H.—l9.

Several house surgeons at public hospitals have been given intensive training so that they can be sent overseas at short notice when they are released for service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Special mention should be made here of the assistance and co-operation received from the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society. Apart from the usual Red Cross gifts and stores for the use of patients, they have also given to the officers commanding the various units overseas sums of money for the purchase of special needs of the patients. They have also supplied certain valuable equipment which is most essential in modern medical practice and which it was considered from information received would not be available in the Middle East, and which was not part of the equipment of a General Hospital or Field Ambulance as laid down in War Establishments. These included a portable " Delco " lighting set, portable X-ray plant, infra-red lamps, laboratory equipment, and equipment for an orthopaedic unit. SICK AND WOUNDED RECORDS. A further development of the functions of Army Headquarters was brought into effect during the year by the establishment of the Sick and Wounded Records Section, which directs the procedure for the hospitalization and after-care (a) of returning invalided 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force personnel after active service overseas; (b) of medically unfit military personnel in mobilization and Territorial camps, areas, and public hospitals. The section is represented by trained staffs at Army Headquarters, districts, areas, and sub-areas. NEW ZEALAND DENTAL SERVICES. The dental examination and treatment for the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force reinforcements, embodied troops and fully mobilized members of the New Zealand, armed forces, including urgent dental treatment for Territorial units during their, intensive training period, is now carried out by the personnel of the New Zealand Dental Corps. Personnel within New Zealand and with Bth Brigade Group. (a) Administrative staff : — Director of Dental Services, Army Headquarters. Assistant Director of Dental Services, Army Headquarters. (b) Executive staff: — 59 officers and 130 other ranks. Equipment and Storks. All camp dental hospitals and dental sections attached to various units of the armed forces are fully equipped with modern equipment mainly manufactured in Now Zealand. The Army Dental Store maintains the supplies of expendable stores and materials for issue. Dental Treatment rendered. Rendered dentally fit .. .. .. .. .. .. 50,052 Fillings .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 193,856 Extractions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 63,822 Artificial dentures— Full dentures .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,903 Partial dentures .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,589 Remodels .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,368 Repairs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,293 Total dentures .. ~ .. .. ..22,153 Dental Condition op 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force Troops on Mobilization. The following will illustrate the condition of a cross-section of the above (the figures being from 2nd and 3rd Echelons and 4th, sth, and 6th Reinforcements) examined and treated at Trentham :— Number examined .. .. .. .. .. 15,005 Number requiring treatment .. .. .. .. 11,427 (76-11 per cent.), — which involved — Number of artificial dentures required .. .. .. 4,785 (41-87 per cent.) Number of fillings required per man .. .. .. 3-91 Number of extractions required per man .. .. .. m 1• 10 Dental Condition or Territorial Force. Number examined .. .. ~ .. .. 11,215 Number requiring treatment .. .. .. .. 9,322 (83-12 per cent.), — which involved — Number of artificial dentures required ... .. ~ 1,780 (19-09 per cent.) Number of fillings required per man .. .. ..5-04 Number of extractions required per man .. .. .. 1•26

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