H.—6c.

12

[SUBG.-MAJ. PEABLESS.

379. The supplies to the hospital were all that you desired ?—I got everything I wanted. 380. The ship's officers were willing to assist you in every way'?— Yes. 381. How soon after leaving Durban did the men begin to sicken?—l do not think there were any in the hospital until three or four days after. 382. What were the first two or three complaints ? —Mostly colds. 383. Nothing serious? —There was one case of enteric. 384. Did that case of enteric lead to any others?— No. He is in the hospital now. He was convalescent on board the ship. 385. When did pneumonia appear on board the ship?—l think we had about five or six cases by the time we came to Albany. 386. How many men were in the hospital then?— About eighteen. 387. How many had you room for in the hospital?— Thirty-two. 388. Did you think there was any necessity to land any of the cases at Albauy ?—There was only one man seriously ill, and I thought there was more risk taking him ashore than to leave him on board ship. 389. What was he suffering from ?—Pneumonia. He recovered. I forgot to say that one case of measles occurred before we got to Albany. 390. How long are measles in incubation ? —Ten to fourteen days. 391. How many days were you from Durban to Albany ?—Fourteen days. 392. Then, the case had been contracted before leaving?— Yes. 393. You do not think there was contagion on the ship before the troops embarked ?— No. 394. What steps did you take to isolate each case ?—I put him in the hospital. As far as isolation is concerned, it is impossible. 395. How soon after did fresh cases of measles appear?— When we arrived at Melbourne I think we landed three Australians with measles. 396. How did they contract the disease?— From this other man before he was taken to hospital. I know three were landed with measles at Melbourne. 397. When is infection most virulent ?—When the rash is coming out —that is, just before. 398. That would be before the man was taken to the hospital?— Yes. 399. How soon was this first man taken to the hospital?—lmmediately he was reported. 400. There was no mistaking the disease: was the rash out?— Yes. 401. He might have contaminated other men before he went into the hospital? —Yes. 402. When did the great number of cases of pneumonia develop ?—I had pneumonia, of course, all the way, but mostly after leaving Melbourne. 403. Is pneumonia an infectious disease ?—I do not think so, as regards ordinary pneumonia ; but the septic pneumonia prevalent on the " Britannic" was decidedly infectious. 404. Could anything have been done to prevent the spread of pneumonia? —No. 405. You think that it was absolutely inevitable from some cause or another ?—I do. 406. What was the primary cause which led to so many cases? —Owing, I think, to living in the high dry latitudes and out-of-doors and then coming suddenly into the cold weather. Two days out from Durban we got into a very cold damp climate, and I think that is the chief cause. 407. There was nothing that could have been done to prevent the spread of pneumonia ?—No ; not more than was done. 408. How many cases proved fatal before your arrival in Wellington ?—Two. 409. Where did they die ?—One man died on the 17th, before we got to Albany, and another on the 29th, between Melbourne and here. 410. Can you tell the Commission how many patients you landed with pneumonia in Wellington ?—I have nine down. 411. When you landed ?—Yes. 412. Do you know how many cases have occurred since? —No ; a good many. 413. But you have no official information on the subject?—No; the cases followed measles. 414. Did the water on board ship ever come under your notice ?—Yes. 415. Was it good in quality?— Very good. 416. Do you know whether it was condensed ?—I think there was both condensed and fresh water. 417. Do you know whether the condensing-engines were in good order?—l do not know. I do not think we were ever short of water. 418. There was nothing in the assertion that men could not get sufficient water to keep themselves clean ?—No, nothing whatever. 419. What utensils did the men wash in ?—They had iron hand-basins. They had the sail bath. 420. Did they make use of the sail bath? —For the first day or two, when in the warm climate. 421. Was the water in the sail bath constantly renewed ?—Yes, the hose was played into it. 422. Did you ever visit the men when they were at their dinners ?—No. 423. You do not know, then, as to the quality of the food put before them—cooked food, I mean ?—I did not inspect that. 424. Did you find the men at all times amenable to medical treatment : when they came to the hospital were they obedient ?—Yes, I had no trouble whatever. Of course, there was always a certain amount of malingering. 425. Can you give us a list of those men who were in the hospital on or before the day of arrival in Wellington ?—Yes. 426. How many were there? —Fifty-one.