174
DONALD C. BOWIE
patient of ours told us that a substantial stock of serum had been stored in the Dairy Farm Storage Godown near the vehicular ferry at the beginning of hostilities. We at once asked the Japanese to get this stock for the treatment of prisoners. I never found out whether the supplies we were given came from that stock or not but Sergeant Seino told me that no serum had been found in the Dairy Farm cold store.
Since serum was in such short supply Major Harrison, after anxious consultations in which I and others took part, gave transfusions of whole blood from patients who had recovered from diphtheria to four patients suffering from the disease in an acute form. Two of these recovered. Here again I want to record my personal admiration for the courage of doctors and R.A.M.C. and R.A.D.C. soldiers who nursed these diphtheria cases. Everyone knew of the shortage of serum and all knew the risks of infection. No one shirked the close contacts involved in the treatment of these patients and this to my mind was an outstanding example of cold and sustained courage in a situation where staff were at risk for at least five months. All this was done on an uninviting diet which was low in protein and vitamin content while there was nothing to provide any relief from day to day and little to provide even a diversion. The work of these men cannot be praised too highly and the story deserves to be cherished in the annals of the Corps.
The phase of the Infections had started a little before I assumed charge of the hospital and was drawing to a close by the end of 1942. During the five months 42 deaths occurred, all but five resulting from dysentery, diphtheria or deficiency diseases.
Before the infections came to an end the deficiencies had begun and already before the end of 1942 we were admitting members of the staff suffering from painful feet.
THE PERIOD OF THE DEFICIENCY DISEASES
I make no attempt here to give a scientific account of these diseases. They result from sub-standard nutrition including vitamin deficiencies. When I took charge our doctors were already reporting that many patients were complaining bitterly about burning feet and that some were also showing other signs of neurological damage. Others had ulcers on the cornea, visual defects, sore tongues, ulcers
174
DONALD C. BOWIE
patient of ours told us that a substantial stock of serum had been stored in the Dairy Farm Storage Godown near the vehicular ferry at the beginning of hostilities. We at once asked the Japanese to get this stock for the treatment of prisoners. I never found out whether the supplies we were given came from that stock or not but Sergeant Seino told me that no serum had been found in the Dairy Farm cold store.
Since serum was in such short supply Major Harrison, after anxious consultations in which I and others took part, gave trans- fusions of whole blood from patients who had recovered from diphtheria to four patients suffering from the disease in an acute form. Two of these recovered. Here again I want to record my personal admiration for the courage of doctors and R.A.M.C. and R.A.D.C. soldiers who nursed these diphtheria cases. Everyone knew of the shortage of serum and all knew the risks of infection. No one shirked the close contacts involved in the treatment of these patients and this to my mind was an outstanding example of cold and sustained courage in a situation where staff were at risk for at least five months. All this was done on an uninviting diet which was low in protein and vitamin content while there was nothing to provide any relief from day to day and little to provide even a diversion. The work of these men cannot be praised too highly and the story deserves to be cherished in the annals of the Corps.
The phase of the Infections had started a little before I assumed charge of the hospital and was drawing to a close by the end of 1942. During the five months 42 deaths occurred, all but five resul- ting from dysentery, diphtheria or deficiency diseases.
Before the infections came to an end the deficiencies had begun and already before the end of 1942 we were admitting members of the staff suffering from painful feet.
THE PERIOD OF THE DEFICIENCY DISEASES
I make no attempt here to give a scientific account of these diseases. They result from sub-standard nutrition including vitamin deficiencies. When I took charge our doctors were already reporting that many patients were complaining bitterly about burning feet and that some were also showing other signs of neurological damage. Other had ulcers on the cornea, visual defects, sore tongues, ulcers
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