TROOPSHIP EPIDEMIC

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 88, 8 January 1919, Page 6

TROOPSHIP EPIDEMIC

REPORT OF PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY NO BLAME ATTACHABLE ARMY COURT'S FINDINGS The Transport Epidemic Committee, which was set up for the purpose of inquiring into the • epidemic which took place on the transport conveying the Fortieth Eeinforcements, has reported. The report states t'mt as none of the officers and men of the Fortieth Reinforcements on board the Tahiti have .vet returned to New Zealand, the committee was limited to the evidence submitted by Mrs. J. E- Gibbons, consisting of extracts from letters of soldiers and dthcTs, and on the other hand to the evidence of officers of the Defence Department. The committee's findings are set out , as follow:— ' ' The Committee's Findings. '. "The Tahiti was under the command of an officer who had previous tranenort command exaerience, and also a long experience in command in the actual firing-line, and ha* a reputation as an officer who is particularly careful of his men, and who is devoted,tn their welfarn and comfort. ■ ■ ' "It was freely admitted that conditions on board a transport are "never equal to those on board a passenger vessel and that in times of rou»h. weather or general sickness the conditions ?to (■•xeeedinglv unpleasant. The lahiti, however, was .«« well (or better) provided for in resnect ■ to air space, and other accommodation «R any other troopship. Though discomfort ,was suffered owing to . the bad weather exr"iencetl after leaving New Zealand, things went as well as usual until bierra Leone was reached, where the troops arrived in normal condition, althoiujh some of the men.were still suffering from the efforts of vaccination. ,/,, . / "The simply of food to the ship on leaving New Zealand was ample.'and similar f-rv that supplied to other transports. The nuantity of food and delicacies for the'sick was greater than -usual, a six months' supply -being on. board; and the quality was fully up to standard. The regulations provided that the menu should be as varied as possible, but the confinement,. want of exercise, a.nd tedionsness of a long voyage make tho meals appear monotonous. Experience in Isew Zealand convinces the committee that the epidemic having appeared on board inevitable disorganisation would follow, and that arrangements for cooking and supply of food would, therefore, suffer. The evidence submitted affirms" that the regulations provide for le«s distinction between officers and men than do those of the Expeditionary Force of any other country. ■ ' Supply of Medical Requisites, . "There were two medical officers on hoard; and fortunately a .third Joined the ship en voyage. The two ship s medical officers went down almost at once, but, resumed duty at the earliest possible moment, and appear to have done everything possible. . Tho third doctor, the nurses, and orderlies appear to have done splendid work. The quantitv of drugs on board was equal to the ordinary supply, but was not sufficient to meet the exigencies of an epidemic. "For the information of the public, the committee incorporates in' this report the finding of the Court of Inquiry held in England. ■ If further evidence is rej quired, it would need to be taken on the return of tho men and the ship to New Zealand. v ' Tho committee desires specially to thank Mrs. J- P». Gibbons for tho trouble she has taken in. collocting the evidence, and for the lucid, concise, and capable manner in which she submitted the- same to the''committee. The comj mittee desires to express its sincere symi pathy with those who lost relatives. "(Signed) A. , 5.. MALCOLM, . ■ ' . "Chairman. "December .34, 1918." The Inquiry in England, The finding of the Court of Inquiry in England was as follows:— ' i That the health of the troops was very good until arrival at Sierra Leone. It is apparent that every effort was made to keep'the men fit by frequent parades in the fresh air. . Food. ■ That the food supplied up to this date was of good quality (with tie exception noted below), 'well cooked, well, served, ajid that.proper and sufficient arrangements were made as to its distribution; There were complaints as to the quality of the meat taken on board at Cane Town for tho use of tho troops,' and the O.C. troops has pointed nut in his.report that the btead occasionally had a tendency to turn sour. It is not considered that these two matters in any way affected the disease, as it is apparent from the evidence that there .was ■ an abundance of other food 9 to supplement the bread and meat on the occasions on which they were not satisfactory. ■ .. ■ Accommodation of Troops.—.fhe men were quartered 'as follow -.— ' In Hammocks. Forward between decks 320 'Midships main decks 170 Aft 'tween decks 280 \, Sergeants aft main deck 50 v 820 .. . In Bunks. •■ Lower deck 102 Main deck CO Boat deck '. *5 ' 567 . Total ..i ~ 1087 The ventilation- in the.troops' decks 'containing 'hammocks was satisfactory during the times that the ports were opened, but was not satisfactory when tho ports were closed during the rough weather, at night-time, and during the period when the ships were passing through, the danger zone. The O.C. troops considered that the placing of the hammocks 1C inches apart led to overcrowding. The only ventilation supplied was by means of port holes and_ wind sails, the latter being quite effective in 'certain weather and when the ports were closed. It is recommended t'hnt electric blowers or some other recognised form of artificial ventilation be placed on all ta'oop decks. ' ' , , The conditions of the men quartered in cabins was not satisfactory, and it is recommendetl that if this ship is_ again 'used for troops tlint thesp cabins bo removed and that hammock 'fittings be substituted. . Tt is abundantly clear from the evidence that the ship was kept clean and that every facility, wns given to. the men to sleep on deck duriiig the hot weather, thus materially assisting the maintenance of proper sanitation on-troop decks. Nature of Epidemic. The PDidemic was one of purulent bronchitis,'a disease with a mortality far higher than that of pneumonia, and duo in this instance to the symbiosis of two minute organisms, influenza, bacilli and streptococcus longus. Origin of' Epidemic. The infection gained entrance at Sierra Leone from contact with an epidemic there. ' Cause of High Mortality. The cause of the high mortality was due to thn virulent nature of the infection which affected a large number of. men masspd together on a ship, _where thn ventilation was defective, owing to the enforced closing of the port? and the nbsenco of nny form of recognised, artificial ventilation. Tt is considered in this connection that the vaccj'intion of the men nn board, taking place as it did, so poon b'fore the pniflpmic arose, would have hud the pffect of furtl'cr reducing Hioir rosisti'is power, "lid it is recommended with ref«ronce to further drafts that the men should be vncHiintcd sufficiently long beforo embarkation to ensure tlyir embarking in a normal state of health. Inhalation Chamber.Tho evidence shows that no attempt was made to use the inhalation chamber.; Tho S.M.O. in his-records shows that one gargle parade was held on August 27, 1918, tho second day of . tho epidemic. Although there is some difference of opinion as to the effectiveness of this

