Shima hospital
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese hospital destroyed by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
, Japan, on August 6, 1945. Shima Hospital is considered to be ground zero
of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
.
In 1948, Dr. Kaoru Shima rebuilt it from the ground up. The rebuilt Shima Surgery is still in operation to the present day under the name "Shima geka naika". The specialities of the present Shima geka naika are surgery, orthopaedics, internal medicine, and endoscope treatment of the stomach and intestines. Right next to the Shima geka naika, there is a monument marking the hypocentre, or ground zero, of the atomic bomb explosion over Hiroshima.
Dr. Kaoru Shima (1897–1977) graduated from the Osaka medical school, the present Osaka University
medical department, which originated in the "Tekijuku
" school, and became a doctor. After graduating, he travelled throughout Europe and the United States
to further his medical studies.
Following his quest to learn the latest developments in medicine and surgery and with his reputation as an excellent surgeon, he became lecturer of medicine at the Osaka Empire University (now the Osaka University
), considered a high honor at the time, as the title of "honour lecturer" did not exist and Dr. Shima had a full-time occupation in Hiroshima. On August 31, 1933, Shima Hospital was founded. The Mayo Clinic
served as Dr. Shima's model of choice. Shima Hospital was a two-storey building of brick construction with reinforced walls and a modern design. Kaoru Shima applied the rational hospital management concepts he learned in the U.S., resulting in Shima Hospital's popularity as an inexpensive clinic with a high standard of treatment. Shima Hospital, following the Mayo Clinic model, is an exception to the usual profile of hospitals found in pre-war Japan that were based on German models and medical procedures.
; the atomic bomb detonated right above the building and the blast was directed downwards. Because the epicentre of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima is over the hospital, the hypocentre, or ground zero, is the hospital itself. All the medical staff and the inpatients who were in Shima Hospital, about 80, died instantly. At the time of the detonation, Kaoru Shima was away from Hiroshima city, as he had gone to assist a colleague with a difficult operation at a hospital in a nearby town. Thus he and his attending nurse were the only survivors of the Shima Hospital staff.
Dr. Kaoru Shima returned to Hiroshima on the night of August 6 and began treatment of the injured people. On the afternoon of August 7, Shima found an operation tool he'd purchased in the U.S. at the site of the destroyed hospital, the only remaining trace of the structure. Kaoru Shima and the nurse found a large quantity of bleached bones at the bottom of the debris, as the corpses had immediately become skeletonized by the blast.
Shima learned American medical care and practised American medical care at his hospital. Therefore, the war with the U.S. was a considerable shock for him. As was then common with well-informed Japanese people, Shima disagreed with the Pacific War
, and risked being killed by special political police.
Shima's son had evacuated on August 6, 1945, and had also survived. He would also become a doctor, and later became director of the hospital in its second incarnation.
On August 1, 2009, the clinic's name was changed to "Shima geka naika." Shima's son retired and become the honorary director. The current director of the clinic, a grandson of Kaoru Shima, is the third generation of this family to work in the hospital. The specialities of the present Shima geka naika are surgery, orthopaedics, internal medicine, and endoscopic treatment of the stomach and intestines. The director of today's hospital focuses on community care and thus maintains the ideals and spirit of his grandfather. The present Shima geka naika performs smoking cessation treatment, preventive injection, general medical examinations, cancer screening, and stress consultations. Shima geka naika cooperates with the Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital & Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital.
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During the final stages of World War II in 1945, the United States conducted two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the first on August 6, 1945, and the second on August 9, 1945. These two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date.For six months...
, Japan, on August 6, 1945. Shima Hospital is considered to be ground zero
Ground zero
The term ground zero describes the point on the Earth's surface closest to a detonation...
of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
.
In 1948, Dr. Kaoru Shima rebuilt it from the ground up. The rebuilt Shima Surgery is still in operation to the present day under the name "Shima geka naika". The specialities of the present Shima geka naika are surgery, orthopaedics, internal medicine, and endoscope treatment of the stomach and intestines. Right next to the Shima geka naika, there is a monument marking the hypocentre, or ground zero, of the atomic bomb explosion over Hiroshima.
