RECRUITS’ HEALTH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 45, 2 December 1939, Page 2

RECRUITS’ HEALTH

CLOSE WATCH BEING KEPT. assurance by minister. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, December 1. That only one death had occurred among soldiers smco the mobilisation of the Special Military Force was emphasised by the Minister Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), when referring this evening to the work of the Medical Service of the Army. This death, Mr Jones said, was not the result of any illness contracted in camp, but was due to a type of abdominal condition existing before enlistment, which could not be discovered by the ordinary medical examination. “This state of affairs must be regarded as eminently satisfactory,” said ■Mr Jones, “as new troops coming from widely varying phases of civil life into completely different conditions' are particularly susceptible to disease. .Realising this, the Government and the Army authorities made every provision to ensure that the health of the soldiers would be maintained.”

Referring to the - outbreak of influenza, Mr Jones said that the mild but widespread epidemic being experienced by the military and civil populations was held by many authoritiees to be similar to that of 1918, in which a very large number of cases developed into pneumonia, accompanied by a considerable loss of life. In the present instance, however, nothing of a serious nature had occurred, and the number of pneumonia cases in all camps and barracks in New Zealand was only four. ‘‘The medical organisation has been designed, to meet all eventualities,” said the Minister, “and the officers are all. medical men of outstanding professional experience and'hold senior medical degrees. Several have practised as specialists in civil life, and many have given up lucrative practices to take up work in the Army. A simple and effective procedure is adopted in dealing with sick soldiers. The soldier who does not feel fit is encouraged to parade sick; he is then ■examined by the medical officer, who prescribes the necessary medicine and treatment. If the case calls for hospital treatment the patient is admitted to a camp hospital. If, however, the case is more serious and unlikely to recover in less than 48 hours, the patient is transferred! by motorambulance to the nearest hospital. The policy laid down by the'Government is not to give treatment in camp, but to rely on civil hospitals. Once a soldier is evacuated from the camp areai he becomes the responsibility of the Health Department, and of the hospital hoards, which work in closest co-operation with the Director-General of Medical .Services, as occurred at Trentham, when the outbreak of influenza was at its height. The Wellington Hospital Board l accepted, the offer of the Wellington Racing Club to make the racecourse buildings available for military purposes. With the co-operation of the Army, a temporary hospital was equipped with almost lightning-like speed and staffed from the Wellington Hospital. The Minister also explained the procedure by which a close watch is kept daily on the health of troops in camps an barracks.