REPORT OF COURT OF INQUIRY.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14877, 27 September 1918, Page 4

REPORT OF COURT OF INQUIRY.

PURULENT BRONCHITIS.

INFECTION AT.LAST POUT OF CALL.

HIGH MORTALITY DUE TO BAD ' "-■ VENTILATION. ■ ■

VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS

[United Peess Association.]

. WeHington, Sept. 26 .Ihe Minister of Defence has received tLe report of the Court of Inquiry which has been, held in England regarding tho 0 £ n the troopship on wffich the fortieth Reinforc-emerit* were taken to iingland The per^nel of tho Court has not been communicated to the Minister: Tho royort is as follows, the portions m parentheses being merely explanatory, and not part ol"" the report :—

"The disease was reported to be purulent bronchitis.

' 'The infection occurred at (the last port of call before the shin reached her destination, and a port "at which troops did not land). ■ "The high mortality was caused -by bad ventilation through the enforced closing of "ports. (Ports are closed by Admiralty order for the sake of safety from submarines.) "There are diiferences of opinion in. the expert evidence as to the effectiveness of the inhalation chamber, but I the Court considers it should have been used.

i "The-isteps taken to cope ■ with tho epidemic1 were successful, in view of tl>a fact that it was under complete control ■within ten. days. ■.•'Evidence of experts was given to the effect that all was done that could have been done.

"The supply of drugs and stimulants was ample for normal conditions, but provision should be made for a greater supply in future^ in readiness for outbreaks of epidemics. "Sister Maxfield and the nurses did excellent work, but the medical orderlies were apparently i inefficient. "The master of the ship, Colonel Allen (not the Minister), the medical officers, thn nurses, and the men who voluntered as medical orderlies, rendered excellent service.

"In fu,ture hammocks should be 18in apart.

"Vaccination for smallpox should be carried out before embarkation.

"The inhalation chamber should be used after leaving every port of call.

"If mixed catarrhal and vaccine inoculation is giveu before embarkation, the resisting power of the men will be increased.

"Supplies of anti-streptococcus serum alvould be available on board all transports—more than one .strain, if pos-sible—^-and should: be renewed in England and New Zealand.

"The cases treated hero are certified by experts to resemble those affected by an epidemic at Sling Camp early this year."