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(FRIE)
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Project 4.1 ~ Flash Blindness - Colonel R. S. Fixott
OBJECTIVES
To gain information regarding the behavior of lid reflexes under
the high illumination produced by atomic devices; to further evaluate
the blink reflexes as a protective mechanism against chorioretinal
burns,
To gain information on shutter and filter mechanisms for eye
protection against chorioretinal burns caused by atomic weapons of
various types and yields.
INSTRUMENT AT ION
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The basic instrumentation for this shot was identical with that
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Because of failure to produce lésions at previously calculated distances
in the earlier events, permission was obtained to use four additional
exposure sites; TOM, URIAH, VAN and CHINIEFRO (ALVIN); which are nearer
to ground zero than the original exposure facility at JAPTAN (DAVID).
While this change did not entirely succeed in bracketing the threshold
of burn production, it did, however, produce a spectrum of burn severity
which otherwise would not have been obtainable on any single shot.
Electronic instrumentation and timing signals were employed only at the
station on JAPTAN (DAVID).
Temporary racks, holding ten rabbits each,
were used for each of the four forward sites.
Animals placed in these
racks were used for blink reflex and filter studies only.
RESULTS
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Chorioretinal burns were produced in 42 of 113 rabbits and 6 of 8