Japanese Surgeon's Daily Life

N95 Mask

　　Vicious Wuhan virus prevails around the world. I'm angry that China and WHO didn't take stern measures to confine it and stop spreading it. Lots of people, including my favorite comedian, who didn't need to die passed away. However, it's no use crying over that now.
　　The prevalence of Wohan virus is not so heavy in my hometown compared with Tokyo, but health care facilities are likewise fewer. Even a small localized epidemic would lead to a serious situation. Health care personnel are required to expect the worst-case scenario.
　　When I tidied up my room, a box of N95 masks came out. A few dozen masks were left in the box. I recalled that the local government or my office had offered it to medical personnel during the SARS pandemic back in 2003. Its expiration date for use is in 2013, but it would be no problem in daily life not for medical use even now. I'm using this in my daily commute.

武漢ウイルスが世界的に蔓延している。早期に手を打たなかった支那やＷＨＯに怒りを覚えるが、今それを言ったところで仕方がない。このあたりでは武漢ウイルスの広がりは東京ほどではない、しかし、東京に比べ医療機関が少ないから、一度感染が拡がったら医療崩壊を起こすだろう。考えられる限りの対策を講じておこう。部屋の片付けをしていたらＳＡＲＳパンデミックの時に用意していたＮ９５マスクが大量に出てきた。使用期限は切れているが、通勤時にはこれを使うことにしよう。

Driving in Mountainous Region

　　Fun driving on my way home after the technical assistance of a surgery in a hospital located in a rural area --- I made a detour to look around in the central area on Shikoku island. The sun rose higher in the cloudless sky. My car doesn't generate unpleasant noise except the wind noise being driven by electricity. When I opened windows, the sound of wild birds came in --- the experience only in the cars without combustion engines.
　　Pulling over my car, I looked down from the road shoulder. A narrow river was running. I didn't know its name, but it surely was one of the tributaries of Niyodo river, which is renowned for its transparency and color called "Niyodo Blue".
　　By the way, did you notice a small shabby bridge over the river? This type of bridge is generally called chinkabashi, which means literally "sunken bridge". This type of bridge indicates that the stream often changes into a torrent. This bridge is designed to avoid the strong pressure from the current even in a swift stream. That's why it has no bridge-rail. When the water increases and the current becomes rapid, the bridge get sunken and avoids being destroyed. It's the collected wisdom of many centuries.

山の中のドライブ

手術応援からの帰り、山の中をドライブ。天気が良くて、快適なドライブとなった。車の騒音がないので窓を開けていると野鳥の鳴き声が聞こえてくる。電気自動車ならではのことだ。道路脇に車を止めて川を覗き込むと沈下橋が見えた。何の飾りもない、手すりすらない石橋だ。水量が増えても水の流れに逆らう部分を極力なくしたこの形は橋が流されることを防いでいる。この川は美しい水、景色で知られる仁淀川の支流で、最近は外国からカヌーイストもやってくると聞く。たまにはこういう田舎のドライブも楽しい。

Tire Exchange

　　Thankfully for drivers, this winter had little snow. I changed tires into summer ones today earlier than usual in this season. Take a look at the following pictures. Looking into the bottom of the car, I found that it was perfectly flat. It corresponds to the bottom of the battery housing. It attracts my interest.