H.—6c.

board, evidently brought on board with them from Aldershot an epidemic of supposed influenza with severe pneumonic signs. They had lost two cases at Aldershot; and here we have had twenty cases, all but three, who only fell sick a few days ago, being Bast Yorkshire men. Four or five have been delirious, and three have died. As the only medical staff, besides four doctors, consisted of a Volunteer medical sergeant, one E.A.M.C. orderly, and a civilian ' compounder ' (i.e., dispenser), the hospital-stores, accommodation, and personnel, intended only for the usual work of a transport, have been taxed to the uttermost, and treatment has been difficult, as the ship's hospital, though amply fitted for the usual work on a transport, was not fully enough staffed nor stocked for so great a strain. " There was difficulty in putting on ice poultices and fomentations regularly, although the pleurisy was frequently severe ; there was a dearth of thermometers when the nonofficial had been broken, and there was a drug-famine, the giving-out of the digitalis being especially serious. It is fortunate that the sergeant of the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps, the civilian compounder, and the only orderly did not break down, the atmosphere in hospital through the tropics being most oppressive." This happened on the troopship "Nile" leaving England, and running daily into warmer weather, with disciplined troops on board, and medical men with enthusiasm and the most modern skill and and experience to guide them. This example certainly should make the relatives of the " Britannic " sufferers less astonished at their own sad experience. Unfortunately, a misunderstanding seems to have arisen as to the period at which the Health Department took over charge of the invalids, and when the responsibility of the medical officers in charge of the sick ceased. Without doubt the Health Department on boarding the transport issued instructions for the landing of the sick, some of whom they ordered to be sent to the Hospital, and others to Somes Island; the handing-over of the blankets, &c, for fumigation; and also ordered men whom they found showing signs of disease to the ship's hospital. It is evident that it was understood the invalids would be disembarked on the day the " Britannic " arrived. Delays, however, took place, and the sick had to be left on board for the night. Dr. Bccles remained on board, and devoted himself to the welfare of the sufferers during the whole night, and had the assistance of four orderlies, who volunteered, and did good service, and there is no reason for supposing that the patients suffered from want of attention. The charge of drunkenness the night before arrival, brought by one witness against the orderlies, broke down under examination. That the regular hospital orderlies should have been allowed to leave the sick before they were absolutely and unreservedly handed over to the Health Department seems to your Commissioners to have been distinctly wrong ; but they qualify that statement by saying there was every reason for the Principal Medical Officer to believe that his responsibility for the sick was terminating, if not terminated, when arrangements were virtually taken out of his hands by the Health Department. The allegations that the sick were not removed to Somes Island with due care are quite unfounded ; every arrangement that could be made for their comfort was made. Three trained nurses and Doctor Purdy accompanied them, the deck of the " Duco " was screened to break the wind, and Permanent Artillerymen, sailors, and volunteer orderlies were in attendance to carry those unable to walk. All the medical men agreed that in transporting from the ship's hospital to the " Duco " it was inadvisable to use stretchers owing to the sharp turnings, narrow passages, and steep ascents and descents, and their opinions must, be received as the best obtainable. No other suitable accommodation could have been procured on the mainland in addition to that obtained at Wellington Hospital, nor was the removal of the sick to Somes Island injudicious. The quarantine buildings on Somes Island are old-fashioned and somewhat inconvenient, but there was ample accommodation for all the patients. The question whether it is the most suitable place for a quarantine-station is one for the Health Department, and not for your Commissioners to decide ; but they are of opinion that no harm resulted from the removal of the patients to the island, and it would have been most dangerous to all on board the " Britannic " to have placed the vessel in quarantine without landing the patients. The total number of deaths is twenty, made up as follows : — 2 At sea. 0 v?'u eS f n n ■♦ , 1 Taken from ship's hospital. 2 Wellington Hospital: I r 5 Somes Island: Taken from ship, their condition being discovered only on eve of disembarkation. 2 Somes Island : \ 1 Private boardinghouse, Wellington : [illness developed ashore. 2 Auckland: ) 20 The evidence shows that the men near the end of the voyage exhibited a disinclination to report themselves sick to the surgeons, lest they might be prevented from getting ashore. Eleven men who were not in the hospital the night before disembarkation were detected, and sent from the steamer to Somes Island. Of these eleven men five died. There is little doubt that concealment of their condition was largely responsible for such a heavy death-rate. Nothing was elicited regarding the circumstances under which the five who died ashore became ill. Tiie° troops commenced the voyage under unfavourable circumstances. Details of the Tenth Contingent sent to join the " Britannic " at the last moment introduced the germs of measles; the closely-packed decks, the weak ventilation, and the habits of the men, who had not the training of regular troops to stand the confinement, all conduced to the development of the disease. The same conditions predisposed them to pneumonia, which, following on the measles,

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