Chapter XIII.
Pests and Diseases.

Medical orders soon became a frequency, and warnings were issued against drinking unboiled water, against sunstroke and sunburn, bathing more than twice daily and then for only 20 minutes at a time, and against walking without feet coverings.

An eye disease almost immediately began to affect the troops, and spread very rapidly. Due to a special microbe, and resembling in its effects gonorrhoea opthalmia, it was spread mainly by flies (which soon became a dreadful pest). It was extremely contagious, but treated easily if taken early by means of a drop of silver nitrate. In the natives the after-effects of the disease were only too apparent, very many suffering from blindness.

Numbers of natives were also affected with the hideous disease of elephantiasis, and yaws on the children were almost universal.

Ear disease also became common amongst the troops, being almost always an infection of the canal. Many cases were caused by insect bites, on numerous occasions insects being washed out of the ear with syringing. Bathing in contaminated water was the main factor of causation, and restriction in bathing was tried, but with little success.

Large numbers of men also presented themselves for treatment of sores resulting from mosquito bites, and abrasions of the skin, which unless treated early, tended to become septic and difficult to cure.

Dysentry, having distinctly bacilliary features, soon occurred, and ravaged the troops. In the absence of adequate supplies of invalid foods the outbreak had to be coped with by the Ambulance supplying arrowroot and any other similar foods that were procurable. Small temporary hospitals were established at vari-

A daily sight at the Hospital. Lt. Col. Dawson in great demand for operations for the prevalent eye disease.

ous posts, and sick parades held twice daily. A medical detachment was sent to the wireless station. Several cases of typhoid were also diagnosed, the second inoculation against this disease not then having been performed owing tor the military conditions and the great amount of work the troops were carrying out.

New Zealand Medical Corps. Photo by A. J. Tattersall, Apia.

The Hospital.