Official Information Bulletin
May 26, 1942 First Baby Born in Poston! A baby boy was born yesterday morning, at 9:15 am, to Mr & Mrs. Frank Kuwahara of Block 39, Bldg 12-D, at the Emergency Hospital in Poston. The child has been named Frank Poston, and both the mother and child are reported doing well.
Tuesday June 2, 1942 It's A Girl ! Poston Celebrates Second Blessed Event Today
There were no new evacuee arrivals in Poston yesterday, nevertheless the population increased by one small female. Reason: A baby daughter was born at 9:05 am to Mr & Mrs. Torio Nakamura, Blk 36, Apt 3D. Baby Nakamura weighs 6 pounds.
Wednesday, June 3, 1942 First Major Operation, an appendectomy, was performed Saturday night by the Poston Medical Staff. The operation was a success and today the patient is convalescing nicely.
Sunday, June 28, 1942 Medical Department Endorses Use of Canned Milk for Mothers, Babies
In two statements issued today under the signature of Dr. Y. Wakatake in behalf of the Medical Department, policies were clarified on the use of canned milk throughout the city of Poston.
The Medical Department has made the following report on milk: "Canned milk is pure, fresh cow’s milk prepared by removing half of the water by evaporating at a moderate temperature. It is then sealed in cans and sterilized by heating, just as canned food is sterilized. It is as rich as fresh cow’s milk. It has 43 calories in an ounce instead of 20; in other words, equal parts of water make an equivalent of good rich milk.
"Why is canned milk a good milk for everybody?" Canned milk is absolutely clean, easily digested, and the combination is constant. The canned milk being good cow’s milk plus cod liver oil and vitamin A, combines the nutritive values of evaporative milk and the beneficial effects of the two vitamins.
Tuesday, June 30, 1942 New Clinics Open
In a statement issued recently by Dr. Y. Wakatake of the Medical Dept., six new clinics have been opened to accommodate all the sick people and their ailments. The clinics are:
I. Pre-natal Clinic. Blk 13 dispensary
II. Diabetic Clinic Blk 31-1-A
III Special Clinic (Venereal) Blk 22-10-A
IV Birth Control Clinic Blk 13-1-A
V. Pediatrics Blk 43-1-A
VI. Chest Clinic (Heart & lungs) Blk 43-1-A
Medical Clinics at Poston II Saturday August 7, 1943
Local Clinic Statistic Reported
Working relentlessly for the welfare of the community, the Poston Two clinic staff is to be lauded for their commendable service.
Despite the handicap of insufficient materials and a limited staff, all patients of both minor and extreme cases have been treated accordingly.
Headed by Dr. Henry Kazato and B. Okonogi the medical department has cared for over 15,685 patients between July 7, 1942 and July 31, 1943. Registered nurses are Mrs. Ruby Miura and Mrs. T. Mizuno.
The dental department staffed by Dr. F. Ito and Dr. M. Miura has treated 7,695 patients between July 9, 1942 and July 31, 1943.
Dr. Masao Takeshita of the Optometry division has received 3,465 patients between July 10, 1942 and July 31, 1943.
In the pharmaceutical department is Mac Matsumune; the remainder of the staff includes 3 secretaries and 2 nurses’ aides.
Poston Chronicles Thursday, Feb. 18, 1943 Rare Medical Case Cited at Medical Confab
In reporting to the recently concluded Poston medical and public health conference in Unit I, Dr. Kushi related of a rare case of a Postonian who left Japan when he was 7 years old. Just prior to his departure, this evacuee resident underwent an operation in one of his ears.
Now 27 years old, this patient since had been suffering from periodic ear trouble and, 20 years after his operation in Japan, came to Dr. Kushi for treatment. Following an examination, the ailing ear was opened. Dr. Kushi then pulled out a piece of gauze, rich in fungus.
From the Poston Chronicle Poston One Wed., March 24, 1943
RED CROSS MEETINGS SCHEDULED; GOAL OF $2500 WAR FUND DRIVE PASSES AS 31 BLOCKS REPORTED
Poston’s first Red Cross meeting will be held this coming March 26, 8 p.m., at Rec. 30 headquarters, reported yesterday. One the same date, camp 3 will convene at their Red Cross office for the similar meeting in the afternoon. Unit 2 is scheduled for April 3.
T.K. Shindo, publicity manager for the Red Cross declared that “the War Fund Drive in Poston, which is to close at the end of this month, has been more than successful.”
“We are happy to announce that already 31 blocks in unit one have turned in their donation, with only five still unreported. Many of the blocks have gone over the 400% mark of their “individual” quota, and the goal of $2500 is now passed. The Red Cross is indeed grateful for the community support.”
Persons who have contributed a dollar, or more is automatically a member of the Red Cross for 1943. Cordial invitations have been extended to all of the them to attend the local coming meetings of the Red Cross.
BRIEF BEATS: Miss Katherine Frosythe, nurse consultant of the American Red Cross from San Francisco is here on official visit.
