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[H. A. DE LATJTOUR

19. The Chairman.] You mean to say that in camps in England this provision is made?— They have them. 20. Can you say whether they have them in Australia? —I do not know; Ido not think so. 21. Mr. Skerrett.] Could you give the Commission any guide to the proportion of hospital accommodation for the population in camp?—No, lam not prepared to do that, But something of this kind has been done in South Africa, I have here photographs of a field hospital approved by Sir Frederick Treves. [Photographs put in.] It shows the tents for the hospital, and the, nurses, and so forth, There is no occasion for expensive permanent hospital buildings. 22. That, of course, would be for dry summer weather?— All the year round. It is a matter of experience that soldiers recover quicker in bell tents than in building's such as schools, churches, and so on, which are found not suitable. They recover much quicker in the tents — practically in the open air—in circumstances' to which they have been accustomed. They get more fresh air, which is, of course, much purer, and under a properly arranged system which is familiar to all trained Medical Officers. 23. We know the extent of the accommodation in March, after the camp had been in existence for six months. Now I want to refer you to some figures given us by Dr. Purdy. In November there were twelve cases sent to the Wellington Hospital ? Colonel Purdy: That was only for measles. The Chairman: We can give you the totals from the return we have. 24. Mr. Skerrett.] From November to February the number of cases per month sent to Wellington Hospital ranged from twenty to thirty?— Cases of measles? 25. No; of all kinds of diseases which were developed at Trentham Camp, including measles? —Yes. 26. In your opinion, do those figures justify the provision of a reasonable hospital at the camp ?—Yes, sir. 27. Have you any observations to make upon that?—l may say that given proper conditions at a camp there should be very little sickness, but you can expect a good number of accidents : that lias heen my experience. 28. What I want to point out is that as early as November there were as many as twenty cases sent to Wellington Hospital, and as many or more in the succeeding months : ought that not to have placed the authorities on the gui, wive, as to the necessity for proper hospital accommodation in camp ? —Exactly. 29. That is practically 2 per cent. : twenty cases in one month with a camp of about two thousand men ?—Yes. 30. Supposing it were found that practically from the early stages of the camp measles were developed to the extent of twelve cases a month in a camp of three thousand or four thousand, would you think that that would influence the responsible military authorities in providing hospital accommodation at the camp ?—Yes. 31. In March, apparently, there were eighty cases?— There was an increase because the camp conditions were such as to facilitate a gradual increase of infectious diseases, resulting in the outbreak of an epidemic. 32. Ought the figures of November to March of cases sent to the military hospital have attracted specific significance at the hands of the military authorities?— Certainly. 33. Apparently at some period or other a segregation camp was established, and we know that it was futile to continue it apparently in May. Have you anything to say about that segregation camp?—l should like to know exactly "what arrangements were made to keep it properly isolated. 34. The Chairman.] What they said was that if a man was found with measles the whole of the men in that tent were put. into the segregation camp. Asked as to whether the men were allowed out of range of that segregated spot we were informed No, that it would have been a breach of discipline to have gone out. Asked if they did not visit their comrades at night in the tents it was said it was supposed several had gone out for walks on the hills—that they had left the camp?— What I meant was, their isolation from the other members of the camp in the way of getting food-supplies and letters and communications. 35. Mr. Skerrett,.] Have you any information as to whether members of the isolated camp went to the cookhouse within the precincts of the camp for the purpose of obtaining food for their tent?—No; my information was the other way —that the food for the isolated and for the sick men was served out as usual to the tent-mates. 36. Where? —In the general camp; and that after they had finished their meal they took his share away to the isolation camp. 37. According to Colonel Purdy the tent-mates and the contact would also be in the isolation camp. Do you mean they came from the isolation camp to get their cooked meals and return with the meals to the isolation camp ?—The contacts, of course, would be there. 38. The Chairman.] According to the Commandant's evidence, I think the contacts went with the patient into the camp—the number of that tent?— Then, of course, they would be all supplied from there. The question is, who supplied them with the food, and who took the food to them? 39. Mr. Ferguson.] You have no personal knowledge?— No. 40. And did anybody tell you as to what was done? —My son told me thai for (he other hospital, tent—not the isolation hospital tent —the food was served out to the men. For instance, several of his tent-mates were from time to time in the camp hospital, and the food was sent out to them, and they had to take it back a distance of perhaps nearly ,200 oi 300 yards. 41. That was to the ordinary hospital?— Yes. 42. Mr. Skerrett.] Do you suggest that the Commission should inquire as to whether the men in the main camp were permitted to carry food from their own camp into the isolation

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