CONTROL OF DISEASE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3168, 20 August 1917, Page 6

CONTROL OF DISEASE

.»■' EXAMPLE OF MILITARY CAMPS. i. While an opidemic of diphtheria is rag—ing iSroughout practically the whole of the Dominion, it is a tact worthy of -•Mote that the fever wards in both ot the large military carape are almost empty. '.. Diphtheria ia not unknown Tientham and Featherston, but tfiat "disease, in common, with others of n- coiuugious ■ nature, is so completely under control in the camps that it may be said to be . aon-oxistent. With the serum which is now; used as a speoifio . against diph.theria, aircases that are taken in hand early may be kept well within the category of mild cases; and, in the military camps, all cases are thus nipped in the -had. '

As soon as recruits enter camp, the Bulk of them being mobilised at Trentham, their throats are swabbed. The Bwab consists of a piece of sterilised cotton wool attached tp the end of a piece' of wire. .It is swabbed against the back, of the. throat, and immediately '. ■ sealed in a small bottle, from which it 13 only removed in the jaboratory, whero the tests are made. Numbers of cases of diphtheritic throats : and incipient diphtheria are thus detected, and t'nt) men concerned aro kept under observation and treatment until the' throat has cleaned up or the disease develops. Iu either case- the patient is usually back . '.in the ranks in a very.short;time, unless he proves to be "a "carrier"—that i is, : one : in who3o throat the diphtheria : germs -appear to be securely lodged. ■ When this occurs tho patient must re- -• main in isolation until he gets a clear .swab. At the present time there is a man in isolation at Trentham who has been there for a. number of weeks. Hid infection was discovered when he entered as a recruit. He has not developed the disease, nor has he succeeded in getting rid of the infection. He draws his pay, though he has not yet seen the interior of Trentham Camp proper. Tho thoroughness "of these measures of -.-precaution-against the introduction of v infectious disease into camp, finds testimony in the almost empty new fever lins- . pitals. Probably nowhere else in New Zealand is the treatment of diphtheria - and cerebro-spinal meningitis more thoroughly understood than m the- military , camps, where the medical staffs include ''.'.officers-who have had world-wide military .'■* and private experience. -■ In continuation of the careful medical ' observation of new soldiers, the new camp : : at Tanherenikau has more than justified "its construction for use during the winder months ofthe'.year. There the segre- ■ gation of men from the four military districts is carried, out; The low rate of richness in the camp is remarkable. •And the fact that a separate isolation ■ .Tvard and hospital are provided makes : easier the task of localising and stamping ont any outbreak of infectious disease ' TvWch may occur." During the, whole ;of their time in Trentham, Tauheremkau, and Featherston ■ Camps, the sol- • diers' throats are tested twice a week, and again just before embarking. To this precaution and to many others in ■ connection with the medical side of tho camps must be attributed the remarkably healthy state of the men in khab\ ■Epidemics may rage in the civilian, communities whero there is not the absolute personal control so necessary to stamp .them out. Inside tho camps it is claim- - ed that no epidemic could now occur.