Physician, Heal Thyself (21) (not for the queasy!)

     Rockhampton lies on the Tropic of Capricorn and has humid, subtropical weather.  Daytime highs are usually around 85º F in the summer, dropping to 75º in the winter.  Nighttime lows are around 70º F in the summer and 50º F in the winter, although on rare occasions it drops below freezing.  Conditions are usually quite pleasant for people (except during cyclones or floods), but unfortunately are also enjoyed by various fungi and other obnoxious plant and animal life that like to grow in and on humans.  The doctors from the 92nd Evac came from Colorado, so they had not been exposed to many of the tropical afflictions, and occasionally fell victim to them as well. 
     Throughout his life Gene suffered periodically from what was probably dyshidrotic eczema, a condition that caused small, itchy blisters on his hands and feet.  Although the precise cause of this condition is not known, it usually appears when a person is under stress, either physical, such as allergies or constantly damp conditions, or mental, such as pressure from work.  In the tropics, the moist environment allowed the opportunistic bacteria and fungi to establish themselves in any little break in the skin and wreak havoc.


October 20, 1943
     Trichophytids!  How they are bothering me!  My feet just about itched me to death today, and then broke open.  My hands will start soon, I fear.

92nd Evacuation Hospital in Rockhampton, Australia

1 Nov. '43
Dear Folks,
     ...  The medicine from Lilly Co. came Sunday, and I( took a shot right away.  Mind you, it was sent air mail first class (cost 72¢, which they paid) and was mailed Sept. 22nd, so it took 5 1/2 weeks!  My hands and feet really have improved a lot in the last 2 weeks from what they were for a few days.  These water blisters came up all over my feet and hands, with those on the feet opening and oozing clear serum.  The ones on my hands did not open except in a few places.  It was similar to what I had before, only then it affected my fingers much worse.  I had it once while I was interning and once 3 or 4 years ago.  I just didn't want it to be that bad this time!  ...
     Love, Eugene

November 3, 1943
     Foot began to swell.  Entered hospital.  Infection.

November 4, 1943
     Cellulitis dorsum Rt. foot [redness and heat due to inflamation, and swelling and sensitivity to the touch of the upper part of the right foot].

November 6, 1943
     Boil began on my Lt. leg [starts as a hard, painful red lump which becomes larger, softer and more painful as pus collects].

6 Nov. '43
Dear Folks,
     ...  I am temporarily in the hospital!  I have a cellulitis in my right foot, over the top of the foot.  But it is clearing up quite well.  I turned in with that Wednesday noon, and have been soaking it, off and on [remember penicillin isn't widely available yet], and staying in bed, since.  Yesterday a small boil started in my left leg just behind and above the ankle.  But that also is quieting down.  I had expected to be dismissed to quarters today, but no go.  It is still a bit sensitive when it [his foot] is down.  But I realized in time that it was not to be stalled off, and was sensible enough to go to bed.  Probably tomorrow I can go to my tent and spend a few days there before I go back to duty.
     It does seem queer - you are all preparing for winter, and we for summer.  I hope you have a mild one.
     ...  It is more interesting than ever to hear the discussions that go on about the war and engagements, here on the ward.  The fellows are not supposed to talk about it, but of course they do.  What experiences.
     ...  I was out at the beach Tuesday afternoon but I don't think that had anything to do with this infection!  I took some color pictures that should be good.  The breeze was very refreshing and the water quite warm.  Nope, I didn't see a single shark!
     Don't worry about me - I'm doing O.K.!
     Love, Eugene

November 7, 1943
     Considerable pain and swelling in the darn foot.

November 8, 1943
     Mihalick incised my infection - lot of pus, deep.

November 10, 1943
     Out of the hospital today and on "Quarters".  I entered Nov. 3, a week ago at noon when my R foot began to swell.  I couldn't figure what it was and finally admitted it was a cellulitis, probably from my athlete's foot.  I thought I'd soak it a day or 2 and it would be O.K.  It did seem to get better.  Then a boil developed on the left leg below the calf and it had to be soaked and opened.  They certainly throbbed when I'd try to walk!  Then the R foot stayed so dark red over the medial part of the R dorsum [center part of the top of the right foot] and finally got so darn hypersensitive and showed an area of softening.  It was opened and several drams [four drams is about a tablespoon] of pus and chunks came out and it began to feel better at once.  That was the 8th.  This morning it felt pretty good so I talked John (Mihalick) into letting me out.  I'll have to send Beth a wire for I know she'll be worrying in spite of the fact I told her not to do so.  Gosh but I miss her.  Evenings after the lights were out [and] we were under out nets (9 P.M.) I'd think of her until I dropped to sleep.

