Experiences with cholera in a jungle camp in Thailand.

THIS paper is an analysis of an unusual outbreak of cholera in a confined community of 7,000 more or less disabled British and Dutch prisoners of war. By the middle of May, 1943, disquieting rumours reached us of outbreaks of cholera among railroad construction parties in Central Thailand. All these rumours agreed on two things: the outbreak was severe and facilities for treating the cases were non-existent. Some heroic improvisations were rumoured-in one camp a medical officer made an intravenous needle by drilling a bamboo thorn, by means of which he infused a salt solution made by adding table salt to' boiled river water. One presumes therefore that even rain water was lacking which, at a pinch, can be made to do ill; place of distilled water. At about this time one case of cholera was admitted to No. 1 Bat>e Hospital at Kanchanburi :