ~ Tonsilitis . . ... ... ... 103 ~ 49 Syphilis ... ... ... 36 ~ 18 ~ Scabies ... ... ... ... 84 ~ 38 Insanity ... ... ... ... 9 ~ 2 ~ Bronchitis .. ... ... ... 34 ~ 25 Pleurisy ... ... ... ... 15 ~ 13 ~ Ulceration of mouth... ... ... 80 ~ 1 ~ Cerebro-spinal fever ... ... 7 ~ 2 ~ Remarks on the above Prevailing Diseases. —Of the measles cases none were serious. Of the mumps cases one arrived in camp after final leave, during which time he had been looking after his child, who bad mumps at home. None of the cases of measles or German measles were serious, but caused a good deal of trouble on account of the necessary isolation. The increase in tonsilitis was probably due to the bad weather conditions. The increase in syphilis cases may have been due in part to men reporting to their Medical Boards that they were under treatment for the disease and then being sent into camp for treatment. It is difficult to account for the increase in scabies. The increase in insanity may have been due in. part to the greater family anxieties of the 1918 recruits. Ulceration of the mouth, showed a great increase because much more stress was laid on Vincent's disease in 1918 than in 1917. Of the cerebro-spinal fever cases 5 occurred during convalescence from the November epidemic; they were up and about for a few days and then developed cerebro-spinal fever. All the cases died. A peculiar dermatitis of the hands and exposed parts of the legs occurred in some men who were on cooks' fatigue, and the only thing they seemed to have done in common was to prepare parsnips for cooking. The parsnips were very dirty, but other men engaged in peeling parsnips were not affected, and the Government Analyst could throw no light on the matter. All cases recovered, but some had a bulbous eruption on their hands, which suppurated. There was a diminution in the prevalence of the following : — Gonorrhoea ... ... ... 134 cases compared with 155 in 1917. Soft sore ... ... ... ... 1 ~ 4 ~ Alcohol ... ... ... ... 6 ~ 62 Tubercle of lung and phthisis ... 6 ~ 12 ~ Remarks on the above Diseases. —There was a very marked diminution in cases treated for the effects of alcohol. The decrease in the cases of alcoholism treated may have been due to the different type of recruit coming to camp in 1918. Those arriving in camp in 1918 were mostly married men, whereas those arriving in 1917 were principally single men.

4—H. 19b.