10 Nov. '43
Dear Folks,
     Here I am in my tent!  I'll be on quarters a few days and then go back to work.

Gene in his tent, taking it easy

     Sunday evening they opened the place on the R foot.  It had turned a deep purplish red - a spot about the size of a dollar, began to soften in the middle, and was very sensitive and pained when the foot was down.  I was surprised at what came out - about a tablespoonful of pus and stuff.  The foot began to feel better at once and my fever went down [the] next day.  It hasn't drained much since.  This morning I walked around a bit and it felt pretty good, so I talked them into releasing me.  I'll just sit around and keep my foot up and take care of it for a few days.  But it is more to my liking here in the tent.  I can read in the evening and things are handier.
     ...  What wild life we have around here!  As I sit here I can see 2 birds in the tent across from me.  They just seem to be looking around.  In another tent I just saw a mouse go scampering along.  Little lizards wander in at intervals.  Ants come and go all the time - chiefly a large red variety like the black woods ants back home.  But it is nice to hear the birds even though their voices are anything but melodious.  On the desert there were so few birds.
     I enjoyed 2 hunting and fishing magazines one of the fellows brought me.  My subscription to the Field and Stream ought to arrive soon.  I also enjoyed Wells Pocket History of the World.  It says in there that up to 100 years ago there was a race of natives in Tasmania (just off the southern coast of Australia) that were more primitive than the Cro-Magnon man [we now know this not to be true], which is usually considered the earliest true man (he doesn't consider the Neanderthal man as being an ancestor of true man, but an earlier offshoot [it is interesting to note that with present-day DNA analysis, some Neanderthal genes can be found in modern humans]).  Birds and animals still exist here which are much older in type than any elsewhere.  The soldiers who have been up north have lots of regard for the natives.  They say the natives hate the Japs - really hate them.  They'll carry one of our wounded or an Aussie 8 hours at a stretch and never set him down, and carry him gently!  But if they are forced to carry a wounded Jap, they'll have to rest every little while, and when they set him down they just drop him, and if not watched, they'll even finish him off themselves!  Interesting!
     I ought to do O.K. now.  Hope you both are too!
     Love, Eugene

November 12, 1943
     Another G-I upset.  Maybe I got a bug in the orange drink at Yeppoon.  Christie had some melena [darkening of the feces by blood pigment] today.  He said, "Should you and I plan to get into the same Veteran's Home?"  That is good!

14 Nov. '43
Dear Folks,

Beach at Yeppoon, Australia

     Here I am, back on the job again!  I was ready to start in Friday but something else came up.  Thursday afternoon some of the officers were going to the beach, so I went along.  I just sat around and took the sun and fresh air.  On the way back we stopped for an orange drink and I think that proved my undoing.  It was served by the glass.  I must have picked up some kind of a bug, for I was awakened at 12:30 by the belly ache and was I ever sick.  I thought for a while I was getting appendicitis.  I stayed in bed all Friday, having fever and diarrhea.  In the morning I was so shaky and nauseated and that sickly yellow color!  But I felt better by evening and now I'm O.K. again except for small boils - one on each calf around a hair follicle.  My feet are doing quite well.  The right foot still swells some, but that is to be expected.
     ...  Yesterday I saw a mail carrier for the first time.  [Gene's stepfather, Vernon, was a mail carrier.]  It was at the outer edge of town.  He was riding a bicycle and was dressed in shorts (low shoes and long socks), short sleeved shirt open at the throat, and slouch hat.  His mail bag was about half the size of our postmen's bags.  I imagine that their letter mail is light, and that they have little or no advertising matter and few magazines.  The uniform of the policemen is a light tan with tight military style collar, and the same type of Rough Rider hat that their soldiers wear.  They all seem to be young fellows.  They ride bicycles, too.
     The weather has not been so warm lately - very comfortable in fact.  ...
     Our Padre [Griffiths] is leaving us - being transferred.  We all hate to see him go, for he is an exceptional man.  He has the respect and esteem of the whole outfit.
     Hope you both continue to feel well.
     Love, Eugene