HEALTH OF CREW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 46, 23 February 1940, Page 10

HEALTH OF CREW.

" AN OPERATION AT SEA. Surgeon-Lieutenant C. G. Hunter, R.N., who comes from Napier, said that from the time -when they sailed out in August until their return' this morning the health of the crew had been "fairly good." Except in the engagement, there had been no serious accidents, and nothing in the nature of dramatic operations at sea. A New Zealand rating, however, Able Seaman Care, had to- be operated on for appendicitis, the anaesthetic having been given by SurgeonLieutenant C. A. Pittar. He had made a wonderful recovery. The operation was performed before the battle. Surgjon-Lieutenant Hunter said that the services of his New Zealand colleague had been of great value to all three ships after the action, especially in respect to eye injuries. Discussing the action, he said there were four serious cases of injury 011 the Achilles, and six other cases which did not necessitate the men going to bed. These were looked after by himself and •his assistant and a staff of four. During the action all that the surgeons were able to do was in the nature of first aid, but afterwards they could be classed as a "wounded repair party."