NUTRITIONAL DISEASE AFFECTING CANADIAN TROOPS HELD PRISONER OF WAR BY THE JAPANESE

Abstract

The authors present observations on nutritional disturbances that they made on Canadian troops over a period of 44 months, during which time they were prisoners of war in the hands of the Japanese. The presentation is made against a background of dietary intake, energy output, and intercurrent infection. The chronological sequence of the development of signs and symptoms is shown. The impression of the authors as to the specific deficiency involved in each of these is indicated, where such an impression exists. The effect of dietary deficiency upon the various systems is shown, and a composite picture of the deficiency syndrome is presented, with remarks upon various aspects of it. The response to minimal treatment is described.