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43. Ought camp life under proper conditions to be unhealthy? —It is the most healthy life possible. Firth, in his book on " Military Hygiene" (page 4), one of the standard works, says, " Nowhere does obedience to the laws of hygiene bear greater reward than in camp, and, conversely, nowhere is their violation visited with greater disaster." It means that camp life under proper hygienic conditions is very healthy. 44. The Chairman.] I suppose you would include in hygienic conditions the necessity of the men taking care of themselves to some extent?— They should be taught to do that : that is mi essential part. In Great Britain the Army Council order that every man and officer throughout the whole service and auxiliary units should be given lectures in the winter on this subject, in order that when they go into camp in the summer-time they would get special benefit from the special instruction. 4-5. They mean to add personal hygiene to the camp hygiene? —Exactly. They are taught how to take care of themselves in every way, and the officers in. the service have to pass in sanitation before they can earn promotion. • 46. Mr. Skerrett.] Wow many encampments do you understand have taken place at, Trentham —the number of reinforcements?— There was a succession of five separate Forces'. The second, third, fourth, and fifth have left, but, there were four reinforcements in the one camp and on the same ground. 47. What was the range of population of the camp?— From what, I have been told if, ranged from two thousand to seven thousand. 48. AVhen did the seven thousand commence?—l understand, in May or June. 49. Prior to that, have you any idea of what the average population of the camp was? —About three thousand. 50. What precautions ought to be taken in laying out a permanent camp such as Trentham was : whom should it, be deputed to, what, advice should he receive, and what steps should he take? —The Medical Officer under the regulation is always required to report on the conditions of the camp, the soil, and water-supply. 51. Dr. Martin.] What Medical Officer?— The Principal Medical Officer. I mean by the "Principal Medical Officer" that the communication would be sent, to the Director of, Medical Services, who would either examine it himself or direct, his Principal Medical Officer to do so and report to him. He would, of course, be guided by the military exigencies and constitution, and choose any particular site as much for their convenience as for their health, trusting to sanitary knowledge and hygiene to keep the troops healthy for military purposes. 52. Mr. Skerrett.] Do I understand that a special inspection of the ground should, in your opinion, be made by some responsible Medical Officer for the purpose of determining the condition of the camp?— Yes. 53. And that report put in writing?—lt, should be in writing certainly, because, as I have said, the Director of Medical Services would get a communication from the Adjutant-General, and he would either act on it personally or direct one of his officers to do so and report to him in writing. 54. Would the inspection by the Medical Officer include conditions such as water-supply, sanitation, and drainage generally?— Yes; and if he was at all doubtful he should include a bacteorological analysis of the soil. 55. AVell, what is the next step in the establishment of a camp?— The camp is then laid out by the military authorities in accordance with the regulations, under the advice of the Medical Officer. I might explain that the Medical Officer is not a responsible officer —not an excutive officer—he is only an advising officer. 56. The Chairman.] AVho is the executive officer? —The military authorities. 57. His principal duty is to examine and report?— Yes. I will refer to the Field Service Regulations, Part 11, page 92, which says, " (1.) Tho medical service of the Forces in the field has four distinct functions. It, is concerned with the preservation of the health of the troops; with the professional treatment and care of sick and wounded; with the replenishing of medical and surgical equipment; and with the collection and evacuation of sick and wounded from the theatre of operations. All these functions are in a sense of equal importance, because no one of them can be fully carried on without the others. The first and last of these are the concern not, only of the medical service, but of staff and regimental officers and men of all units. (3.) The Director of Medical Services is the responsible adviser of the C.-in-C. on all medical and sanitary matters. His representatives are similarly the advisers of the Commanders to whose headquarters they are allotted." 58. You made an examination of Trentham Camp as early as January?— Yes. 59. There would then be about three thousand men in camp?—l should think that would bo about it. 60. What comments have you to make upon the general plan of the encampment?—l quite expected to see a very fine camp on regulation conditions —extended, and everything in good working-order. 61. And what did you find?—Tt was close, cramped, and confined: that, is the appearance it gave me. The tents were a great deal too close to one another —far too close; the tent-pegs generally, y 7 ou may say, were overlapping one another in many cases. 62. Is the spacing between the tents of importance? —Most important. 63. Colonel Purdy said that the recent Manual regarded as negligible the spacing between the tents: what have you to say?—lt, is laid down distinctly. In the Royal Army Medical Corps Training Manual, issued by command of the Army Council, Chapter 12, page 71, it states, " In a, properly arranged camp the intervals [between tents] should always be sufficient to render the shifting of a tent to a new site possible." That means forwards, sidewards, and so forth. 64. That would imply a tent-space between two?—A full space.