t measure, as adduced by the evidence of Lieut.-C'olonel Mac Donald and Cnptain Eggleton respectively, it is considered that free use should havo been made of this chamber. It is recommended that full use- bo made of this chamber on all subsequent voyages, particularly after leaving port. Treatment of Epidemic. Tt. is abundantly clear that once the epidemic commenced everything possible (except as noted in the foregoing passage) was done to check' the disease and to prevent it from spreading. In this respect an extract from Liente'n-ant-Colonel A. Marshall Mac Donald is quoted. "From the evidence it. can W taken that the steps talwn to cope with the epidemic were successful, particularly in view of the fact that it was got under control in ten days." Supply of Drugs. The supply of drugs and stimulants was ample for normal conditions, but gave out .under the heavy strpim caused by the epidemic. In view of the fact that this epidemic may again arise, it is recommended that an ample supply of suitable drugs and stimulants for dealing with a widespread epidemic should be placed on board. Special attention is drawn to the evidence of Captain Eggleton and of Lieutenant-Colonel Mac Donald as to the treatment of such an epidemic, viz., serra, and prophylactic use of suitable vaccine before embarkation. Nursing. Too much praise cannot be allocated to Sist«r Matfield and the nurses under her charge, as all worked most assiduously and effectively to cope with the epidemic. It is regretted that from the evidence the same cannot be said about medical orderlies, who were apparently ill-trained, and did not show any marked capability or zeal. It is reported. that the men from the troops who volunteered for orderlies during the epidemic did excellent work. Complimentary, The Court p'.aee on record their appreciation of the invaluable assistance rendered by the master of the ship and his ship's company, the service of Lieu-tenant-Colonel Allen, the medical officers, nurses, and those who so ably assisted them. The report is signed by Colonel Eugene J. O'Neill (president), Major T. H. Daweon, Captain K. Tapper, all of the N.Z.M.C., and Major J. T. "Watson.