After I was released from the "Dip" hospital, I returned to the "lines", as
we called it, that is, the ordinary or non-hospital huts, which housed the
prisoners deemed able to work.
we called it, that is, the ordinary or non-hospital huts, which housed the
prisoners deemed able to work.
Before long I began having chest pains, and landed in another "hospital".
The treatment I received was nothing more than rest. I don't remember
feeling ill, but I must have been weak and run down.
The treatment I received was nothing more than rest. I don't remember
feeling ill, but I must have been weak and run down.
At any rate, I soon began feeling better. Soon Major Crawford, CMO,
took a number of us under his wing and kept us in the hospital to assist the
medical orderlies, whose numbers were severely restricted by Japanese
regulations.
took a number of us under his wing and kept us in the hospital to assist the
medical orderlies, whose numbers were severely restricted by Japanese
regulations.
The official medical staff, Sgt. Reg Kerr, and Sgt. Ray Squires, were
much overworked, and the addition of a few extra hands to empty
bedpans, and provide what comfort we could to the sick and dying, was
no doubt appreciated. I shudder to think of what might have happened to
Dr. Crawford if the Japs had suspected that he was pulling the wool over
their eyes.
much overworked, and the addition of a few extra hands to empty
bedpans, and provide what comfort we could to the sick and dying, was
no doubt appreciated. I shudder to think of what might have happened to
Dr. Crawford if the Japs had suspected that he was pulling the wool over
their eyes.
There were four of us who were kept in the hospital to assist the orderlies:
Ken Court, Doc Savage, Walter Thompson, and myself. I am the only
one left.
Ken Court, Doc Savage, Walter Thompson, and myself. I am the only
one left.
The duty of an assistant orderly consisted mainly of emptying bed pans
and aiding in any way we could under the direction of Ray and Reg. We
dispensed sodium bicarbonate wrapped up in small packages, bathed
sores with potassium permanganate, and did whatever else we could to
alleviate the suffering.
and aiding in any way we could under the direction of Ray and Reg. We
dispensed sodium bicarbonate wrapped up in small packages, bathed
sores with potassium permanganate, and did whatever else we could to
alleviate the suffering.
Another misery that dogged us throughout our stay in prison camp was the
incidence of scabies. To my understanding, scabies is caused by a
micro-organism which insinuates itself under the skin, and if left untreated,
festers, and, in time, results in large pustules ulcers.
incidence of scabies. To my understanding, scabies is caused by a
micro-organism which insinuates itself under the skin, and if left untreated,
festers, and, in time, results in large pustules ulcers.
To a large extent,these sores appeared on the lower limbs, but in severe
cases, ulcers appeared also on the body as well. The treatment was
draconian. The poor victim was made to strip, and the medical orderly
then scrubbed him with a brush that had the bristles clipped off short to
make the process more effective.
cases, ulcers appeared also on the body as well. The treatment was
draconian. The poor victim was made to strip, and the medical orderly
then scrubbed him with a brush that had the bristles clipped off short to
make the process more effective.
When all the ulcers were bleeding, a solution of sulphur and God knows
what else was rubbed into the open sores. How those poor fellows stood
the pain, not to mention the indignity, is beyond my comprehension. If the
individual did not take good care of himself and keep his body as clean as
possible, in a matter of weeks he had to undergo the same torture again.
what else was rubbed into the open sores. How those poor fellows stood
the pain, not to mention the indignity, is beyond my comprehension. If the
individual did not take good care of himself and keep his body as clean as
possible, in a matter of weeks he had to undergo the same torture again.
As an orderly, I had to administer this treatment to a number of my
comrades, and believe me, the task was not a pleasant one.I understood
the cause of the problem, and was scrupulously clean about myself. Every
indication of a scabies pustule was vigorously scrubbed, and whatever
disinfectant I could find was carefully rubbed into the wound. As a result, I
don't bear any ulcer scars on my body.
comrades, and believe me, the task was not a pleasant one.I understood
the cause of the problem, and was scrupulously clean about myself. Every
indication of a scabies pustule was vigorously scrubbed, and whatever
disinfectant I could find was carefully rubbed into the wound. As a result, I
don't bear any ulcer scars on my body.
Here I must pay tribute to the ingenuity of our medical staff. With very
little to work with, it must have been maddening for these scientifically
minded men to know the cause, and be certain of the cure, yet be unable
because of lack of medicine and the tools to administer it the treatment.
little to work with, it must have been maddening for these scientifically
minded men to know the cause, and be certain of the cure, yet be unable
because of lack of medicine and the tools to administer it the treatment.
Medical Orderlies
If I recall correctly, the only medicine availably was potassium
permanganate as a disinfectant, sodium bicarbonate for stomach ache,
sulphur lotion for the treatment of scabies, and, of course, anti-toxin for
the treatment of diphtheria when the epidemic was at its worst.
permanganate as a disinfectant, sodium bicarbonate for stomach ache,
sulphur lotion for the treatment of scabies, and, of course, anti-toxin for
the treatment of diphtheria when the epidemic was at its worst.
Back to the Lines
For whatever reason, I was released from the hospital and sent back to
the "lines". I was deemed fit to work, and so joined the group of tunnellers
who went out daily to dig in the side of the mountain
the "lines". I was deemed fit to work, and so joined the group of tunnellers
who went out daily to dig in the side of the mountain
We left ShamShuiPo in the morning in darkness and marched to work,
some two or threes miles, there to dig tunnels in the side of the hills. From
what information we could get out of the Japs, the purpose of the tunnels
was to store food supplies, and to act as defence positions in the event of
an American invasion.
some two or threes miles, there to dig tunnels in the side of the hills. From
what information we could get out of the Japs, the purpose of the tunnels
was to store food supplies, and to act as defence positions in the event of
an American invasion.