TRENTHAM CAMP INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2523, 31 July 1915, Page 6

TRENTHAM CAMP INQUIRY

TAKING MEDICINE

CAMP METHODS DISCUSSED j PTE. SMITH'S DEATH RELATIVES STILL SEEK INFORMATION Tlie Trentliam Camp Commission, consisting of His Honour' Mr. Justice Hosking, Mr. ,W. Ferguson, and Dr. A. A. Martin, continued the hearing of evidence yesterday. " . Scrgeaut-Major Cbas. 1). Dorizac, stationed at the Upper Hutt Convalescent Home, stated regarding the sick parades that the men parading had no need to wait out in iho as they could crowd into the orderly room or the examining tent. Men broke out of the isolation camp when it was first established, and at that time there was only one policeman stationed there. If there had been twenty polieonien the men would probably have got out, as' they got but of the birdcage, which had a guard. Most of the measles eases camo irom the general camp, not from the segregation camp. Throat brushes were used more than once, but after overy using were dipped ill lysol solution, and then rinsed in water. In February last . the camp hospital had aulploequipment. Measles cases wero not transferred in open cars. Captain Yeates did sanitary rounds on horseback—no other doctor did them that way—and did not attend lectures. Regarding the carriage of bread in oil sheets, there was a distinct camp order against that; scrim was to b8 used. •

Corporal Bisman, who is now in the Rangiotu Camp,' said that when he tfent into Trentham the authorities liad not suitable footwear to givo him, and a consequence was that he caught cold and had to report sick. Later, he got what lio considered -was influenza, while living in one of the; huts, but he did not report- sick. The tents were much warmer and more comfortable than the. huts. There was general complaint about draughts in his hut, but ho did not notice the draught because ho ' was' in. one of the corners far away from the door. He had been in camp thirteen weeks now, and still had'only one pair of boots. Regarding , the carfiago of bread in camp, lie had never heard of tho camp order mentioned ijy, SergeantMajor Dorizac'to tho effect that scrim must be used. However, at Rangiotu there was a frame covered with, scrim on which bread' had to bo carried.

Invalided Soldier's Evidence. Edwin Arthur Bartlett, of Palmerston North, who liad been in camp with the Third Reinforcements, was called. .He said that on January 24 he was taken ill with appendicitis,. arid was sent to Wellington Hospital. .On January 26 he was operated on, and on February 8 he was discharged. He went back to camp on the expiry of his leave, and, feeling ill again, reported to the doctor, who found that he was ruptured. Witness was immediately discharged. Mr. pSkerrett: Had. you' any money ? . Witness: No. Mr. Skerrett: Your pay ceased immediately? ;

Witness ; Yes. Mr. Skerritt: What did you have to do?; Witness: I was not able to work for two months. I . have no home, no parents, and I had to live on the charity of my friends. . His, Honour said that' Mr. Bartlett's case was one of very ill-fortune. How-, over his case would become known now, and if those who took up the care of these cases thought it a worthy case they would no doubt assist.

_ Mr./Skerrett: There must be some societies who have power to deal with these eases, . . This man really met his trouble in camjt Later in the day the Commission was able to say that it was possible to find something more practical than sympathy for Mr. Bartlett. | Charles Smith, of the Po-.tal Department, Christcburch, came forward with a complaint respecting the illness and death of his brother, Pte. E. Smith, who was formerly in camp at Trentham as a, member of the Seventh Reinforcements. Mr. Smith' said that on hearing from a friend that his brother was ill in Wellington Hospital ho telegraphed for information, and on July 5 received a- reply to tho effect that Pto. Smith had been discharged on the previous day. On July 7 ha got an official telegram to tho effect that his brother was dangerously ill in. tho Racecourse Hospital. The family reached that hospital (from Christchurcli) at 10.15 a.m. next day, and two hours later Pte. Smith died. Pte. Smith was unconscious when his relatives arrived, and only regained consciousness for a moment when lie heard his mother speaking. One doctor said Pte. Smith died of malignant measlo-i, another said pneumonia. His mother complained that Pte. Smith was put into bed with only a dress jacket on—no underclothing, The family still sought information, as to Tte. Smith's illness and treatment.

Dentist on tho Kiosk Hospital. William John Luke, a. member of the Sixth Reinforcements, said that ho Vas sent to the racecourse on June 22 with influenza. Ho was put in a loose-box, and slept on a palliasse en! the floor, Ho was there for 2-1 hours before being removed to tho kiosk. Mr. Skerrett: What have you to say of your treatment while there? : Pte. Luke: Nothing, except-that I objected to the way tliey took the tempera*iro and gave the medicine. Mr. Skerrett: What do you say about that? ' ' 1 ( Pte. Luke said, that- the medicine was brought round in a tin pannican. One orderly who brought it round just made everyone who was to talco the medicine drink out of the one pannicau. Another orderly dipped the medicine out with- a spoon from. which all took their dose.. He had no.complaint about tlie treatment, by doctore. The food did not compare favourably with what they received in the lines. In camp they were well treated. Ho preferred tents to huts for social reasons.

William Harold Powell, dentist, for-, merly of Pongaroa, stated that he joined Trentham cainp on Juno 26; and was only there about'four days wlien lie contracted sickness. Ha. was on dutj awhile as an orderly at tlie kiosk. There was a, shortage of thermometers, and the taking of temperatures was unsatisfac« tory. Dr. Martin: In what way? Mr. Powell: Men were put on who did not know how to take temperatures, and they just trusted to luck that a man who was put on to that duty knew how to do it. I was on cne night with a mail who asked mo to show,him how to do it, and the upshot was that I took the lot. Mr. Skerrett: Anything else? _ _■ Witness said also that ho found it impossible on occasions to get auy sterilising agent whatever. Tho beds were jammed tightly together, «nd ho found it difficult to get to somo patients without practically clambering oier others. His. Honour: Who was in charge of the hospital then?

