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addition we had news from the outside that among the supplies were cigarettes, tobacco, milk powder, and butter, none of which were ever received however, through our "supply centre" in the Camp, fresh Capstan and Player's cigarettes could be purchased, marked with the official Red Cross seal.
Between the period of November 1942 to March 1943, the internees, as a result of being able to supplement their rations with Red Cross supplies, lived more on the
ines of normalcy, however, when these stocks became depleted, once again food deficiency diseases became endemic. It had become so acute by the end of August, 1943, that the medical authorities were forced to issue an order prohibiting the playing of the more vigorous sports, such as football and baseball. To give a better indication of the general health, although we had the finest bathing beach at our disposal during the summer months, few could take advantage of it due to the lack of energy, and in addition due to the more important fact that it increased one's appetite, which was the worst thing that could happen on those rations.
The figures for malnutrition that were being treated at the clinics incrensed from 1,040 cases in 1942 to 1,460 cases up to the end of August 1943, with only enough thiamin (anti beri-beri prophylactic) in Camp to last in small doses to the end of September. The number of deaths, 30 for 1942 and 11 up till August 1943, although not directly caused by malnutrition, were no dout accelerated by the starvation diet and lack of necessary medicines. It was not until after repeated requests, during which time two persons died on the operating table for lack of oxygen, that the Authorities supplied oxygen tanks to the hospital in June, 1943. Had it not been for the fact that we were all living outdoors most of the time, in fresh air and sunlight, there is no doubt that tuberculosis especially, and other contagious diseases would have spread throughout the Camp. As it was there were 33 cases of tuberculosis reported in 1942 and 11 up till August 1943.
Sanitation facilities were very poor and inadequate, there being an average of 1 water closet for every 12 persons in Camp, while the floor space per capita worked out at slightly under 24 sq. ft. The seven septic tanks of which four were outside our boundary, were inadequate to deal with such a heavy load, and were, consequently by-passed to the open sea.
With no fuel for incineration, refuse was buried in trenches dug by the internees, but without the necessary disinfectants, such as lime, chlorine etc., the Camp was at all times infested with flies. Most of these came in from the nearby village where no health measures were being undertaken, and beyond our control. Coupled with this, during the first few weeks of our internment, there were many bodies of British soldiers left lying outside the barbed wire fenaing that we were unable to bury, and which made ideal breeding places for flies. All bodies found inside the Camp grounds were buried immediately upon arrival there. As a result of all this fly breeding, the first summer in Camp saw a serious epidemic of dysentery break out among the internees; there being a total of 410 cases actually treated, with many more not reported. With better sanitary control measures, this figure was reduced to 65 eases up till August 1943.
Malaria in Camp has always been a serious problem for the health authorities, and in 1942 there were 143 cases reported and treated, and up to August 1943 the disease reached the alarming figure of 213 cases. Here again, like the fly nuisance, although every possible measure was being taken inside the Camp boundaries,, on the rocky foreshore, and in the village mosquitoes were broeding freely, and it was not till early in 1943 that squads of trained men were permitted to go outsido under escort and deal with this nuisance, Even when permission was granted to go outside, and the occasions were very rare, permits being given by the Japanese Civil Administration, many was the time when during such work, the squads would be arrested by the Gendarmerie and taken to their headquarters for questioning, being released some hours afterwards, when the situation had been clarified by our own Camp Commandant. The shortage of mosquito nets in Camp was also a handicap in the controlling of malaria, and although at one time, the Japanese Authorities compiled a list of the number of internees requiring nets, nothing further was done in the matter. Actually there were less than 500 nets in the Camp, and at one time, malaria became so bad that the hospital was unable to cope with the number of cases, being already overcrowded. The result was that a patient would be discharged in 2 to 3 days of treatment.
During the winter months, next to the food scarcity, our chief problem was in keeping warm. Entering Camp with only such articles that we could carry, our clothing did not last very long. The men suffered most who did the hard labor jobs, and there were very many who were forced to go shoeless and in thin shorts during the winter months. February and March 1942 were exceptionally cold months, and there
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