SOLDIERS’ HEALTH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10073, 11 September 1918, Page 6

SOLDIERS’ HEALTH

COMPARATIVE STATISTICS FOR VARIOUS REINFORCEMENTS. Surgeon-General U. S. F. Henderson (Director-General «i Medical Services) gives in bis report for the year 191/ some interesting comparative statistics as to the health of various reinforcement drafts. The report states that the reinforcements which had tho largest amount of sickness were tho 32nd. with an admis-sion-rate of 78 per cent, and constaut-ly-sick rate of 7.32 ; the 31st, admissionrate GO and coustantfv-sick rate 7.23; and tho 30th. admission-rate 63 and constautl.v-sick rate 11.03. The healthiest troops were —the Field Artillery, admission-rate 20 . and constantly-sick rate 10.13; the 23rd Reinforcement, ad-mission-rate 31 and constantly-sick rate 3.8; and tho Maori Reinforcements, ad-mission-rate 31 and constantly-sick rate 3.17. Tho Cl camp had an admission rate of 47 and constantly-sick rate of 3.17, and so compares very favourably with the others. Tho months which showed the largest and least numbers of admissions were : —At Trcntham : Largest—September, 157; October, 2CB; November, 103; in all of whieli influenza was the main factor in causing tho admissions. Tho least numbers wore in December, 65; March, 102; April, 104. At Feathorston : Largest—September, 382 ; October, £O6 ; November, 212 ; influenza being tho prevailing disease. The least numbers were in December, 91; April, 117; and February. 151. The largest and least numbers in I hospital on any one day of the year were:—Trcntham: Largest, 119, on NoVembcr Cth: least, 6 on January 3rd. Featherston: Largest, 162, on September 24th; least, 7, eu December 23 rd. Officers. —The health of tho officers has been very good. The average strength was 362, with' only 55 admissions to hospital, equal to a ratio of 152 per thousand, and 1 death, equal to a rate of 2.7 per thousand. In the Imperial Army in the United Kingdom in peace-time the ratio per thousand of admissions of officers was 295.4, and the death-rate 3.41 ner thousand. Tim chief causes of admissions were influenza (14), and gastric complaints (11). One death occurred ns the result of an operation for appendicitis in the case of a homo service medical officer.