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Evening Star, Issue 16837, 12 September 1918, Page 4

The Medical Board which sat at Kensington to examine reservists drawn in the 21st ballot finished that particular "task yesterday, with the result that of the 338 examined 95 were passed as either A or CI- One out of every 3A does not read. like a large proportion of fit," but when age and other conditiona are considered the result is really as good as could, be expected.

It is highly satisfactory! to note that tho health of troops in Health Of Troops, the training camps in New Zealand during the past year was remarkably good, the official returns comparing favorably with tho health records of tho Imperial Army in time of peace. Tho results offer appreciable proof of the substantial improvement of organisation and methods and camp hygiene generally since tho wise engagement of Surgeon-general Henderson, of the Imperial Forces, as director. Tho number of officers and men in the training camps last year equalled 36,191, with an average strength of 9,991. Tho admissions to the hospital totalled 4,104, giving an admission rate per thousand of 410 and a. constantly sick rate of 12.49, as against 1,623 and 19.59 respectively in 191G, when there was a considerable amount of epidemic disease in tho camp. A careful analysis of Surgeon-general Henderson’s report on the subject shows unmistakably that the authorities, obviously profiting by unfortunate experiences in the early stages of the war, are particularly alert in the matter of safeguarding the troops in training against j serious epidemics. Tho most remarkable example of this alert caro is demonstrated by tho official returns respecting diphtheria. There were only thirteen cases of this disease, and none proved fatal. In view of the stubborn and wide prevalence of this disease in many parts of tho Dominion during the past year, it is a fine tribute to the vigilance and methods of the camp medical officers to say that tho outbreak of diphtheria among the men in tho training cantonments was limited to thirteen cases. It would seen! that some of their methods are required in several civil communities. Tho same may be said in respect to scarlet fever at the camps. During 1917 there wore only four cases and no deaths. The marked absence of epidemic disease is attributed chiefly to the practice of careful segregation at Tauherenikan of each draft of recruits, the prompt transfer to hospital of infectious cases, the use of inhalation chambers at the main camps, regularity of throat examination, and the high standard of cleanliness maintained rigorously at the camps. It seems a pity that the effective methods and precautions against j epidemic diseases should be so largely confined to military camps. Many communities with expensive, if not extravagant, hospital administration would be none tho worse for a course of similar precautionary treatment. The military camp “gargle” at tho public schools each morning, for example, would probably do a lob of good. Indeed, the education authorities might note with advantage that experience at the military camps has proved that the only way to maintain a high standard of health is to provide an abundance of fresh air, plenty of space to work in, and to avoid overcrowding. It is always tedious to deal in statistics; but there is interest in tho fact that tho number of deaths from disease among the troops in New Zealand in 1917 was only 50. Of these 15 occurred at the camp hospitals and 15 at civil institutions elsewhere. There were seven deaths from accidents (five occurring outside of camp), and eight from suicide (six of them taking place in camp). Tho suicide rate seems rather high. The disease which caused tho chief mortality was cerebro-spinal meningitis, which accounted for nine deaths. As regards this disease, special efforts have been made to combat it. Lieutenant - colonel Robertson, principal medical officer at Trentham Camp, has introduced a system of inoculation with anti-meningococcal vaccine in the case of all men admitted to hospital, and it is considered that the fact of no case of cerebro-spinal meningitis developing in hospital during the year may have been the result of this precautionary measure. The claim is entitled to respect, if it were for nothing more than the modesty with which it is made and its proof of tho eagerness of the authorities to safeguard our troops against this disease. Tho main feature of the interesting report is that it shows very plainly that great improvements have been made, and that the authorities are alert and over ready to make further improvement. The Minister of Defence and his medical staff are entitled to unqualified credit for their earnest efforts to keep our troops in good health.