Medical care and health issues

Medical and dental facilities were for the most part inadequate, lacking in both equipment and staff. Doctors and nurses were overworked, and treatment was often substandard as well as delayed. Camp inmates recall outbreaks of food poisoning, tuberculosis and dysentery epidemics, and preventable deaths of patients and newborns.

World War II (229)
Concentration camps (1426)
Medical care and health issues (426)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Medical care in camp

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

Gallery view
List view

426 items

img Dentists of Rivers Community Hospital (ddr-csujad-11-196)

A photograph of the dentists at the Rivers Community Hospital at the Gila River incarceration camp in Arizona. Each of the dentists' names are provided as well as their hometowns. Standing, left to right: Dr. Obo Sakaguchi- Los Angeles, Dr. Kawamura- San Jose, Dr. Kiyoshi Sonoda- Los Angeles, Dr. C. Nishi- San Francisco, Dr. Masao Sugiyama- …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-11-196/

img Clinical demonstration (ddr-csujad-11-197)

A photograph documents a clinical demonstration by the dentists of the Rivers Community Hospital at the Gila River incarceration camp, Arizona. From page 78 of: Tazu Kawamoto photo album (csudh_taz_0001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: taz_01_78_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-11-197/

img Four technicians and a blood-test patient in hospital laboratory at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-47)

Four technicians and a blood-test patient in hospital laboratory at Granada incarceration camp. December 12, 1942. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_f12

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-14-47/

img School nurse administrating throat swabbing to grade school students at Granada incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-4)

School nurse administrating throat swabbing to grade school students at Granada incarceration camp. December 10, 1942. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_004

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-14-4/

img Former Californian Dr. Fugikawa examining a patient (ddr-csujad-14-14)

Former Californian Dr. Fugikawa examining a patient, S. Ego, with Jerome incarceration camp hospital's fluoroscope. March 11, 1943. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_014

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-14-14/

img Former California biochemistry student Tom Arase (ddr-csujad-14-15)

Former California biochemistry student Tom Arase performs gastro analysis in hospital laboratory at Jerome incarceration camp March 3, 1943. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_015

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-14-15/

img Six-year-old Reiko Mastuda, convalescing from serious illness at Jerome incarceration camp (ddr-csujad-14-16)

Six-year-old Reiko Matsuda, convalescing from serious illness at Jerome incarceration camp, is looked after by nurse's aid Chiyo Okata. March 11, 1943. Photo by Tom Parker. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMLSC_TOMO_016

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-14-16/

doc Manzanar From Inside Out (ddr-csujad-19-2)

Text of address by Roy Nash, Director of the Manzanar War Relocation Project, given to the Commonwealth Club of California, San Francisco, on July 31, 1942 for the purpose of "interpret[ing] the actuality of a War Relocation Center housing 10,000 evacuees" in view of perceptions of mistreatment of incarcerees in California. Sections of the speech include …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-19-2/

doc Letter from children of Kihichi Sakamoto to Project Director [Raymond R. Best], February 14, 1944 (ddr-csujad-2-94)

Letter from three of his children, Tatsuo, Manabu, and Osamu Sakamoto, requests the release of their father, Kihichi Sakamoto, from the Army Stockade, for the sake of their mother's "health and mind" stating that she has been ill since their stay in Heart Mountain the previous year and has suffered a relapse upon her husband's imprisonment …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-94/

doc [Report on Tule Lake disorders] (ddr-csujad-2-64)

A report written from the Community Analysis Section at Camp Granada regarding transfers to Amache Camp from Tule Lake Camp. The report describes the protests at Tule Lake Camp which led to martial law from November, 1943-January 1944. Highlights of the report include protests against the low quality and quantity of food present at Tule Lake …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-64/

doc Memo from Co-ordinating Committee to R. [Raymond] R. Best, Project Director, Kiyotake, February 5, 1944 (ddr-csujad-2-71)

Memo requesting for release of Abe. Describes the situation of Abe (Joe Kiyotake Abe), who had been in Army custody since the end of December, 1943, and whose wife was hospitalized, leaving their three children without parental care. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sjs_sch_0071

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-71/

Memo from Jack C. Sleath, M. D., Chief Medical Officer, War Relocation Authority, to Willard E. Schmidt, Chief, Internal Security, May 5, 1944 (ddr-csujad-2-101)

doc Memo from Jack C. Sleath, M. D., Chief Medical Officer, War Relocation Authority, to Willard E. Schmidt, Chief, Internal Security, May 5, 1944 (ddr-csujad-2-101)

