CPS Unit Number 115-04

CPS Unit Number 115-04

Camp: 115

Unit ID: 4

Title: Welfare Island Hospital

Operating agency: OSRD

Opened: 10 1943

Closed: 10 1946

Summary:

CPS Unit No. 115, subunit 4, located at Welfare Island Hospital in Welfare Island, New York, subjected COs to experiments in life raft rations.

 

Dr. David Schwimmer directed this unit, referred to as the life raft unit, and sponsored by Welfare Island Hospital. The project may have taken place at Metropolitan Research Unit, New York Medical College (?) and ran from February 1945 through January 1946. The American Friends Service Committee served as the oversight agency.  Over a dozen men were assigned as volunteers. 

 

The experiment sought to find the kind of rations to stock on life boats, the effects of drinking salt water, and ways to replace evaporation of body liquids while on a life raft.  Several CPS men drank salt water; some ate the official navy rations. 

 

One of the findings of the life raft ration studies was that a simple ration of candy and water was best for lifeboat diets.  (Keim pp. 78-79)

Location:
Welfare Island, New York, United States