SOLDIERS AND SICKNESS

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 33, 8 August 1916, Page 6

SOLDIERS AND SICKNESS

Sir, —The scientific experts at the camps seem to overlook the simplest elements of hygiene. At Teatherston, for instance, Canvastown is situated in a bog. It is terrible in wet weather, but when the sun gets to work • and dries tilings up the mud stinks. Excuse me, sir, but there is no other word for it; How can the men. keep their health under such conditions. My Contention is that these tents should be constantly ■shifted on to clean earth. The men could do it themselves without the slightest expense. Anyhow, even if <it cost/money ; better1 that than disease and death. Will one of your reporters sea General Henderson and see what he. lias to say about it?— l am. etc., ANXIOUS. [On the above letter being shown to him, Surgeon - General Henderson, Director-General of Medical.. Services, stated that under no circumstances hadthe ground of the canvas camp at Featherston ever smelt. The camp, owing to the recent wet weather, had become wet in certain parts. Consequently, men in the tents where the water had come in were removed into the hutments. Arrangements were, then made to shift these tents on to. dry ground, and as a result they had been distributed in various places around the camp. The health of the 16th Beinforcements, who had been occupying the canvas camp at Featherston during the wet weather, had been exceptionally good, and had. it been .necessary during., ■that period the' men would have been accommodated In one of the dining halls, but tha* necessity never arose. The 17th Infantry Reinforcements were to havfe been put into the canvas camp at. Featherston when the lfiths left, but owing to the continued wet weather interfering with training it was decided to give the 17ths their final ieave a few days earlier than their schedule time, which ordinarily .would have commenced to-morrow. Thus the , infantry canvas c&mp at present was vacated, and wonld be given a few extra days to dry before the 17ths resumed occupation after having had their final leave. As soon as the tents could be thoroughly dried they would be subjected to a wm&rproofing process that had keen recommended by the Professor of Chemistry at Auckland University College, and had proved very efficient in experiments conducted by him.]