H.—l9b

XXII

me that some of these men were seriously ill and required nursing. . . . It was also obvious to me that the orderlies could not be relied on for nursing purposes, although I may say they did their very best-they stuck to their posts and worked like men. On a parade of the orderlies on the following day there were twenty-three, of whom thirteen were available for hospital purposes, and only two had nursing experience, and that of a, very minor degree." Hence Dr. Valintine says, " I immediately took measures to get trained nurses out, and the first trained nurse arrived on Sunday, the 27th June. There were two nurses at first, and then within a week seven nurses, and within ten days of my taking over there were twenty-nine trained and twenty-one untrained nurses." 87. It is to the circumstances mentioned—-the bad weather, the improvised character of the hospital accommodation, the difficulties about the beds and their equipment, the large and increasing daily pressure on the available resources, and the lack ot trained orderlies—that the conditions described by Dr. Thacker as existing on the 28th June are attributed by Dr. Valintine. 88. Early in July the Racing (Tub offered the use of the members' luncheonroom in the grandstand, holding about forty beds. This and the grandstand and all the available buildings were taken advantage of, and the plant and cooking-appliances of the club utilized either for patients or for administra-" five hospital purposes. Up to the 10th July the racecourse buildings were only temporarily employed as*a receiving hospital, and from there all the acute cases were sent to the Wellington Hospital. After that date serious cases had to be treated at the racecourse. These racecourse buildings were the better adapted, in the emergency, for use as a hospital because they were provided with kitchen and sanitary accommodation. 89. Dr. Valintine also obtained the use of the Heretaunga Golf-house on the 26th June, which became available for fifty patients. 90. On the 2nd July Captains Harrison and Ferguson, Medical Officers on duty at Trentham racecourse hospital, informed Dr. Valintine that they were not satisfied with the influenza cases that were coming in from camp. They mentioned that these cases (influenza and septic sore throats) had assumed a more malignant character, and that they were very concerned about it. Mr. Hurley, the Government Bacteriologist, was then summoned fo Trentham to make a bacteriological examination of swabs taken from the throats of some of the sick men under treatment. Mr. Hurley prepared a vaccine which later on was employed in the treatment. 91. On the Bth .July Captains Harrison and Ferguson again reported to Dr. Valintine about the virulence of some of the cases, and also mentioned their suspicion of typhus fever. It is to be noted that from the 2nd to the Bth July inclusive 587 patients were admitted to the racecourse hospital for treatment. On the Bth July Dr. Hector was called in consultation, and agreed that the disease should be treated as typhus. This opinion Dr. Valintine reported to the Minister of Defence, and strongly advised him to break up the camp. Next morning, 9th July, large details of troops were sent by train to other areas, Waikanae and Tauhcrenikau. 92. Professor Champtaloup, of Dunedin, was telegraphed for, and he and Mr. Hurley made a further investigation of some of the acutely ill cases, and reported on the 12th July from bacteriological examination that cerebro-spinal meningitis was present amongst the sick. Patients now actually ill with cerebro-spinal meningitis, or under observation as suspects, were isolated in a room under the racecourse grandstand and in the trainers' quarters, and the special treatment for this disease was carried out by the Medical Officers. Other cerebro-spinal meningitis patients were treated in the Wellington Hospital. 94. On the 18th July, when the Commission visited the racecourse hospital, there were seventeen patients actually ill with cerebro-spinal meningitis, or under observation as suspects. The returns of meningitis cases given to the Commission show that in June there were five admissions, and in July twentyfour admissions, for this disease. As the diagnosis was not definitely esta-

Orderlies.

Nurses.

Causes of conditions on 28th June.

Grandstand.

Further accommodation ,it raceoourse.

Golf-house.

Virulence of i llness inorensing.

Typhus suspected

Break up of camp.

Cerebro-spinal meningitis diagnosed.

How deal! with.

Number affected.