Memo regarding Ward X. Discusses need for determining who is responsible for people in custody in the ward, used for "drunkenness, mental illness and violations of the law on various offenses;" of particular concern is responsibility for people who are believed to be mentally ill. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-101/

doc [Japanese folklore about birth] (ddr-csujad-2-59)

Report on Japanese folklore and superstitions regarding the birth of a newborn. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sjs_sch_0059

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-2-59/

img Obstetric at the camp hospital (ddr-csujad-26-128)

An obstetric nurse holds a baby. Verso reads, "Obstetric at the camp hospital." From photo album of Robert Billigmeier. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mei_05_098

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-128/

University of California evacuation and resettlement study: The Gila River WRA relocation center, Rivers, Pinal County, Arizona (ddr-csujad-26-27)

doc University of California evacuation and resettlement study: The Gila River WRA relocation center, Rivers, Pinal County, Arizona (ddr-csujad-26-27)

Description of the Gila River incarceration camp during the first month of occupation, including camp location, climate, landscape, barracks, issues with camp construction, poor conditions and lack of furnishings, incarcerees who were subjected to upon arrival. Camp administration, food and housing issues, camp employment, security, recreation, and social groups are described and analyzed. Report compiled as …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-27/

doc Victim of the Japanese Evacuation and Resettlement Study (JERS) (ddr-csujad-26-31)

An affidavit written to invalidate purported distortions and false accusations made against the author in two books published using research material collected by Rosalie Hankey Wax during de Cristoforo's incarceration at Tule Lake. The books are "Doing Fieldwork: Warnings and Advice" by Rosalie H. Wax and "The Spoilage" by Dorothy Swaine Thomas and Richard S. Nishimoto …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-26-31/

img View of the doctor's court in Manzanar hospital (ddr-csujad-36-14)

Colored photograph of the doctor's court at the Manzanar incarceration camp. Verso states, "View of the doctor's court in Manzanar hospital." Title from verso. A photo from: Manzanar Photo Album. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: man_01_015_01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-36-14/

doc Heart Mountain Relocation Project Fourth Community Council, 40th session (June 15, 1945) (ddr-csujad-45-34)

The council minutes feature the current locations of incarcerees. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMRC_01-01_063

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-45-34/

doc Heart Mountain Relocation Project Fourth Community Council, 29th session (May 8, 1945) (ddr-csujad-45-28)

The council minutes feature a report on the possibility of hospital ward 7 being reopened. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMRC_01-01_057

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-45-28/

doc Heart Mountain Relocation Project Third Community Council, 24th session (December 1, 1944) (ddr-csujad-45-4)

The council minutes feature a discussion on recommending the reopening of wards due to the increase of patients needing hospitalization. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMRC_01-01_033

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-45-4/

doc Heart Mountain Relocation Project Fourth Community Council, 44th session (June 29, 1945) (ddr-csujad-45-40)

The council minutes feature the notice on who is eligible for Pullman. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMRC_01-01_069

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-45-40/

doc Heart Mountain Relocation Project Fourth Community Council, 40th session (June 15, 1945) (ddr-csujad-45-35)

The council minutes feature the current locations of incarcerees. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMRC_01-01_064

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-45-35/

doc Heart Mountain Relocation Project Third Community Council, 16th session (November 8, 1944) (ddr-csujad-45-2)

The council minutes feature a discussion on the possibility of the West Coast being reopened, difficulties for patients in obtaining timely optometry service, and the current food situation. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMRC_01-01_031

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-45-2/

Photograph of B.R. Chamberlain, Ned and Harry Morioka and two other children posing in front of the infirmary at Cow Creek Camp in Death Valley (ddr-csujad-47-138)

img Photograph of B.R. Chamberlain, Ned and Harry Morioka and two other children posing in front of the infirmary at Cow Creek Camp in Death Valley (ddr-csujad-47-138)

Photograph of Albert R. Chamberlain, Ned and Harry Morioka and two other children posing in front of the infirmary at Cow Creek Camp in Death Valley National Park. Ned and Harry are holding the handles of two wheelbarrows which hold the other two children. Incarcerees were transferred to the former Civilian Conservation Camp after the Manzanar …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-138/

img Photograph of smiling male hospital staff posing in front of the Manzanar hospital (ddr-csujad-47-198)

Photograph of smiling male hospital staff posing near the Manzanar hospital at the Manzanar incarceration camp. There is a utility pole behind him and a building with a covered porch. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ecm_merritt_0334

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-47-198/