Wed. July 21, 1943 Patients in Phoenix Doing Well
Miss Elizabeth Vickers, Superintendant of Nurses of Poston General Hospital, reports that on a recent visit to the Phoenix Indian Sanitarium, she found the 13 patients who are from Poston, happy and well. All of them reported gain in weight, she said.
From the Official Information Bulletin Thursday 6/18/1942
Poston General Hospital, 2 wards and mess hall-open
Enrollment of 21 students, a training school has been organized for the education of young Poston women was ward attendants & nurses' aides. Plans are being made for official sanction of an organized training school for nurses. A census of the city shows that among the evacuees, there are a large number of undergraduate nurses whose education was interrupted by evacuation.
Miss Elizabeth Vickers is in charge of the student training school. Following a period in which she served as Director of the Nurse School and Nursing Service at Greeneville, S.C., Miss Vickers more recently completed her work for an advanced degree at Columbia University.
Information abstracted from the original article, "Nursing in a Relocation Center: Pioneering with WRA at Poston, Arizona, published in The American Journal of Nursing Vol. 45, No 1. January 1945.
Article written by Elizabeth Vickers, R.N., Union Memorial, Baltimore; B.S. degree from Columbia, N.Y), Director of the School of Nursing & Nursing Service at Greenville General Hospital (South Carolina) prior to becoming Poston's chief nurse.
Goals of the WRA health program:
To supply adequate medical & health care to meet minimum needs of quality comparable to the U.S. Public Health Service standard requirements. The program was not planned to address long-standing health needs.
Scope of the health program:
-Dentistry
-Nutrition
-Pharmacy
-Optometry
-Laboratory services
-Hospital & public health nursing, including midwifery & nurse aide service
-Medical & Psychiatric social work
-Health education
-Sanitation
Scope of the health program:
-Dentistry
-Nutrition
-Pharmacy
-Optometry
-Laboratory services
-Hospital & public health nursing, including midwifery & nurse aide service
-Medical & Psychiatric social work
-Health education
-Sanitation
Tuberculosis was the major health problem at Poston, with the incidence rate "a little above the average of the country." At the Poston Hospital, about two thirds of the cases were tuberculosis. The average census of the hospital was a little more than 100 patients. Tuberculosis was looked upon as a social stigma by the Japanese & probably was the reason for a delay in diagnosis.
The evacuation & relocation caused social & economic conflict and insecurity. Neuroses was common and the daily number of outpatient clinic visits averaged over 300 a day.
Of the 110,000 Japanese evacuated from the West Coast, there were only 85 Japanese-American registered nurses, and some Japanese-American student nurses.
Nursing services used graduate registered nurses and nurse aides. In the early days of Poston, finding graduate registered nurses and retaining them was a problem. The new recruits who came in the beginning found primitive conditions. There were 8 evacuee registered nurses, 9 evacuee student nurses, and 6 Japan-trained nurses who spoke little/no English reported for duty on September 1942 at Poston. Because Poston was managed by the WRA and the Indian Bureau Service, the Indian Service provided some nurses to assist in the early months (May-October 1942). Later, the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses was contacted and one colored nurse arrived in July 1943, with a total of 5 arriving within a few months later.
The ratio of graduate nurse to patients on the wards was 1 for every 100 patients from 4:00 PM-8:00 AM, and 1 for every 34 patients for the hours from 8:00AM-4:00 PM.
The Poston nurse aide program was created to add to the limited number of graduate nurses. Young evacuee high school graduate girls applied, and the nurses' aides worked with tuberculosis, polio, ‘ordinary contagion’, obstetrics, delivery, and in surgery. The aides along with 4 Japan-trained nurses, 5 Negro nurses, and 3 white nurses contributed to the Poston Health Service.
Graduating Class June 2, 1943
Aoki, Yaeko.
Fujiura, Chiyoko.
Miyaji, Marlee.
Mori, Misayo.
Neishi, Helen Yoshio.
Niiro, Mary Naruye.
Ochiyo, Midori.
Ogawa, Mary Yayeko.
Ogura, Mitsue.
Okuno, Kimiye.
Tanamachi, Marian Haruko; Cadet Nurse, Women's Army Corps
Tatsukawa, Kiyoko.
Nurse's Aides
Kitasaki, Tomiko.
Konatsu, Yoshiko.
Kurokawa, Yoshie; Cadet Nurse
Neeno, Chieko M.
Ochiyo, Midori
Ogawa, Mary Yaeko
Kurihara, Marie Mikiko; enrolled in Nurse’s Aid training camp 3
Matsumoto, Sally; enrolled in Nurse’s Aid training camp 3
Sekishiro, Hisako; enrolled in Nurse’s Aid training camp 3
From the Poston Chronicle Thursday, Feb. 18, 1943
POSTON MEDICAL, PUBLIC HEALTH CONFERENCE SUCCESS-FULLY HELD IN UNIT ONE
Poston evacuee physicians, surgeons and Public Health experts concluded successfully Tuesday evening in the hospital auditorium the first Poston medical and public health conference. The 5-hour meeting was held to review the efforts of the medical and the public health departments during the past 6 months and sought answers to various questions as a means of rendering greater service to the people.