Beginnings
Shima's family had run an established medicine practice in Hiroshima since the late 18th century. Proof of this can be found in a map of Nakanomura dated approximately 1780 in which the residence of the Shima family, birthplace of "Shima Hospital" founder Dr. Kaoru Shima, is noted as a clinic.Dr. Kaoru Shima (1897–1977) graduated from the Osaka medical school, the present Osaka University
Osaka University
, or , is a major national university located in Osaka, Japan. It is the sixth oldest university in Japan as the Osaka Prefectural Medical College, and formerly one of the Imperial Universities of Japan...
medical department, which originated in the "Tekijuku
Tekijuku
Tekijuku was a school established in Senba Osaka, in 1838 during the Tenpō era of the late Edo period. Its founder was Ogata Kōan, a doctor and scholar of Dutch studies...
" school, and became a doctor. After graduating, he travelled throughout Europe and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to further his medical studies.
Following his quest to learn the latest developments in medicine and surgery and with his reputation as an excellent surgeon, he became lecturer of medicine at the Osaka Empire University (now the Osaka University
Osaka University
, or , is a major national university located in Osaka, Japan. It is the sixth oldest university in Japan as the Osaka Prefectural Medical College, and formerly one of the Imperial Universities of Japan...
), considered a high honor at the time, as the title of "honour lecturer" did not exist and Dr. Shima had a full-time occupation in Hiroshima. On August 31, 1933, Shima Hospital was founded. The Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
served as Dr. Shima's model of choice. Shima Hospital was a two-storey building of brick construction with reinforced walls and a modern design. Kaoru Shima applied the rational hospital management concepts he learned in the U.S., resulting in Shima Hospital's popularity as an inexpensive clinic with a high standard of treatment. Shima Hospital, following the Mayo Clinic model, is an exception to the usual profile of hospitals found in pre-war Japan that were based on German models and medical procedures.
Atomic bombing
On August 6, 1945, Shima Hospital was completely destroyed by the atomic bombing of HiroshimaAtomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During the final stages of World War II in 1945, the United States conducted two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the first on August 6, 1945, and the second on August 9, 1945. These two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date.For six months...
; the atomic bomb detonated right above the building and the blast was directed downwards. Because the epicentre of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima is over the hospital, the hypocentre, or ground zero, is the hospital itself. All the medical staff and the inpatients who were in Shima Hospital, about 80, died instantly. At the time of the detonation, Kaoru Shima was away from Hiroshima city, as he had gone to assist a colleague with a difficult operation at a hospital in a nearby town. Thus he and his attending nurse were the only survivors of the Shima Hospital staff.
Dr. Kaoru Shima returned to Hiroshima on the night of August 6 and began treatment of the injured people. On the afternoon of August 7, Shima found an operation tool he'd purchased in the U.S. at the site of the destroyed hospital, the only remaining trace of the structure. Kaoru Shima and the nurse found a large quantity of bleached bones at the bottom of the debris, as the corpses had immediately become skeletonized by the blast.
Shima learned American medical care and practised American medical care at his hospital. Therefore, the war with the U.S. was a considerable shock for him. As was then common with well-informed Japanese people, Shima disagreed with the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, and risked being killed by special political police.
Shima's son had evacuated on August 6, 1945, and had also survived. He would also become a doctor, and later became director of the hospital in its second incarnation.
Rebuilding
Shima rebuilt the hospital in the difficult post-war period, and reopened for medical treatment in 1948. Shima was quoted as saying, "My new hospital is dedicated to peace and caring for the underprivileged and poverty stricken." The 1990s saw the clinic change into a clinic of surgery and decrease the number of beds. The name was changed to "Shima geka."On August 1, 2009, the clinic's name was changed to "Shima geka naika." Shima's son retired and become the honorary director. The current director of the clinic, a grandson of Kaoru Shima, is the third generation of this family to work in the hospital. The specialities of the present Shima geka naika are surgery, orthopaedics, internal medicine, and endoscopic treatment of the stomach and intestines. The director of today's hospital focuses on community care and thus maintains the ideals and spirit of his grandfather. The present Shima geka naika performs smoking cessation treatment, preventive injection, general medical examinations, cancer screening, and stress consultations. Shima geka naika cooperates with the Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital & Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital.