THE “ SICK BAY.”

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1917, Page 4

THE “ SICK BAY.”

Some of the “ Birds ” who come to Roost Being a cosy little place, the 11 sick bay” of a warship has a strong fascination for some members of the crew. On coaling days or when there happens to be some other unpopular job on band the bay draws them like a magnet, and they become smitten with a great desire fora brief retirement to its cleanly seolnsion. But so contrariwise and strange a thing is human nature that ii shore leave be given, these same men utterly forget that there is such a place as the sick bay aboard the ship. Tbey have no use for it. If a naval snrgeondoas not become an adept in “s'zing up ” men it is not from any lack of opportunity for acquiring this ar*. All the “ birds” among the crew fly his way at one time or another.

A you must kuow, is a man who wisbetf to “ go sick ” whenever he feels inclined for a rest, and you cannot expect a thousand odd men to come together without of this type getting among them—a small leaven which does not afflict the whole lump.

In every branch of the Navy the respotsible officer has under him a good man upon whom he can rely for easement from many little worries. The steward at the head of the sickberth staff act< in this capioity for the warship’s surgeon. A hard-head-ed' ‘‘sort of chap” thie steward, with an unsympathetic soul aud au unoanuy koaok of diagnosing “that tired feeling” with half a lift of his eye. Men “reporting sick” must get past him before they can reach the dootor. “What’s np ?”asks the Bteward as A. B. Wearyone slides through the Biokbay door. “Feelin’ out of sorts,” sighs Weary-" one.

“Are you ? Coilin’ day to-morrow, ain’t it ?” Thereat Wearyoae gripe bis jumper with both hands about the region of his diaphragm, aud with a woeful contortion of visage declares be “has a kind o’ kink inside him.”

The steward runs a cold, inquiring eye over the internally kinked one. “Here,” he says, “take these two starters an’ corns again to-morrow: This ain’t no home o’ rest,” and he dropa a couple of pills iato the calloused palm which Wearyoae holds oat. • .

Off goes Wearyoae, disgusted with his laok, thinking bitter things of the stony-hearted “poultice walloper,” and at the first opportunity drops the pills overboard. They may be good eaough for the fishes but not for him. Physic without comfortable leisure to digest it was not the thing he wsnt in eearch'of.

“might gei something worse.” Another “ bird ” mentally notes the Bteward as Stoker Wander edges into

the bay. “ What’s wrong with you ? ” he queries; “ Feelin’ rotter, right out o’ eorts,” explains Wander, promptly launohirg into an eloquent desciption cf bis symptom?, which recital he throws off very glibly, having memorised it from a patent medicine advertisement which told a thousand and and one ways in which a person might feel ill. No sooner does the story start thaa suspicion becomes certainty in the steward’s mind. He knows the “ patter," “ Stow it uow,” he cuts in. “Trimmin’ coal in the bunkers tomorrow, eb ? "

Wander “ bslays ” his yarn to admit tbaj; snchwould ba his occupation if be wdre well enough to do it, 11 Thought so,” comments the steward. “ Hore, have a dose o’ salts ; that’ll put you Tight.”

‘’Sails! Not me ! ” And Wander puffs cut an indignant protest,

*■' Warit to see th’ doctor ? ” “ Yes.”

“ Wouldn’t if I were you.” “ Why ? ”

“ You might get somethin’ worse’n salts.” This is said with a look of friendly warning the message in which Wander is not slow to divine, and be turns disconsolately away. And bo the procession moves along. This, mind you, is only the lighter side of tbe matter. Should a man be really ill he receives prompt attention and every care, bat “birds” are not allowed to go to roost in tbe sick bay. Every morning at nine o’clock the doctor, sitting at a little table in a. Boreened-off place, with his day-book open before him, sees “ patient?,” The Dew cases coma first. Each man steps forward, is examined and prescribed for. In spite of tbs stewards’ watchfulness a “ bird ” does sometimes come fluttering along. Him the doctor usually treats with tolerant, kindly humour, kuowiag by experience the kind of treatment which will be most effective in eradicating any incipient outbreak of hypoohoudria among the ship’s company. “ Give him a dose of castor oil, and see that he takes it,” says the doctor, turning to his attendait steward, then to the “ bird ” be adds : “ Come and tell me how you feel in the morning.” Off'goes tbe man for the dose be would much rather be without though it cures him permanently. He will not risk a “ditto repeato” of this prescription, and he knows be would get it.

A JUTLAND EXAMPLE.”

The man who is really unwell goes straightway into the sick bay. For the sake of tbe ventilation this is situated at one side of the ship and resembles a small well-kept hospital ward staffed with mala nurse*, In one part of the bay is a dispensary containing a large chest of medicines and another of surgical instruments. Now that hospital ships accompany the fleets serious cases are not kept very long in tbe bay, nor are any but minor operations performed there, The more important are done either in tbe hospital ships or in the shore hospitals, whither sick and hurt men are transferred with all possible speed. On distant stations ami where a ship is patrolling an isolated beat thousands of miles from anywhere, as many of our warships do, the Biok bay must perforce be the general hospital.

Like everything else aboard her, the medical staff of a warship is primarily formed to meet war condir’ons and in every oase has met them splendidly. Tbe battle cf Jutland shoved this. Aboard oneof the suuller ships engaged there the surgeon was killed and tbe sick bay wrecked by almost the fiset slitli that s:iutk the ihia. Bat the sick birth fadew .rd of te-, 1 1though injured himself, got togs.har a temporary staff end tended the wounded so efficiently that he saved several lives. That is. oniy one ilitu - - tsationcut of dozens that could be cited to prove the all round efficiency of e, warship’s medical department. In fact no one worked harder, more bravely, or more effectively during the Jutland fight than the doctors—and you could not have foued any other officer in the ship, no matter how hazardous his post might be, willing to change places with them. ,