Witness: Major Stout. Mr. Skerrett: What wore the lighting arrangements? . Witness: Tho lighting was by stable lamp, and candle stuck in a. bottle, . JJjj, /jk.sricH Ajkd fcto* _ .aitnsssU,

opinion of the Kiosk Hospital organise tion.

Witness: Well, I am not a medical man, but I am of opinion that there was a fair lack of organisation. A Carpenter's Views on the Hutments. Witness added that the orderlies were directed to wash in a certain department, which he discovered afterwards was used, also, by at least one man, ivlio had measles, and two who wero suspects. As to his illness, ho was discharged before ho was (in his own opinion)-lit. Subsequently he was laid up in bed for twelve days; and for an additional period in his room, and tho doctor who 'attended him said that he was "chock full of pneumonia." Dr. Martin: Was your chest examined while you wore in the kiosk? Witness: No; there was no examination.

Mr. Skorrett: You think you were discharged before you were tit. . Do you think yours was an isolated case of that kind of 'fliing P ■ Witness answered that it seemed to him that when-room had to be made for a certain number of new admissions, a liko number of the best already there had to go out. Asked about tho conveniences at the Kiosk Hospital, the'.witness said that tlicro was ono lavatory which was in a very dirty condition, and that men with 'high temperatures were in the habit of .getting out of bed when need crose, and going to a place across the laivn. Ho caught a man with a temperature of 103.6 in the act of leaving the verandah in this way. That, however, was tho man's own fault. While witness was in bed he saw a patient whose teinperaturo was 101 go out at 3 o'clock in the 'morning. Once, when witness required medicine, he said that he did not require it, and his reason was that he did not wish to drink out of the spoon that everyone was using, particularly as there was a measles patient only a few beds from him.

Dr. Martin: Are you .sure there were measles patients in'the Kiosk Hospital? Witness: Yes, quite sure. Dr. Martin: You aro absolutely definite about that? Witness: Quite definite. ■ Harold Lockwood, builder and contractor, Island Bay, who was employedas a. carpenter in the erection of the huts at Trentham, said that ho had had experience in erecting, huts in South Africa during the last Boer. War. He said that the huts built in Africa were made of wood and iron, unlined, and tho iron was unpainted. They were 60ft. by 30ft. in size, and about 10ft. high. Those huts were made to hold about fifty men The Trentham huts might have been better in the matters of height and ventilation. He slept at Trentham for four w'eeks, and tho huts were so draughty that the men using them could, not burn a candle, and the wind also interferred much with the lamps. Hie timber used in the buildings was green. Mr. Skorrett: Are you absolutely satisfied on that point about the timber? Witness': I am absolutely satisfied.

Equipment at Gamp Hospital. Sergeant-Major Aylnier-Blacklin, formerly of the ; New Zealand Medical Corps, and now attached to District Headquarters, gave evidence concerning the sick parades at Trentham. He said that lip had had about twelve and a half years' experience on tho medical side of the Imperial Army and the Imperial Navy, and had gone with the New Zealand troops to Samoa. From the end of October till. February ho was stationed at Trentham, and was ■ responsible for the training and discipline of the Medical Corps. The hospital arrangements, he said, were adequate, and he could find nothing at all wrong with them.- He 'did not think. it correct to say that the things in the dispensary were constantly covered with dust. The supplies wore, adequate. They .got everything they wanted; they only, had to ask. '

His Honour: With' regard to the men who camo to the morning sick parades, was there anywhere for them to shelter? Witness: No. . ..• > His Honour: -Did they stand in the rain? ' ' ' Witness: Oh, I suppose so; but I don't think there was any rain then. It was mid-summer. Sergeant-Major William Morris, of the Medical Corps, who has been in Trentham Camp since December 2, expressed the opinion that the sick parades wore properly conducted. He dated the alarming increase in the numbers attending, these parades from tho arrival in camp of the Trentham Regiment. . Mr. Ferguson said 1 that the Trentham Regiment had its own sick parade, and the witness should make it clear whether tho increase he referred to applied to the general parado or only tho Trentham Regiment parade. Witness: I could not say. I only know the Trenthams had most of tho sickness. As to equipment of the Camp Hospital, witness said there were plenty of sheets, pillowslips, and blankets. Mr. Ferguson: When was that? Witness: I don't know, but about Christmas-time. i Professor • Morgan, Government Geologist, presented a report of an examination of tho Trentham Camp site'. 'He said that as regarded soil and subsoil the locality was suitable for a military camp. He recommended a chemical analysis of the soil. The Rev. D. C. Bates, Government Meteorologist, reported tliat he visited the camp on July 24. Tests taken in the huts revealed that the air in them was cold and stale in tho early hours of the morning. His opinion was that such foetid atmosphere was the causa of tho sickness. < Mr. Gray read the following cablegram received by tho Minister of Defence from the Army Council, London: "Barrack hut 60ft.. by 20ft., average 30ft. high, accommodating 30 mentimber framing lined; outside (painted) 'corrugated iron or weather boards; inside asbestos sheet or jointed boarding; roof boarded and tar felted or corrugated iron; floor jointed boarding; separate dining lint preferable, but not absolutely necessary." The Commission will sit at Trentham Camp to-day. •