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outbreak which started on the 19th October I suppose quite 50 per cent, of the patients developed pneumonic symptoms. That continued until the 18th November. It was septic pneumonia. The symptoms have been described to you. To what do you attribute, that pneumonic form as distinct from, the other ?—I attributed it to the sudden increase in the viruleney of the germ already present in New Zealand. I had seen the same thing happen before at Trentham Camp, where I was the P.M.O. at the time. I can recollect that at Trentham Camp in 1916 there were similar pneumonic symptoms. I think as many as sixteen cases died. What do you attribute that increased virulence to ?—-Possibly to a fresh strain of the same, bacillus arriving in New Zealand by some means in October, and the fresh blood increased the viruleney of the existing bacillus. Do you think it came, overseas ? —Undoubtedly it did. It arrived some, time about the beginning of October, because the first very severe cases that came in were observed in the middle of that month. Could it have arrived, from your point of view, in the " Niagara " ?—lt could as far as the dates are concerned, or it may have arrived in other boats arriving about that time. You think it could have arrived at an earlier period ? —I think it certainly could have arrived before the " Niagara." There is no particular reason to suppose that it came in her. She arrived on the 12th, and there was a pretty general " go " of influenza a few days after that in Auckland, which means that it must have spread remarkably quickly if it came by her. How early after the 12th October did a number of these virulent cases come under your notice ? —Some virulent cases came under my notice about the 15th October in the Auckland District. Did any of them result fatally ?—No, I do not think that any of the early ones did, but about the 20th October we began to get the fatal cases. The first virulent case reported at Narrow Neck was on the 19th October. Would there have been time for any contact with the " Niagara " to have taken effect ?--- . Yes. The virulent type developed in the third week, and there would have been time for that development, as it spread very quickly indeed. Is it your general experience, that this disease, docs spread very rapidly ?—Not so rapidly as it spread in this epidemic. Dr. Sharman says, as to the conditions at Narrow Neck, — I was in .charge of Narrow Neck Camp from the 20th December, 1916, to the 12th November, 1918. . . I can say there were odd cases of influenza of a mild type, up to the latter part of September. Ordinary influenza ?—-Yes, typical mild influenza. Then, at the, end of September or the beginning of October we had a severe outbreak, or, at any rate, an outbreak of a severekind. There were, roughly, 230 cases. Approximately, about what date did that outbreak start ? —I should say, the last day of September or the first day of October. It came very suddenly, and it lasted, roughly, nine or ten days. . . I closed down the huts by degrees as I did not require them, and the last to close down was the V.M.C.A., and as it was more or less a private concern I acknowledged the courtesy of the V.M.C.A. for lending it. This is my memorandum to the Camp Adjutant 12th October, 1918 :— " For your information please. Re V.M.C.A. hut. lam glad to inform you that Ido not require the V.M.C.A. hut any longer. It has been thoroughly fumigated with a strong solution of formalin, and it will be, quite ready to-morrow morning to be scrubbed out and handed back to the V.M.C.A., to whom I should be glad if you would express my gratitude for its loan." That is a clear indication that the epidemic was over. With regard to the portion that you had charge of from August to the 12th October, can you say, roughly, how many cases of influenza there were ? —Roughly, 230. As I mentioned earlier, it started very suddenly, and collapsed just as suddenly. On the 9th October I wrote the following memorandum to Colonel Andrews, A.D.M.S., Auckland : — " For your information please. The following is the sick-state as it exists in camp up to 4.30 p.m. this day, 9th October, 1918 :— Under Treatment. In hospital .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 patients. In detention .. .. .. .. .. 34 ~ In convalescent-hut .. .. .. .. .. 48 ~ Excused duty (in lines) .. .. .. .. ..52 ~ Europeans — Officers .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 ~ Staff 3 General cases .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 ~ N.D. cases (convalescent) .. .. .. .. .. 2 ~ Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 154 " This does not include patients in Auckland Hospital. " Edwaed W. Sharman, Major, N.Z.M.C, P.M.0."
4—H. 31a.
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