REASSURING

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 71, 22 September 1915, Page 8

REASSURING

THE TRENTHAM CAMP ) , GENERAL HENDERSON'S REPORT ; SATISFACTORY OPINIONS. In accordance with a request from the Defence Minister, Surgeon-General Henderson, R.A.M.C., Director of Military Medical Services, has submitted a report upon the Trentham Camp. The report is interesting in many particulars. * jGeneral Henderson was asked to report upon the increase in the hospital cases. His report is dated the 20th* inst. He states that he had perused the report of the Royal Commission, and had inspected rhe camp hospital at Trentham, and he had found that at present there was no epidemic. The cases of sickness in the hospital were chiefly due to influenza of a mild type, and the number admitted was chiefly due to the^excessive care of the medical officers, who admitted * all who were even mildly indisposed. As regards measlea, the cases were of a mild type, mostly of German measles, and during the last three days there ,were only three cases. The hospital accommodation was ample, and the patients were well cared for. As regards the camp itself, the huts were excellent, and compared favourably with those supplied in England. There was no necessity for provision of separate dining-halls in the present camp. General Henderson considered the position of the huts as satisfactory, and he did not consider there was any sanitary objection to the intervals between the huts, although in future camps he considered it better to have them thirty feet apart. General Henderson did not consider there was any overcrowding of the men, as the proportion of men to the acre was, at present, 105. The roads being constructed and the surface drainage were quite satisfactory. He was satisfied there was no reason to fear the outbreak of any epidemic owing to any lack of sanitation, though they must be prepared for measles and influenza recrudescing. General Henderson makes some suggestions. He says that hot and cold water were being provided and he understood would be ready at the end of thi6 week. This was a very urgent matter. He recommended that night-soil should be disposed of by incinerators, and experiments would be started immediately. The huts 'would be all fully disinfected in October for six days, between the time of the departure of one lot of troops and the arrival of another. Other small recommendations and comments are contained in the report.