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Division of Biology and 1961 STJXVEY OF THE MARS W SE It isa pleasure to report that Dr. Robert A. Conard, Brookhaven NationaJ Laboratory, has completed the annual survey of the Rongelap people during March 1961 and found them t o be essentially the same as i n the preceding analyzed, but it is reasonable t o say they are not showing clinical evidence of chronic radiation effects other than negligible residual color changes of the skin. me following t w o paragraphs are excerpted from Dr. Conard's trip report dated April 18, 1961.. All of the data collected have not yet been "The medical data have not been analyzed yet but it can be stated that there were no apparent illnesses o r d i s - abilities related t o radiation effects and the general s t a t e of nutrition was generally good and about the same as it had been noted i n the past years. no deaths auring the past year i n t h e exposed population. I n the cotrparison ,!<ontmg population an anencephalic baby was born which caused quite an impression on the people, and one young boy had died o f pneumonia. The people had the usual complaints about various effects of their r&ation environment, but their cooperation was There had been Rongelap people i n the Council House and we told him about the intended examinations. The people voiced continued concern about the effects of fallout on their Atoll and on themselves. Iad not feel that their concern was any greater this year than expressed i n similar meetings with the people during the past years. chief complaint was that they were not getting enough t o eat and felt weak.Dr. Macdorald told them that the Trust Territory policy was, "--TJo work, no eat--."
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not pursued since it concerned administrative policy of the poisoning by fish (an old complaint). certain fish have a black spot in their abdomen which they believe is related t o radioactivity and causes the sickness. They are still disgruntled that they are not allowed t o eat the coconut crabs which is forbidden because of the high concentration of Strontiumgo. coconuts were small and referred to certain changes i n the coconut and pandanus trees which they believe are due to that several people had gotten inflammation and blistering of the mouth from eating arrowroot flour. complaint w a s probably due to improper preparation of the flour which is known t o produce such symptoms. mention of the suit against the Ullited States Government. (Dr. Macdonald had showed mea report of the United Nations group were about the sane as described above.)" Some of the other complaints concerned They claim that They complained that the There was a complaint that I had not heard before, The complaints voiced t o this