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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.