Atomic Bomb Injuries and Burns · The Horrors and Heroes of Hiroshima

A two page spread with a black and white photograph on each page. On the first page on the left is a picture of a person's back. Their dark hair is up and their outfit top is only on one shoulder and the skin of their back, neck, and one arm are visible. The main focus on the skin are the burn marks that are crosshatches of short vertical and horizontal lines. On the second page to the right is a piece of fabric that is white with black horizontal and vertical lines.

編集・委員家永三郎, 小田切秀雄, 黒古一夫 ; 編集・エディトリアルさぁかす(henshū iin Ienaga Saburō, Odagiri Hideo, Kuroko Kazuo ; henshū Editoriaru Sākasu),ヒロシマナガサキ原爆写真・絵画集成 (Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The Atomic Bombings as Seen Through Photographs and Artwork), Volume 1: The True Face of the Bombings, (Tōkyō : Nihon Tosho Sentā, 1993), Perkins & Bostock Libraries, Duke University.

Please note: This exhibit includes graphic images and descriptions of the effects of the atomic bomb.

Dr. Hachiya related a conversation he had with hospital staff regarding clothing. In many cases, including Dr. Hachiya’s, one of the first realizations people had after the bombing was that they were naked. Mr. Mizoguchi, an office clerk, made the early observation that one woman who was wearing light-colored clothing was not burned except for the portions of her arms where her sleeves included black patches. Other sections in the book make mention of the protection clothing provided to people.

編集・委員家永三郎, 小田切秀雄, 黒古一夫 ; 編集・エディトリアルさぁかす(henshū iin Ienaga Saburō, Odagiri Hideo, Kuroko Kazuo ; henshū Editoriaru Sākasu),ヒロシマナガサキ原爆写真・絵画集成 (Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The Atomic Bombings as Seen Through Photographs and Artwork), Volume 4: Let It Never Be Repeated, (Tōkyō : Nihon Tosho Sentā, 1993), Perkins & Bostock Libraries, Duke University.

Dr. Hachiya comments several times within Hiroshima Diary about the lack of windows and other basic necessities, the inability to keep things clean and sanitary, and the suffering of the patients as a result of those reasons, especially for those patients who had their skin blasted or burned off. A specific example of this is the extreme amount of flies and mosquitoes due to the conditions. This book’s text reads, “Hiroshima. Maggots burst from a gaping wound and flies swarm around a lying woman. A life only stoically endured. (mid-September, 1945; US Navy Photograph)”

A two page spread of black and white photos. On the left page is one large photo of a person on their front, facedown. While their lower back, side, and likely their stomach are not burned, this person sustained burns everywhere else. They can be seen on the upper portion of their back, their arms that are out to their sides and bent up at the elbow, and on their head, as well as their buttocks and the upper portions of their legs, at which point the photograph cuts off. The burns on the lower half of their body look black while the upper portion is a mix of mostly white but also black portions. Two pictures are on the right page. The upper photo is focused on the back and shoulder area of a person who is facedown. Their skin looks mottled, nearly all black with burns. The third picture focuses on a person's face, neck, shoulders, arms, and chest, which are covered with burns.

編集・委員家永三郎, 小田切秀雄, 黒古一夫 ; 編集・エディトリアルさぁかす(henshū iin Ienaga Saburō, Odagiri Hideo, Kuroko Kazuo ; henshū Editoriaru Sākasu),ヒロシマナガサキ原爆写真・絵画集成 (Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The Atomic Bombings as Seen Through Photographs and Artwork), Volume 1: The True Face of the Bombings, (Tōkyō : Nihon Tosho Sentā, 1993), Perkins & Bostock Libraries, Duke University.

Dr. Hachiya mentions many times the suffering of the victims who were burned. One section reads:

"Everything was in disorder. And to make matters worse was the vomiting and diarrhea. Patients who could not walk urinated and defecated where they lay. Those who could walk would feel their way to the exits and relieve themselves there. Persons entering or leaving the hospital could not avoid stepping in the filth, so closely was it spread. The front entrance became covered with feces overnight, and nothing could be done for there were no bed pans and, even if there had been, no one to carry them to the patients.

"Disposing of the dead was a minor problem, but to clean the rooms and corridors of urine, feces, and vomitus was impossible.

"The people who were burned suffered most because as their skin peeled away, glistening raw wounds were exposed to the heat and filth. This was the environment patients had to live in. It made one's hair stand on end, but there was no way to help the situation."