MacNamara diary, 19 August 1916-29 May 1919 / John Patrick MacNamara - Page 120
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 120]
On the 4th day down my mate got up & went to a Hospital in the village, where they kept him for a few days & then sent him down to Jaffa. They did nothing at all for us in the battery, & did not even get a doctor down.
I got up on the 4th day but was very weak. Every week after this for about 6 weeks I would go down for a couple of days & when I got up again would be as weak as a chicken.
The doctors don't know exactly what the disease is but I reckon it was caused by the bites from the bugs. Since then men have always been prohibited from sleeping in caves as that is where the disease originates.
I have not seen a sickness that weakens one so quickly. I must have dropped over 2 stone [13 Kilos] in weight through it.
Have seen a few air scraps here lately in all of which our machines came out winners.
The enemy shelled the village one day causing about 40 casualties, most of which were civilians.