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Fukushima Committee Report Part 3 of 3 |
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APPENDIX I Extracts from proceedings of the Internees' Committee records. 1. Proceedings of a public meeting of British internees held
on the 8th and 9th October 1944: i) That a Committee be formed representing the British subjects and such others as desire to take part in this scheme. iv) That the function of this Committee be to look after the general welfare of the camp in every way that it can, including the reasonable application for, and the fair distribution of, benefits from the Red Cross Society, correspondence with the Protecting Power in matters of general welfare and similar matters which may require to be taken up with the Japanese authorities. xiii) That the Greeks be informed by the Committee, or someone selected by them, of these resolutions and informed that if they wish to join in this scheme their participation and co-operation will be welcomed and they may elect a representative to join this Committee on their behalf. 2. Constitution of reporting Subcommittee: 1) Report on doctor's visit in July 1942 made by Mrs Elizabeth Scott, S.R.N., C.M.B. (State Registered Nurse, Central Midwives Board) At the end of July 1942 a doctor accompanied by a nurse visited the sick. I assisted throughout the session. Among the patients was Mr Daniels, Manager of a branch of the Chartered Bank, suffering from a boil on the buttock and several young men with shrapnel wounds on the arms and legs. All were asked in turn, amid much laughing and joking, if they suffered from venereal disease. There were two pots of zinc ointment left behind by the previous occupants of the building. One was fresh, the other hard and stiff. The doctor looked at both, laughed and told me to apply zinc ointment dressings, giving me the stale jar. It was so stiff that it was almost impossible to apply. Protest was of no avail. No dressings or bandages were supplied; unsterile rags were used. Another man (Greek) suffering from diabetes, who had been on insulin for about three years, asked for a further supply of the drug. After much laughing and talking between the doctor, nurse and interpreter, he was told that he was too fat and did not need anything like that. Most of the women were suffering from acute diarrhoea or constipation due to lack of food and the unaccustomed diet. All were told not to eat too much. No advice was given and no medicine or special diet was ordered. (signed) Elizabeth Scott, nee F. E. H. Rowland, S.R.N., C.M.B. 2) Made by Miss Annie Law, S.R.N., C.M.B. and Mrs Elizabeth Scott, nee F. E. H. Rowland, S.R.N., C.M.B. In September 1944 Mrs Gleeson developed a septic middle finger. This became acute with much pain and swelling. A doctor was applied for but did not come until two days after the application. The following day he removed the nail and the major proportion of the flesh of the terminal phalanx which was partially gangrenous. The doctor left instructions that the dressing was not to be touched until he returned but, after five days, we removed it to relieve the acute pain caused by the dry, stiff dressing. It was very offensive - nine days after the operation the doctor returned in response to our repeated requests and removed the whole terminal phalanx. These operations were very roughly done. Owing to the infrequent visits of the doctor and the acute pain, the patient became highly nervous and the condition of the finger worse. About six days afterwards, the doctor removed the second phalanx. The first two operations were performed in the patient's room which she shared with five other women. Only a very primitive attempt at asepsis was made. The last operation was performed in a separate room, previously cleared and cleansed by ourselves. During the operation a man internee was brought into the room to have a clean wound examined. The iodine swab used for Mrs Gleeson's finger was again used on this clean wound which turned septic two days after. A general anaesthetic was not given to Mrs Gleeson despite requests made by her, Captain Stratford and Mrs Thoms, and promises given. Local anaesthetic, which terrified her, was used on each occasion. No drugs except aspirins were given to relieve the pain and continuous sleepless nights. Two days after the last operation she ran a high fever and the arm became inflamed and swollen to the shoulder. This condition continued for about four days despite repeated requests for the doctor to remove the stitches. We were told not to worry. On the fifth day the doctor came and removed the stitches, gave an injection and ordered cold compresses for the arm. This was his final visit. Pockets of pus formed on the palm and back of the hand. These were opened and drained during the daily dressings. The stump healed for a short time after two months and then broke down due to a sequestrum which was removed leaving a permanently discharging sinus. After the last operation the wound was treated solely by Miss Law who used her own ointments, dressings and bandages. Mrs Gleeson was given soup, toast and a ration of milk daily. 3) Report of an incident at Fukushima Internment Camp, November 1942. I, the undersigned, the mother of Susan Bok, born in this camp on 18th August 1942, applied to the office for milk for my child as her bottle of milk had been refused at teatime. The sergeant in charge at that time made me bare my breast and squeeze it to prove that I had no milk. On being assured of this, he himself went upstairs and asked another woman, who had three children, to give one bottle to my child. (signed) Rosalind Bok APPENDIX VI Punishments.
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