Nursing an Epidemic on a Troopship

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XII, Issue 1, 1 January 1919, Page 15

Nursing an Epidemic on a Troopship

4 Being in convoy along with thirteen other boats we set off to England at 8. a.m., Monday, 25th August, our position being in the centre of all the others. We were all overjoyed at leaving such a dirty port, but not long after the men began to complain of not feeling well. Next morning about eighty odd paraded sick, and we found work in abundance. We all set to and did all we possibly could. Unfortunately for us, our P.M.O. was one of the first to go down. Next morning we sisters had to attend the sick parade and help get through the companies of sick men. By this time each sister had been detailed off to a company, and temperatures taken. Our hospital being so small the men had to be nursed on their own decks. It was only the very worst cases that were sent to hospital but of course the numbers so increased that it was impossible to get them all there. By the next morning our second medical officer went down and we had to fall back on an R.A.M.C. officer to be our dispenser, the sergeant dispenser being by this time in a very low condition. However we only had Captain for one day, and then we were left to our own mercies. Sister and Sister were the first two sisters to go off duty, and were off all the rest of the time. Poor Sister ,

j

who now lies dangersouly ill in hospital, took to her bed the following day along with Sisters , , and our two Imperial sisters that came as passengers with us from Cape ToM'n. They were both awfully good and helped us a lot, but unfortunately are now our only two cot cases. Sister Robinson is an Australian, and joined up with the Q.A.'s when the Imperial Government asked for sisters from New Zealand and Australia. She has done some nine months' service in German East Africa, and was being sent home on account of Malaria.

Poor Sister Tudhope of the Territorial Forces, had been on leave in Africa for foiir months, and wan returning to join her unit in Edinburgh. Now she seems to be a total wreck, but we hope before long to have her quite fit and well again. Sister Evans should really have been off duty, but managed to keep going to ward the attack off. She still has a nasty cough, but each night we hear less coughing amongst the girls, so I hope before long coughing will be an unheard of thing in our little ward.

It was such a lucky thing that a few of us kept up, as our three medical officers were sick and the poor company officers were at their wits' end to know what to do next. It was about seven days after the commencement of the outbreak that our cases

began to suddenly grow worse and die. They responded to no treatment whatever — stimulate and nourish them as we would — they went downhill rapidly, and this was the worst time of all. To see the poor boys die on our hands, one after the other, was terrible, but I must say that all that could be done for them was done. It was hard for us to see them go, but harder, I think, for their mates. Such a number of them were quite lads , abo ut twenty . Having no lights on the decks made it twenty times harder for us, and one night almost every way we turned we found men, who a few moments before had seemed fairly well lying in a collapsed condition, dying about an hour later. We all felt so upset that the remainder of our voyage was brought to such a sad ending. I cannot collect my thoughts to-day — another of our lads has just died, and we seem as though we cannot get away from things. It was a surprise to us all this morning to hear that a New Zealand mail was leaving to-day, so that is why this is so hurried. We have over eighty mothers and wives of our boys to send a few lines to, and I don't know how we will get them all away.

We reached Plymouth six days ago, and never before were we so pleased to see land. All being sent to isolation was a great shock to us, but we are so happy here, and we want for nothing. It was very sad for us to have Sister taken away to isolation hospital but I think it was done for the best. Sister was one of those who took some days to pick up, but her voice seemed to be her main trouble. She got that back fairly well the morning of the day she took so bad, and in the morning she seemed better and brighter than any of us, with a normal temperature. By afternoon she had a rigor and vomited ; temperature went up to 103.6, pulse 130, and respirations 3(5. She raved terribly all night and next morning became unconscious. We were taken for a pretty drive, and by the time we came back poor Sister was ready to be taken away. To-day we heard there is slight improvement in her condition, and she had a much better night, so now we have hopes of her recovery. Sister — — still seems very poorly, but I think she will improve gradually, for she had a very bad run on the boat and has got better and better each day. All the remaining girls are feeling and looking

much better. Miss Thurston and Colonel Parkes came down to see us on Saturday, and General Richardson was here to-day. After our isolation I believe we go to Brighton for a while, but none of us feel like moving from here. It will be some little time before we have much energy."

Later news from the sisters who went through this dreadful experience, the horrors of which can be realised better now since the outbreak in the Dominion has shown our nurses a similar condition, gives a cheerful picture of holiday making at Brighton, after release from quarantine.

Sister writes that they spent a most enjoyable holiday at the Sisters' Rest Home, of which Sister Speedy was in charge. After a week's rest there they were granted a free pass on the railway to wherever they wished to go. Some went to Edinburgh and Glasgow, some to the South of England. Sister herself to Scarborough. They were then detailed to various hospitals, and soon became very busy nursing more influenza cases. At Codford a large number of American men were admitted, but none were so bad as the cases on the troopship, possibly owing to prevention vaccine treatment.

The sisters who were on duty on the ' Tahiti " especially Sister Maxfield, who Mas in charge were mentioned in despatches in terms of the highest commendation for their splendid work and devotion to duty under the most trying circumstances.

At the conclusion of the report of the Parliamentary Committee into the transport epidemic, are these words : — Praise for Nurses. 9. Nursing. — Too much praise cannot be allocated to Sister Maxf ield and the nurses under her charge, as all worked most assiduously and effectively to cope with the epidemic. It is regretted that the same cannot be said about the medical orderlies, who were apparently ill-trained and did not show any marked capability or zeal. It is reported that the men from the troops who volunteered for orderlies during the epidemic did excellent work. 10. Complimentary.— The Court places on record their appreciation of the invaluable assistance rendered by the master of the ship and his ship's company, and of the services of Lieut. Colonel Allen, the medical

officers, nurses, and those who so ably assisted them. The report quotes an extract from LieutColonel Marshall MacDonald : ct From the

evidence it can be taken that the steps taken to cope with the epidemic were successful, particularly in view of the fact that it was got under control in ten days."