Title: War Surgery and Medicine

Author: Stout, T. Duncan M.

Publication details: Historical Publications Branch, 1954, Wellington

Part of: The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945

This text is the subject of: ‘Something of Them Is Here Recorded’: Official History in New Zealand

Conditions of use

Share:

Summary of Cases

Figures for Italy are not available, but some idea of the work done is provided in the following summary which includes cases seen at Helwan up to the end of December 1943. Although outpatient investigations were relatively fewer in Italy, the total for the hospital for both theatres of war would be well over 10,000.

It will be noted that nearly a third of the cases were from British or Allied units. Helwan was an Area Hospital and served the RAF Middle East Transit Camp and Signals School and the Base Depot of the Royal Corps of Signals, through all of which passed an ever-changing and unceasing stream of men. It was a pleasure to be able to reciprocate in this way:

numbers of cases up to 31 december1943—
New Zealanders	6,800
RAF, BTE, and others	1,972
	——
	8,772
numbers of men for whom spectacles were ordered—
New Zealanders	2,090
RAF, BTE, and others	922
	——
	3,012
Superficial infections of lids, conjunctiva, and cornea	2,521
Major battle casualties and accidental injuries	618

page 441

For the purposes of this summary the varying and sometimes difficult distinction between a battle casualty and an accidental injury has been evaded.