HEALTH OF ARMY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15773, 14 December 1916, Page 8

HEALTH OF ARMY.

DISEASES BEING- CONTROLLED

That the bacifcriological work hot being done in the British. Army has resulted in. an enormous decrease in mortality and an increase in efficicncy is the statement made by Dr. W. J. Penfold.. who returned to Melbourne last -week "from England to take control of tlie Australian. Federal Serum Institute. Dr. Penfold was formerly on the bacteriological staff of the Lister Institute, and when the war broke out was sent to the Army Medical College and tho King George Military Hospital to do bacteriological work in connexion with, the army. IX THE WAKE OF WAR. In the course of an interview Dr. Penfold said: —"Many disease,* due to micro-organisms are very liable to follow in tho wake of war; for example, dysentery, tetanus, typhoid, paratyphoid, cerebro-spinal meningitis, and many others. The importance of these has occasioned an enormous effort on the part of England to render the army and nation more efficient by taking advantage of all recent advances in bacteriological science. Much time has been devoted to research on this question. "By prophylactic inoculation against typhoid and tetanus these diseases are very effectively controlled. Since January Ist of this year prophylactic inoculation against para-typhoid has also been general in tjio British army, and we have every reason to think it will bo effective. No very effective prophylactic measures against dysentery in armies or other communities have yet been found, but much effort is being directed to the production of an effective vaccine which may ultimately control one variety of this disease. The serum and medicinal treatment have, however, shown great value in eases of actual declared dysentery. "The control and treatment of c erebro-mcningitis leave much to be desired. and intensive work is being widely done in England on this subject which must ultimatelv yield valuable results. Many other . infective diseases prevalent in armies are being attacked more or less successfully. RESEARCH STIMULATED. "Tho war is an effective stimulus to practical research in preventive medicine. If an army or nation is to bo efficient. it is an absolute necessity that all the laboratory safeguards in prophylactic and treatment should bo used with keen intelligence. Many military failures have been due to epidemic disease. The Bulgarians failed to reach Constantinople in their Turkish war because of 29,(XX) cases of cholera occurring, for which they were unprepared— a most effective drag on their military efforts. While army epidemics aro enormous, similar forces are always at work taking a certain number of the nation. England is endeavouring by research and tho wider use of already acquired knowledge to substantially reduce the incidence rates of preventable diseases.'' WORK IN AMERICA. Proceeding, Dr. Penfold said that in passing through the United States he was privileged to see some of the work of the Federal Hygienic Institute, Washington. This institute examined the serums and vaccines sold in the States, and say that they had Hie potency stated on tho labels, and were of the required standards in all respects. The institute made and supplied standard toxin and anti-toxin to makers of scrums who desired to sell their products in America. This institute was run on liberalminded lines. and it supplied gratuitously the standard toxins and anti-toxins to England and other countries. The director, Dr. McCoy, had undertaken to supply similar standards to the Australian institute. The institute had dono wonderful research work on typhus and infantile paralysis and many other diseases. During the recent outbreak of infantile paralysis in America human convalescent serum was tried with somo success. Tho institute also sent inspectors to supervise laboratories in which biological and medicinal products were manufactured, and was really a coordinating centre for a large and growing industry in the States.