H,—l9b.

XXV

were 34 patients, January 73, February 45, March 67, April 101, May 127, the large majority being of a simple character. 104. The total number of cases of illness of any description from opening of camp to the 22nd July, 1915, excluding fatal cases, was 2,813, and the deathrate amongst the sick was IT6 per cent. The total number of deaths was 33 — viz.: December, 2; January, 1; February, 1; March, 1; April, 1; May, 1; June, 7; and July, 19. A return furnished to us gives the following as causes of death in the above list :—

Pneumonia ... ... ... ... ... 17 Cerebro-spinal meningitis ... ... ... ... 6 Cerebral haemorrhage ... ... ... ... 1 Malignant measles ... ... ... ... 2 Acute phthisis ... ... ... ... ... 1 Septicaemia ... ... ... ... ... 1 Epistaxis ... ... ... ... ... 1 Peritonitis ... ... ... ... ... 1 Intestinal obstruction ... ... ... ... 1 Accident ... ... ... ... ... 1 Acute mania ... ... ... ... ... 1 The return given in paragraph 41 shows that 13,607 men in varying numbers and at various periods occupied the camp from the 20th December, 1914, to the end of July, 1915. 105. We transmit as an appendix to our report a short medical description by Dr. Martin dealing with the infections from a medical point of view. We also transmit charts and tables illustrating the history of the later stages of the epidemic, prepared and sent to us by the Health Department. 106. Turning back to the questions proposed at the beginning of our review of the outbreak of sickness, we answer that— (1.) The type and nature of the maladies have been dealt with fully in the review. (2.) There were indications in the early months of the year that the maladies might assume dangerous proportions. (3.) The medical administrative service did not realize the significance of the indications, and therefore did not, in anticipation, provide sufficient means for the treatment and prevention of the maladies. (4.) Energetic and effective methods were not pursued until Dr. Valintine intervened. We supplement these answers with the observation, which appears to us to be of great importance, and that is that had the true significance of the indications been realized there would not have been introduced into the camp the large bodies of troops that were brought in there in May and June, and the epidemic would not have therefore reached the proportions that it did.

Effect of Cerebro-spinal Meningitis on the Future Occupation of the Camp. 107. In the opinion of Dr. Martin, the medical member of the Commission, which he has formed upon the medical evidence submitted to us, as well as upon' his own knowledge of the subject, an opinion with which the other members of the Commission see no reason to disagree, cerebro-spinal meningitis was introduced into the camp by a " carrier " —that is, an infected person who is "carrying " the organism in his throat and is capable of infecting those with whom he comes in contact —and that it can certainly be said that the Trentham Camp site was not in itself responsible for the appearance of this disease. He states that the organism causing this form of meningitis has a very short life outside the human body, and that it would be incorrect to say that " Trentham Camp site has ever been in the past, or will be in the future, an area infected with the organism of cerebro-spinal meningitis."

Statistics.

Special review by' Dr. Martin

Answers to questions relating to medical service.

Dr. Martin's remarks thereon.

iv—H. 19b.