TRENTHAM CAMP

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9156, 23 September 1915, Page 8

TRENTHAM CAMP

REPORT BY GENERAL HENDERSON A FAVOURABLE VERDICT PASSED. I A report "upon the Trentham camp has been presented to the Defence Minister by Surgeon-General Henderson, Jt.A.M.C, Director of Military Medical Services. Goner.il Henderson was asked by the Minister to state the results of his observations. The new Director of Military Medical Services, writing on September 20th, stated that he had read the report of the Trentham Camp Commission and had inspected the camp hospital at Trentham. He had found that at present there was no epidemic. The cases of sickness in the hospital were mainly influenza of a mild type, and the number admitted was chiefly due to the excessive care of the medical officers, who admitted all who were oven mildly indisposed. As regards measles, the cases were of a mild type 2 mostly of German measles, and during the last three days there were only three cases. The hospital accommodation was ample, and the patients were well cared for. The report adds that as regarded the camp itself, the huts were excellent, and compared favourably with those provided in England. . There was no necessity for provision of separate din-mg-halls in the present camp. General Henderson considered the position of the huts to be satisfactory, and he did -not think there was any sanitary objection to the intervals between the huts, although in future camps it would be better to have them thirty feet apart. He did not consider there was any overcrowding of the men, as the proportion of men to the acre was, at present, 105. The roads being constructed and the surface drainage were quite satisfactory. There was no reason to fear the outbreak of any epidemic pwing to a-ny lack of sanitation, though the Defence Department must be prepared for measles and influenza recrudescing. General Henderson makes several suggestions. He says that hot and cold water are being provided and are expected to be available at the end of this week. This was a very urgent matter. He recommends that night-soil should be disposed of by incinerators, and states that experiments will be started immediately. The huts will be all fully disinfected in October for six days, between the time of the departure of ono lot of troops and the arrival of another. Other minor recommendations and comments are contained in the report.