Among the recommendations which were made by the group are:
(1)That fluoroscopic screen tests be given to all residents of Poston as part of a tuberculosis preventive program. (It was revealed by Dr. Kazumi Kasuga that T.B. was one of the causes of death in Poston and that there are a number of cases of this disease in the community.);
(2) That more beds be obtained for the hospital;
(3) More nurses are required, altho it was unofficially agreed by those present that Poston has more doctors in proportion to its population than the averages “outside” community today; and
(4) That more materials and supplies be obtained for the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat clinic under the supervision of Dr. Harold Kushi, although it was agreed that the supply of drugs in Poston was good.
Dr. Y. Wakatake, in reporting on surgery and obstetrics, stated that surgery mortality varied between 3 and 4%, which compares very favorably with conditions on the outside.
Dr. Kazumi Kasuga, internal medicine division, listed cardiac diseases (heart trouble) and tuberculosis as the main causes of death in Poston. The majority of the patients were reported to have been suffering from the following illnesses: diarrhea, tuberculosis, pneumonia (38 cases in 6 months’ time and no deaths), cardiac diseases (32 cases, which was reported to be not high in comparison with normal standard(s)), heat exhaustion, peptic ulcers and cancer.
Dr. Perry Sumida, ophthalmologist, reported that he had discovered 80 different cases of eye diseases and treated 488 patients here.
Dr. H. Kushi revealed that his eye, ear, nose and throat clinic operates twice a week and averages 35 patients.
The out-patient clinic; under the supervision of Dr. K. Iseri, is acknowledged to be handling the great majority of the Postonians ailments. Most prevalent ailments among the older folks of the community are asthmas and heat rash.
Among some of the figures disclosed were: the Poston General Hospital admitted 1286 patients and the number of P.T. days was 22,406; 180 live births were registered, 3 still births, 226 operations were performed, and a total of 46 deaths.
The out-patient clinic treated 11,619 cases. According to Dr Ralph B. Snavely, District Medical Director, occupancy at the hospital averaged 96 beds per day since May 17, 1942.
BIRTHS AT POSTON: 662 babies DEATHS AT POSTON: 221 adults
MEDICAL PROBLEMS:
-Dehydration (caused death of 2 babies)
-Silicosis caused by breathing dust
-Dysentry
-Infantile paralysis outbreak (Poston 3)
-Tuberculosis
-Malaria (mosquitoes, standing water)
-Mental health issues, including suicides
SELECTED REPORTABLE DISEASES
July 1943 through October 1945
Typhoid fever........................................5
Dysentery............................................57
Scarlet fever.....................................153
Whooping cough............................121
Diphtheria..............................................9
Measles..............................................913
German measles..............................730
Chickenpox...................................1,713
Mumps...............................................529
Tuberculosis....................................470
Gonococcus infection.....................52
Malaria.................................................14
Syphilis.............................................412
Cerebrospinal meningitis.................5
Erysipelas...............................................8
Acute poliomyelitis.............................19
Rocky Mountain spotted fever..........1
Actinomycosis......................................1
Dermatophytosis..............................117
Coccidioidomycosis.........................30
Rheumatic fever.................................16
Trachoma............................................75
Conjunctivitis...................................558
Influenza........................................2,262
Streptococcus sore throat................9
Pneumonia.......................................507
Impetigo, Scabies...........................193Acute food poisoning....................252
"Silent Scars of Healing Hands" by Naomi Hirahara and Gwenn M. Jensen. Center for Oral and Public History at California State University, Fullerton; 2004.ISBN 0-930046-2-2-6
Excerpts from this book:
".....While Nikkei doctors in Central and Northern California organized to immunize everyone in their areas before they entered camp, most of the Southern Californians received their inoculations upon arrival in the assembly centers. "And they'd get sick because of high fever and diarrhea....[I saw] them line up to go to the toilet...And they would faint--a lot. It was about the saddest thing I'd ever seen in camp."
"...remembered an epidemic of diarrhea that broke out in Santa Anita. These patients were running to the latrine, and people were lined up---they couldn't hardly make it. The latrines were open, and most of these people were not used to going to the toilet in public. It was quite an experience at that time."
"It was only a matter of time before fears fueled rumors. "They were sure that we were being poisoned....[They said], 'This is it. The government's going to poison us'. "
"Some of them had that feeling, so we had to tell them no, it wasn't that public health was going to come out and see why this happened, because it was the food, naturally. It was food that was standing too long."
"...Poston had 153 cases of tuberculosis....."
"....signs of Valley Fever (coccidiomycosis) did not reach large numbers until inmates were moved to Arizona concentration camps, when the fungal spores were endemic in the soil....."
