H. K. POTTER.]
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553. Mr. Salmond.] And did other cases of measles break out amongst those contacts? —I am not prepared to say now. I presume there were some such cases. If a man did not develop it, say, within ten or fourteen days he was returned to his duty. 554. Was that system continued? —No, that system was not continued. 555. I may take it. that now when a man takes the measles there is nothing more said about, the others? —Yes. 556. '/'he Chairman . | But then- was no isolating or quarantining after May? —To the best of my knowledge that was the time. 557. Do you know of any reason why that was discontinued? —I cannot say for certain, but 1 think there was no advantage in quarantining. 558. That would be a matter for the Medical Officers? —Yes. 559. Mr. Salmond.] Was the process of the disinfection of the bedding discontinued also? — —Yes. 560. Do you know what steps, if any, were taken, when men were seriously ill, to notify their relatives? —Well, if we got information that a man was seriously ill we sent an urgent wire to his relatives. 561. Have you gol a list of the relatives or next-of-kin? —We have the next-of-kin on our records. In the early stages of the camp it would be left to the hospital authorities to advise the relatives, because when, the man goes in there his next-of-kin is taken. 562. Mr, Ferguson.] So long as it was a public hospital to which the man was sent that might be so, but if it were a temporary hospital you would send the notice? —That is so 563. When the man went into the Wellington Hospital they would do the notifying from the hospital?— Yes. 564. The Chairman.] Directly the man left the camp for the hospital until he came back to camp you took no cognizance of his movements? —Not unless it was reported to us that he was seriously ill. 565. Were the Wellington Hospital authorities instructed to let you know if cases of serious illness developed?— Yes; there was an arrangement come to by which the Director of Medical Services would arrange it. 566. But, that is only recently? —No, in the early stages; and then when the epidemic took place we undertook it because it was such a big thing. 567. Mr. Salmond.] I suppose a number of these notifications were only sent out immediately before death took place?— Well, that I cannot say. We did not know how the patients were in the hospital. We would be notified that a man was seriously ill, and we wired immediately to his relatives. 568. The Chairman.] How were you notified —by letter, telephone, or telegram?— Sometimes by telephone, or by letter, or by telegraph. We would get a letter the same day. 569. Can you bring us a sample of one or two of these advices from the hospital?— Yes, I will make a note of your request. 570. Mr. Salmond.] It has been suggested that a number of parents have had no notice that their sons were dying until they were in ext/remis: do you know of cases of that sort?—l believe there have been one or two such cases, but, speaking from memory, I think they were cases where the men were suddenly taken worse. Within an hour perhaps they were unconscious; but that you will get from the medical men. 571. It is suggested that there was an outbreak of sickness among the horses as well as among the men?— There have been a few cases of " strangles " and a few cases of ringworm. 572. Is strangles an infectious disease? —Among horses. 573. With men, 1 mean?— That I do not know; but there has not been one case of mud-fever with the horses in camp. 574. Is that a, common ailment of horses in camp?—No; but I think, it has been reported that there have been cases. 575. Do you know whether similar outbreaks of disease have taken place in other military camps?—l know that it has been reported in Australia and at Home. 576. You do not know the particulars? —No. 577. In respect to the administration of this camp, have you been refused by the Government or by your superior officers any equipment or allowance which you wanted or asked for?— Yes, a railway-siding I asked for has been refused. 578. Rather a large thing to ask. for?—T do not think so. Now they have to put one in. 579. Have any other suggestions made by you been rejected?— Yes. While the huts were being built I suggested that we should have cots : that was turned down. 580. The Chairman.] Have you a letter-book containing those suggestions?—No, they were verba]. 581. Where would your communications be recorded? —I have it in writing about the railwavsiding. 582. Mr. Salmond.] You said there was a marquee for the sick, men or for men that were proposed to be removed to the Wellington Hospital : is it not in contemplation to have a permanent hospital at the camp?— Yes, one will be completed in about three weeks out there. Tt is now in the hands of a private contractor. 583. When was that commenced? —I could not say exactly. 584. Ihree months ago?— About that. 585. What is the size of it? —I do not know the particulars of it. 586. Have you seen it?—l have seen the rough plan. 587. Is the building not up now?— Yes; but, I have never been through it. 588. You have seen the outside of it? —But I do not know what it contains,
3—H, 19b,
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