RETURNED TROOPERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12045, 15 August 1902, Page 5

RETURNED TROOPERS.

TREATMENT OF THE SICK.

DR. BAKEWELL'S OPINIONS.

THE ALLEGED SMALLPOX CASE.

A Herald reporter had a chat yesterday with Dr. R. H. Bakcwcil, with reference to the treatment of the; troopers who returned by the Britannic and Orient. Dr. Bakewell, at the outset, said he must distinctly decline to say anything on military matters, but he had no objection'to giving a medical opinion as to what had occurred since the troopships arrived in New Zealand. He came over from South Africa on the Britannic, but declined to say anything with reference to what occurred on board, stating that if ho said anything on that point, it muse be in evidence before the Commission. "What is your opinion, then, as a medical man, regarding the - treatment of the men since they arrived in New Zealand?" "I have no hesitation in saying that the sending of pneumonia and measles patients to Somes Island was certain to cause deaths. It was a cruel thing. They had measles and pneumonia on board the Britannic, and the patients should have been sent to a proper hospital, where they could have been properly cared for, and provided with comforts. It is impossible to' provide proper coniforts in a bleak, exposed place such as Somes Island." "How do you account for so many deaths?"

"I suppose the deaths were owing to exposure. What can you expect if you take men in eruptive fevers, transfer them to tugs, take them across the harbour, and place them in a very exposed place such as Somes' Island." . ' "What. is your opinion regarding Lieutenant Calloway's case?" "I don't think it is a ease of smallpox at all. How could ho catch smallpox ? He has not in contact with it, for there is no smallpox in Durban, nor any part of South Africa, nor in Albany, whore it is said Calloway came on board. Ido not moan to say that smallpox has not originated in filth conditions, but we do not find it so nowadays. lam sure the medical authorities have been in error. It is impossible, for instance, that he could have smallpox and be better on the fourth day, because it takes eight days for the eruption to mature. .■■': The men on board the Orient were medically examined at Lyttelton on Thursday, August 7, and he apparently had no eruption then, and Friday, August 8, when he was examined in Wellington, must have been the first day of the eruption. Now, no man who knows anything about smallpox, would ever on a single case like that, diagnose it to be smallpox on the first day. It is impossible. Of course, if you have an epidemic of smallpox about, you may assume that a case is smallpox wherever you see the eruption, but with an isolated case it is impossible at that stage to say the' case is one of smallpox." • .

DEATH OF ANOTHER AUCKLANDER.

[BY TELEGRAPH.: ASSOCIATION.] ■-Wellington, Thursday. Private Albert Tonks, of Hokianga, belonging to the Eighth Regiment, i died in the hospital to-night, of pneumonia, supervening on scarlet fever. Deceased was one of the men disembarked from the Britannic.

A number of troopers who arrived in the Orient were released from quarantine to-day, the Defence Department arranging to billet them in town for a few days. They will go to their homes as soon as possible. All have been vaccinated, with good results. The smallpox patient' is reported to be doing well, and likely to recover. There are' twenty-nine cases of measles among the Orient troopers, and several cases of colds still in the hospital at Somes' Island.

VTo-day's report regarding the Britannia's sick, stated that Nicholson and Lunn are very ill. and Lucas and Atkins are improving. Thorps'; are doing well . V Ohfjstchtjrch, Thursday. The district health oflicor is proceeding against the Orient troopers who have broken quarantine.; , ■'•'''. '■":. * ,\ , , '*:

■ Dunedin, ' Thursday. One case on the quarantine island is diagnosed by Dr. .Ogston as nervous eruption, caused by rheumatism.i-H All the others in the camp and quarantine are well. There are 277 in camp, and 20 on the island. [BY TELEGBAPH.*-SrEOIAL CORRESPONDENT.] w .! :. - * Wellington, Thursday.

When he was asked in the Legislative Council to-day what provision tho Government was making to supply tho troopers on Somes' Island with literature, the Minister for Education paid a compliment to Mr. Witheford for the kindness he has shown in collecting books and periodicals for the men. V THE MONTROSE. The troopship Montrose, which left Melbourne for Auckland on Saturday last with a large number of returning New Zealand troopers, is' expected to arrive to-night or to-morrow morning.

; MILITARY FUNERAL. A military funeral was yesterday accorded to the remains of the. late Trooper H. W. Craig, of the No. 4- troop, " D"' squadron Eighth Contingent, who died at the quarantine station, Wellington," after: returning from South Africa. The cortege was timed to leave the residence of the late trooper's parents, Pompallier Terrace. Ponscnby, at two p.m. There assembled there and in the neighbourhood at the appointed hour a large crowd of people desirous of witnessing the solemn function;, A. company of the Permanent Militia, under Lieutenant Wall, was drawn up outside the house, and on the coffin being brought out by four of; the late trooper's comrades,' the troops presented arms. The coffin, which Was draped with a large Union Jack, was then placed upon the gun carriage in waiting. Arms wero then reversed, and the troops, at a slow march, took up their position at the head of the procession. The Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Lieutenant Hunter, followed. Behind the gun carriage, on either side of which were the four coffin-bearers, came the Rev. W. E. :•■ Cillam, chaplain to , the Auckland Garrison, and in the rear were the carriages containing the deceased trooper's relatives. Following, these came a number of members of the Eighth Contingent, under Lieutenant Walter Parker, and representatives of the various volunteer corps. Lieu-tenant-Commander Little, representing the unattached reserve forces, was also present, and acted as marshal. On tho sad procession moving oft at a slow march the band struck up " A Garland of Flowers," followed by "Tho Final Halt," and from- here to the intersection of :ls-street and Karangahape Road played other appropriate 'selections. At this point brakes were in attendance and took up those who had so far followed on foot, and others who joined the cortege here,, the journey being thus continued to Purewa. At the cemetery the Rev. W- F. Gillarn conducted the funeral service, the customary throe volleys being fired over the grave by the Permanent Militia Alorjr the route taken by the funeral procession the paths were lined with spectators. -• ■ '■' -':■<■■■ ■••"„ ■■