Other Infectious Diseases
The Infectious Diseases Hospitals were filled mostly with cases of measles and its complications, including severe otitis media. Cases of erysipelas, scarlatina, scabies, and diphtheria were met with in small numbers. In the autumn there was a severe epidemic of mumps.
Through the summer and autumn many cases of diarrhœa and of both amœbic and bacillary dysentery made their appearance. There is good ground for believing that many so-called diarrhœal cases were dysenteric.
There is little doubt short of absolute scientific proof that the greater part of the intestinal diseases are fly borne.
The following table shows the admissions into the hospital, the deaths, and causes of death, to July 31, 1915.
A subsequent table shows the deaths and causes of death in No. 2 Australian General Hospital from May 3 to August 18.
Admissions and Deaths into No. 1 Australian
General Hospital
From February to July inclusive
| Admissions. | Deaths. | Cause of Death. | |
| February | 1,360 | 1 | Malignant purpura |
| March | 1,791 | 12 | 6 Pneumonic group |
| 3 Measles, etc. | |||
| 1 Meningitis | |||
| 1 Abscess, liver | |||
| 1 Tumour, brain | |||
| April | 1,343 | 12 | 2 Pneumonic group |
| 7 Measles, etc. | |||
| 1 Meningitis | |||
| 1 Septicæmia | |||
| 1 Injury | |||
| May | 2,650 | 35 | 27 Wounds (1 tetanus) |
| 1 Meningitis | |||
| 1 Poliomyelitis | |||
| 1 Cardiac | |||
| 1 Pancreatitis | |||
| 1 Appendicitis | |||
| 3 Pneumonic group | |||
| June | 2,862 | 20 | 11 Wounds |
| 1 Perinepritis | |||
| 1 Nephritis, chronic | |||
| 1 Septicæmia | |||
| 1 Broncho-pneumonia endocarditis | |||
| 1 Pneumonia | |||
| 1 Meningitis | |||
| 2 Enteric | |||
| 1 Dysentery | |||
| July | 2,099 | 19 | 6 Wounds |
| 1 Fracture, tibia | |||
| 1 Enteric | |||
| 6 Dysentery | |||
| 1 Diphtheria | |||
| 3 Meningitis | |||
| 1 Enteritis |
In May and June 5,512 men were admitted, of whom 1,219 were Australians and New Zealanders in camp, 2,967 Australians and New Zealanders from the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 1,050 British, and 276 Naval Division from the same force.
Australian Imperial Force
Return showing Number of Deaths at No. 2
Australian General Hospital, Ghezireh
From May 3, 1915, to August 18, 1915
| AUSTRALIAN M.E.F. | |
| Sickness | 2 |
| Wounds in Action | 9 |
| BRITISH M.E.F. | |
| Sickness | nil |
| Wounds in Action | 1 |
| R.N.D. M.E.F. | |
| Sickness | 1 |
| Wounds in Action | nil |
| NEW ZEALAND M.E.F. | |
| Sickness | 1 |
| Wounds in Action | nil |
| AUSTRALIAN FORCE IN EGYPT | |
| Sickness | 1 |
| D. Mackenzie, Captain. | |
| Secretary and Registrar, No. 2 | |
| General Hospital. | |
| Ghezireh, | |
| August 18, 1915. | |
This chapter would be incomplete unless proper acknowledgment were made of the most valuable post mortem demonstrations given by Major Watson.