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I've got all bar 14ac. I'm thinking it is 'the first casualty', but I can't see whether that's right, or how!

Some say "the runs"

... and it's an anagram of "hotterstill" without the harm - ill

I`m not enjoying this....too attritional. I`m nearly there but can`t get 5 Dn (Writer first to review eg Eliot`s "The Wasteland" (10))WINDERMERE fits, but I can`t relate it to the clue. AJT around?

Just got 5dn (stupid of me to take so long!) Still need 23 Ac though.

It's an anagram of ie(that is) sounding

Thanks, AJT, it's obvious in hindsight.

I think I have finished it now, after much help, but still do not understand how "Soldier having contracted 17 affecting calves? Not here (6)" ends up as "Absent". The answer for 17 is, I think, Disease.
I'd appreciate being enlightened...

All done save 16 dn I have S*A*E*E* I am guessing
sea(something) but I don't get it

Soldier = Ant
Disease = BSE (aka 'mad cow' disease)