Transcribe Mervyn - User contributions [en]

.MTQ.Mzc

2023-02-02T13:38:55Z

Sam: Created page with "plasma, blood and sulfonimide therapy, and the institution of surgical units working right up behind the lines, give the casualty a wonderful chance of pulling through. Modern warfare does kill more men outright on the battlefield than ever before --- but of those who manage to survive the first hours and can get into the handsof the medical department -- only 3-4% die. from the fact that we are not being given a hospital, I suspect that we won't remain here after all...."

plasma, blood and sulfonimide therapy, and the institution of surgical units working right up behind the lines, give the casualty a wonderful chance of pulling through. Modern warfare does kill more men outright on the battlefield than ever before --- but of those who manage to survive the first hours and can get into the handsof the medical department -- only 3-4% die.

from the fact that we are not being given a hospital, I suspect that we won't remain here after all. my bet is that we'll follow the newer conquests as soon as the situation there is secure enough to permit the establishment of a hospital unit such as ours. however, as the battlefront gets nearer to tokyo it also gets nearer to san francisco-- and the more world I can get to see in the meanwhile, the better I like it. and, after all, what's new guinea got that new britain hasn't.

Beard's Republic is just out-- and you won't get any cheaper editions -- - that sortof thing is done only after a book has sold it self out [inserted by hand] after a few years. I would like another favor --- a subscription to TIME magazine. Please write to them at 330 East 22nd St, Chicago, 16, Ill --- include $3.50 and tell the to send their PONY EDITION to my address. It is sent first class mail weekly so that it should come with a fair xxx regularity. It's the only I can get all that news which never gets here in any othe manner

[inserted by hand]
Your son,
Mervyn
Included is a copy of the paper which we get here daily.

.MTQ.MzY

2023-02-02T13:30:30Z

Sam: Created page with "#13 Jan 13, 1944 dear mother, dad andsis No!s 24 (12/19) and 26 (12/24) and a letter dated the 27th all arrived today. There were newsy and good to get. There are always long waiting periods with no mail-- and then a batch comes at once. It seems that v-mails sent from home here arrive somewhat faster than the air letters. They're not nearly so gratifying since they are so short, but if you'd send one every once in a while it might help to fill in the empty days when n..."

#13
Jan 13, 1944

dear mother, dad andsis

No!s 24 (12/19) and 26 (12/24) and a letter dated the 27th all arrived today. There were newsy and good to get. There are always long waiting periods with no mail-- and then a batch comes at once. It seems that v-mails sent from home here arrive somewhat faster than the air letters. They're not nearly so gratifying since they are so short, but if you'd send one every once in a while it might help to fill in the empty days when no letters come at all.

You're anxieties about tropical diseases are without reason. Tropical diseases are by no means a scourge on this island decimating the military population. The are few in number, not high in incidence and for the most part very mild in their effects on the individual's health. The most common variety of infectious and communicable disease is the ringworm in its thousand and one varieties. This is by no means a tropical disease--- it came over on the same boat with the soldiers. Since it spreads mostly through the intimate contacts that comes with people living in dormitory conditions, and since I'm relatively isolated with my own tent and towels, I haven't gotten any of it. The next most important is malaria. This is widespread --- but with increasing application of malarial control measures, the incidence of new cases is falling rapidly. Malaria is, for practical purposes, neither a fatal nor a chronically debilitating diseases. Most all cases are sooner or later cured without treatment. Those which persist in recurring time and time again produce only the occasional flare-ups which give the patient an episode equivalent to the flu. Of somewhat more serious aspect is the variety of typhus fever endogenous to these parts known as tsutsugamushi's disease. But the over ll incidence of this disease is extremely low and of the very few cases which do occur, the mortality is only 5%. This is less than what is occurring in your own influenza epidemic right now in the states. Cholera, typhoid fever, the dysenteries, elephantiasis, and tropical sleeping sickness are not seen here at all.

By and large the general level of health locally is extremely high-- and the chances of developing infectious disease is less here than it is at home. The most serious afflictions come from battle casualties and from the psychological burden living in such frustrate surroundings for long periods of time. To the former, I have not yet been exposed. As for the latter, m spleen is to tough ever to succumb to such a situation. M own heal th is perfect; I have xxxxx contracted no diseases and I have no fatalistic anticipations in that regard.

Battle casualties from new britain are of course evacuated to new guinea hospitals. I xxxx see them every now and again when I get up to hospital. for obvious reasons, I can't tell anything about them --- but modern medical procedures -- including

.Nw.MTg

2023-01-27T23:49:05Z

Sam:

it's lying around somewhere. There is no immediate hurry for them. especially if you intend first to send the ones I asked for originally. These can wait for the following month.

