Electric Feet
By the time six months had passed, the effects of existing on a sub-standard diet
began to show on our bodies. We developed cankerous sores in the mouth, and
skin irritations and discomforts of many kinds. The worst of these was what
became known as "electric feet".
Apparently the extremities of the body are the first to feel the effects of
malnutrition. Terrible pain , starting in the toes and working towards the heel led to
depression, irritability, and lack of sleep. In later years I have suffered from gout,
and the pains of this affliction do not come near the severity of those of electric
feet.
began to show on our bodies. We developed cankerous sores in the mouth, and
skin irritations and discomforts of many kinds. The worst of these was what
became known as "electric feet".
Apparently the extremities of the body are the first to feel the effects of
malnutrition. Terrible pain , starting in the toes and working towards the heel led to
depression, irritability, and lack of sleep. In later years I have suffered from gout,
and the pains of this affliction do not come near the severity of those of electric
feet.
Cold seemed to provide most relief, and especially cold water. One of the horror
pictures in my mind is that of a group of five or six blanket-enshrouded figures
sitting around a tub of cold water all night long. Probably imagination had
something to do with it, but the pain was more severe in the long, dark,nights. The
doctors frowned on the practice of soaking the feet, because too much soaking
produced another problem, that of ulcers forming on the feet and lower legs. I
tried not to soak my feet, although the pain sometimes became unbearable. I
found some relief by placing my bare feet on the cold concrete floor.
pictures in my mind is that of a group of five or six blanket-enshrouded figures
sitting around a tub of cold water all night long. Probably imagination had
something to do with it, but the pain was more severe in the long, dark,nights. The
doctors frowned on the practice of soaking the feet, because too much soaking
produced another problem, that of ulcers forming on the feet and lower legs. I
tried not to soak my feet, although the pain sometimes became unbearable. I
found some relief by placing my bare feet on the cold concrete floor.
In more severe cases of malnutrition the hands also suffered from the effects of
deprivation, resulting in the same type of pain as that of the feet. In my case, the
skin of my hands came off in large flakes, leaving the second layer red and tender.
When we worked at Kai Tak Airport under the blazing sun my red-raw hands
became very painful and it is a wonder that I did not suffer any lasting ill-effects.
deprivation, resulting in the same type of pain as that of the feet. In my case, the
skin of my hands came off in large flakes, leaving the second layer red and tender.
When we worked at Kai Tak Airport under the blazing sun my red-raw hands
became very painful and it is a wonder that I did not suffer any lasting ill-effects.
Another affliction that added to our misery was a cankerous condition of the
mouth. The corners of the mouth would crack and it would be very painful to
open up more than a narrow slit. The tongue became raw and burning. At that
time I smoked when I could find some tobacco, but drawing the hot smoke into
the mouth only made the burning sensation worse. Addicted as I was, I found a
way to relieve the burning by placing a piece of paper on my tongue when I
inhaled the smoke.
mouth. The corners of the mouth would crack and it would be very painful to
open up more than a narrow slit. The tongue became raw and burning. At that
time I smoked when I could find some tobacco, but drawing the hot smoke into
the mouth only made the burning sensation worse. Addicted as I was, I found a
way to relieve the burning by placing a piece of paper on my tongue when I
inhaled the smoke.
Still another misery brought on by lack of proper nutrition, bedevilled us almost all
the way through prison camp, a condition which soon earned the name of
"strawberry balls" and "Hong Kong bag".The scrotum became inflamed and red
and unbearably itchy. The natural reaction was to scratch, but, as in other similar
cases, this only worsened the problem. The skin of the scrotum secreted a watery
substance which dried, and if left for a short period, a flaky covering formed, and
the cycle of itching, scratching, weeping, hardening, flaking off,began again.
A few years after I returned home I developed an infected ear, and was given a
shot of penicillin, then a novel treatment for infection, and the result was the return
of "strawberry balls". I paced the floor all night long and until the effects of the
penicillin wore off. Since then I dare not take any medication that is related to
penicillin.
the way through prison camp, a condition which soon earned the name of
"strawberry balls" and "Hong Kong bag".The scrotum became inflamed and red
and unbearably itchy. The natural reaction was to scratch, but, as in other similar
cases, this only worsened the problem. The skin of the scrotum secreted a watery
substance which dried, and if left for a short period, a flaky covering formed, and
the cycle of itching, scratching, weeping, hardening, flaking off,began again.
A few years after I returned home I developed an infected ear, and was given a
shot of penicillin, then a novel treatment for infection, and the result was the return
of "strawberry balls". I paced the floor all night long and until the effects of the
penicillin wore off. Since then I dare not take any medication that is related to
penicillin.
We Move to ShamShuiPo
We were kept in North Point for nine months. In October, 1942, we were moved
to ShamShuiPo, the same camp we had occupied on our arrival in Hong Kong in
November of the previous year. What a change! Where there had been neatly
trimmed grass verges and the odd palm tree, there was filth and broken objects
lying about. The huts were without glass in the windows. Most of the iron beds
were gone from the huts, no doubt having been taken to Japan to be melted down
for the war effort, and, in general, the barracks were in a sad state of disrepair.
to ShamShuiPo, the same camp we had occupied on our arrival in Hong Kong in
November of the previous year. What a change! Where there had been neatly
trimmed grass verges and the odd palm tree, there was filth and broken objects
lying about. The huts were without glass in the windows. Most of the iron beds
were gone from the huts, no doubt having been taken to Japan to be melted down
for the war effort, and, in general, the barracks were in a sad state of disrepair.
Work on the airport continued,but now we had to walk to work every day. My
failing memory puts the distance at three miles. It was probably more. Along the
way there was still evidence of the recent battle. There were sometimes corpses
of dead Chinese lying in the gutter. The same ones that had been lying there in the
morning when we went out, were still in the same place on our return to camp, but
now completely naked, having been relieved of their meager clothing by
scavengers who needed the rags more than the poor dead coolie in the gutter.
failing memory puts the distance at three miles. It was probably more. Along the
way there was still evidence of the recent battle. There were sometimes corpses
of dead Chinese lying in the gutter. The same ones that had been lying there in the
morning when we went out, were still in the same place on our return to camp, but
now completely naked, having been relieved of their meager clothing by
scavengers who needed the rags more than the poor dead coolie in the gutter.