15 With the growing dependence on imported foods and on moneyas the medium of exchange, cases of malnutrition are encountered. Night blindness due to vitamin A deficiency has been observed on several occasions, mainly in children. The most serious epidemic during the 20 years covered by this report was the poliomyelitis epidemic in 1963. The “polio ward” at the Armer Ishoda Memorial Hospital in Majuro (which now operates as a physical rehabilitation center and orthopedic surgical ward) was createdto carefor the victims of this disaster. Rongelap Atoll was stricken in January/February of 1963 with 23 children and 3 adults takenill. One of the adults died and two of the children hadsevere residual paresis. Venereal disease appears to be on the increase. Dental caries has been a notable finding during tributed to poor oral hygiene, inadequate dental care, and possibly nutritional deficiency. Some of the youngergeneration are now showing the benefits of improved dental care. Dentists have participated in several surveys, and their general conclusion is that poor oral hygiene is showingits usual results: a high caries rate in teen-age children, severe periodontallesions in adults (heavy calculus, Table 8 Physical Findings* in Rongelap and Utink Adults, 1970-1974 Rongelap exposed Rongelap unexposed (68 examined) Acne Anemia Arteriosclerosis (mild) Arteriosclerosis (mod.-sev.) Asthma Atrial fibrillation Bradvcardia Cardiac enlargement Cervical erosion Cystourethro-rectocele Deafness Emphysema Epilepsy Hernia Hypertension Leprosy,arrested Uurik exposed (117 examined) No. % No. % No. 2 3 7 7 1 2 3 1! 8 2 2 2.9 4.4 10.2 10.2 0 1.5 2.9 4.4 16.2 11.8 2.9 0 0 2.9 1 1 2 1} 2 2 3 3 3 1 2 0.7 0.7 1.5 8.1 1.5 1.5 0 3.7 3.7 0 2.2 0 0.7 1.5 8 6 2 1 1 3 1 2 1 1.5 - 8 11.8 Migraine Obesity (gross) Osteoarthritis Pelvic inflammatory disease Prostatic hypertrophy Rheumatic heart disease Rheumatoid arthritis Spermatocele Syphilis (?) (arrested) 1 7 3 3 1 1 1 2 1.5 10.2 4.4 0 4.4 1.5 1.5 15 2.9 Tumor, malignant Varicocele 1 - 1.5 0 Tumor, benign (except thyroid) (135 examined) 2 2.9 *Findings on ophthalmology and diabetes are reported separately. . % 0 0 6.8 5.1 1.7 0.8 0 0.8 2.6 0 0 0.8 0 1.7 16 11.9 17 14.5 20 12 1 1 1 2 2 4 0 14.8 8.9 0.7 0.7 0.7 Fe) 1.5 2.9 14 1 - 0 12.0 0.8 0 0 0 0.8 0 0 1 2 0.7 1.5 - 2 0 Fs) - 1 0 0.8 0 0 es physical examinations of the Marshallese; it is at- 2 ee epee eee ee the aging. No significant difference between exposed and unexposed Marshallese has been seen except for a slightly greater incidence and severity of periodontal disease in the exposed group.Itis not known whetherthis finding is related to radiation exposure. Fish poisoning is common in the Marshall Islands. Symptomsare usually minor but occasionally severe or even fatal. Inflammation of mu- ee loss of alveolar bone), and edentulous mouthsin