In the meantime, may I suggest something for your own entertainment at this time. I recently came across a volume by Margaret Mead (she works for the museum of natural history) entitled "Sex and Temper-ment in Three Primate Societies". I know that it is available at the 96th st public library. It is lacking in the usual desirable minutae on the subject -- but in its broader outlines, I'm sure you'll find it both instructive and to your liking

I know know no more to say. Only that the hour of imminence is again of us. More again soon, but don't mind a brief lapse in my correspondence again - Mervyn

.Nw.MTY

2023-01-27T23:47:50Z

Sam:

Nov 24 no#3

Dear mother dad and sis:

No word from you this week. But the vicissitudes of the mail are the heralding notes sounding forth impending vistas to open on the already broad expanse of experience that floods a young man unpredictable life.

My diary is no more remarkable than ever. Hale & heart, I still trestle the earth, for all the fact that my arm is somewhat sore from the initial injection of cholera vaccine. I'm also on prophylactic atabrine medication but that's a harmless enough dose to take.

The adventure of the day, only just completed , was a two hour escapade in the long, dark

.Nw.MTg

2023-01-27T23:40:21Z

Sam: Created page with "it's lying around somewhere. There is no immediate hurry for them. especially if you intend first to send the ones I asked for originally. These can wait for the following month. In the meantime, may I suggest something for your own entertainment at this time. I recently came across a volume by Margaret Mead (she works for the museum of natural history) entitled "Sex and Temper-cent in Three Primate Societies". I know that it is available at the 96th st public library...."

it's lying around somewhere. There is no immediate hurry for them. especially if you intend first to send the ones I asked for originally. These can wait for the following month.

In the meantime, may I suggest something for your own entertainment at this time. I recently came across a volume by Margaret Mead (she works for the museum of natural history) entitled "Sex and Temper-cent in Three Primate Societies". I know that it is available at the 96th st public library. It is lacking in the usual desirable minutae on the subject -- but in its broader outlines, I'm sure you'll find it both instructive and to your liking

I know know no more to say. Only that the hour of imminence is again of us. More again soon, but don't mind a brief lapse in my correspondence again - Mervyn

.Nw.MTc

2023-01-27T23:31:03Z

Sam:

coolness of a local hardware store. These places hold a strong, compelling fascination for me; I just can't resist them. I come away laden to the end point of my strength with nails and screws, with corrugated fasteners and hinges and hammer and pliers and even an aladdin (kerosine) lamp. Like the great Thoreau, I shall go forth into the last recesses of nature and build my own world about me.

The New York Times came today. Oct. 10 issue, a little antiquated perhaps, but good to read. There is a book called "The Republic" by Charles A. Beard - purchased by the Viking Press. I'd like it. And I'd also like the magazine, by Shalom Ash. I think you read that one - So perhaps

.Nw.MTc

2023-01-27T23:30:21Z

Sam: Created page with "coolness of a local hardware store. These places hold a strong, compelling fascination for me; I just can't resist them. I come away laden to the end point of my strength with nails and screws, with corrugated fasteners and hinges and hammer and pliers and even an aladdin (kerosine) [ ]. Like the great Thoreau, I shall go forth into the last recesses of nature and build my own world about me. The New York Times came today. Oct. 10 issue, a little antiquated perhaps, bu..."

coolness of a local hardware store. These places hold a strong, compelling fascination for me; I just can't resist them. I come away laden to the end point of my strength with nails and screws, with corrugated fasteners and hinges and hammer and pliers and even an aladdin (kerosine) [ ]. Like the great Thoreau, I shall go forth into the last recesses of nature and build my own world about me.

The New York Times came today. Oct. 10 issue, a little antiquated perhaps, but good to read. There is a book called "The Republic" by Charles A. Beard - purchased by the Viking Press. I'd like it. And I'd also like the magazine, by Shalom Ash. I think you read that one - So perhaps

.Nw.MTY

2023-01-27T23:23:42Z

Sam: Created page with "Nov 24 no#3 Dear mother dad and sis: No word from you this week. But the vicissitudes of the mail are the heralding notes sounding forth impending vistas to open on the already broad expanse of experience that floods a young man unpredictable life. My diary is no more remarkable than ever. Hale & heart, I still [ ] the earth, for all the fact that my aim is somewhat [ ] from the initial infection of cholera vaccine. I'm also on prophylactic atabrine medication but tha..."

Nov 24 no#3

Dear mother dad and sis:

No word from you this week. But the vicissitudes of the mail are the heralding notes sounding forth impending vistas to open on the already broad expanse of experience that floods a young man unpredictable life.

My diary is no more remarkable than ever. Hale & heart, I still [ ] the earth, for all the fact that my aim is somewhat [ ] from the initial infection of cholera vaccine. I'm also on prophylactic atabrine medication but that's a harmless enough dose to take.

The adventure of the day, only just completed , was a t[ ] h[ ] escapade in the long, dark