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Volume 20 Number 2 April 2012 Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health Problems in paradise History of plague Army Malaria Institute The Journal of the Australian Military Medicine Association MED RY IC A I T N I E L I A M S S O N C A I I A L T A I O R T N S U A INC. Call for Papers and Registration opennow submit your abstract and Register online at www.amma.asn.au/amma2012 Thank you to our Principal Sponsor Table of Contents Editorial Inside this edition ................................................................................................................................................... 3 President’s message ................................................................................................................................................ 3 Editorial ................................................................................................................................................ 4 History Problems in paradise: medical aspects of the New Zealand occupation of Western Samoa, 1914 -1918 .............................................................................................................. 5 The History of Plague – Part 1. The Three Great Pandemics ............................................................. 11 Army Malaria Institute: its Evolution and Achievements. First Decade: 1965-1975 .................................. 17 Review Articles Crushed ice ingestion ........................................................................................................................... 25 Short Communication Trends in traumatic limb amputation in Allied Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan ........................................ 31 The Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs)............................................................................ 36 Reprint Pioneer Aviation and a Medical Legacy ............................................................................................... 40 Book Review Epidemiology ........................................................................................................................................ 43 Obiturary Rear Admiral Graeme Spencer Shirtley AM RFD RANR .................................................................... 44 Call for Papers and Registration opennow submit your abstract and Register online at www.amma.asn.au/amma2012 Thank you to our Principal Sponsor Cover photo: Courtesy of Department of Defence. Volume 20 Number 2; April 2012 Page 1 Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health EDITORIAL BOARD INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Dr Andrew Robertson (Editor in Chief) Mohd Zin bin Bidin, Malaysian Armed Health Forces Associate Professor Scott Kitchener (Managing Editor) Ken Boffard, University of Witwatersrand Dr Keith Horsley Anne Campbell, former DG NZ Defence Medical Services Dr Peter Leggat Annette Dobson, University of Queensland Professor Malcolm Sim Mike Dowsett, former DG Naval Health Services Australia Dr Bob Stacy Greg Gray, University of Iowa College of Public Health Dr Darryl Tong Jane Risdall, UK Defence Medical Services Prof Peter Warfe Art Smith, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Tyler Smith, US Millennium Cohort Study Kate Venables, Oxford University Simon Wessely, King’s Centre for Military Health Research Australian Military Medicine Association PATRON Air Vice Marshal Hugh Bartholomeusz Surgeon General Australian Defence Force Reserves COUNCIL President Dr Greg Mahoney Vice President Dr Nader Abou-Seif Secretary Dr Janet Scott Treasurer Dr Peter Hurly Council Members Dr Ross Mills Dr Andrew Robertson Mr Stewart Robertson Mr Geoff Robinson Public Officer Ms Paula Leishman STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES The Australian Military Association is an independent, professional scientific organisation of health professionals with the objectives of: • Promoting the study of military medicine • Bringing together those with an interest in military medicine • Disseminating knowledge of military medicine • Publishing and distributing a journal in military medicine • Promoting research in military medicine Membership of the Association is open to doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics and anyone with a professional interest in any of the disciplines of military medicine. The Association is totally independent of the Australian Defence Force. ISSN No. 1835-1271 Page 2 Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health Editorial Inside this edition The theme for this Edition is the history of We are fortunate to have three excellent new, and developments in military medicine. As I was one reprinted, historical military medical articles preparing for this Edition, I was reminded of some on the First World War (“Problems in Paradise”), letters that I had from my great-uncle, Captain Second World War (“Pioneer Aviation and a Medical Gordon O. Robertson, who was the Regimental Legacy”), and the challenges of infectious diseases Medical Officer for the 57th Battalion, A.I.F. in 1918. (“History of plague”, “Australian Malaria Institute”) On the 10th July 1918, he wrote the following to his in this Edition. These are all introduced with a Commanding Officer: guest Editorial by Dr Keith Horsley. In addition, we have a range of new articles on methods for cooling “The health of the men in the Battalion is fairly during operations, perspectives on traumatic limb good at present except for this epidemic of influenza amputations and new Naval medical capabilities. which has left all of those affected with it very weak. This combined with the continue strain of line work I am pleased to see more and more articles being is gradually undermining their health. submitted to the Journal and I would encourage all our readers to consider submitting an article. We I would advise that the Battalion, if possible, should have recently been indexed in Scopus and CINAHL be given shorter spells in the line in order to give the and continue to work towards indexing in PubMed, men every chance by rest and cleanliness to keep which should make the Journal more attractive for in health. If they are kept in the line for long spells our authors. Our next themed issues are on ‘Mental now there is every reason to expect large evacuations Health’ (July 2012) and ‘Veterans’ Health’ (October with sickness and also a large number of evacuations 2012), so if you have relevant papers, please get with nervous instability if they have to undergo a them in soon. All other articles are also welcome. bombardment” Despite the passing of nearly 94 years, our military health staff continue to manage the challenges Dr Andy Robertson of infectious diseases, mental health issues and communication with senior officers. As many have Editor-in-Chief postulated before, we ignore the lessons of history at our peril. President’s message Welcome to the ANZAC edition of JMVH and, as Bob Hale US Army (Head and Neck Trauma) and, we reflect on what ANZAC day means to us and the Professor Michael Reade (The inaugural chair of nation as a whole, spare a thought for those serving Military Medicine and Surgery) presenting. The members on deployment overseas. new convention facility at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre has been dusted off and is I, as were many within the health community, was ready to provide us with a memorable three days in saddened to hear that Rear Admiral Graeme Shirtley October. This year we are also trying to “value add” AM has passed away after 3 years fighting cancer for members and delegates by conducting workshops in early April. I know many of you were there at his prior to the conference. The conference website will funeral as a mark of respect. Graeme was a former have update information on these and the program. patron and strong supporter of the Association; he attended all our conferences and could be relied on Recently many would be aware that the ADF Health to give some forthright opinions. He often said that Journal has ceased publication, however our Journal it was amazing what a person could get away with remains a fundamental function of the Association when you don’t have a frontal lobe. and the committee is committed to its publication and improvement. With this in mind we are looking As a mark of AMMA’s deep appreciation of Graeme’s to fill the space that ADF Health held. support over the years, there will be a Graeme Shirtley oration starting at this year’s AMMA conference; he Looking forward to catching up with you all at the will be sadly missed. 21st AMMA Conference. The AMMA conference organisation continues with some exiting keynote speakers and this year we have Dame Carol Black (Rehabilitation), Colonel Greg Mahoney President Volume 20 Number 2; April 2012 Page 3 Editorial History Lessons Learned Keith Horsley, Guest Editor The theme of this edition of JMVH is historical; the rise to post-conflict syndromes. These range from da raison d’être for such an edition is the belief that Costa’s syndrome after the American Civil War, the there are lessons for today from the experiences of Shell Shock of World War One, Combat Fatigue of yesterday. World War Two and PTSD following the Vietnam War. Other examples abound; they are not countless, but This view has not been universally accepted their number is very large. A study of history also throughout history. The American car-maker and shows a predilection to assigning physical causes to entrepreneur Henry Ford was one who did not see these syndromes. A concern here is that our current the study of history as useful, famously noting that interest in Minimal