shh Ud ada = oe ee . . . . OPET ES ES HEALTH SURVEYIN PACIFIC inane ae a es ee se ee ae ae ee ee nant neoplasms were distributed among the islands or atolls as follows: Saipan, 3; Babelthuap, 2; and 1 each on Tinian, Ulithi, Woleai, Yap, Kwajalein, and Wotje. Among the 312 benign neoplasmsthere were 114 melanomas of skin, 63 lipomas, and 29 hemangiomas and lymphangiomas. The bulk of these were on Majuro, Ebon, Saipan, Yap, Babelthuap, Maloelap, and Mili. The prevalence rate for vitamin deficiency was 8.8 per 1,000 inhabitants. Of the 195 cases reported, 98 were on Saipan Island where the prevalence rate was 24.2. Other islands where the rate was high were Ine, 72.8; Arno, 57.6; and Mili, 28.2. Anemia, with a prevalence rate of 84 per 1,000 persons, was reported in substantial numbers from Saipan, Majuro, Ebon, and Mili. According to reports of this survey anemia was practically nonexistent in the Palaudistrict. It was reported that a Jarge number of cases of leukoplakia buccalis were geen on Saipan and Babelthuap Islands. These occurred principally among betel-nut chewers. A comparatively small number of cases were reported on the health record cards used in this study for tabulation purposes. In. the summary reports accompanying the cards, however, it was estimated that on Saipan alone over 200 cases of leukoplakia buccalis were observed. Many of these were verified by biopsy. It was further pointed out in the reports that, although betel-nut chewing was also a commonpractice on the Yap Islands, leukoplakia buccalis was not prevalent there. It was suggested that this might have resulted from the oral mud packs used on Yap to hide the staining effect of the betel nut. The mud packs were not used on Babelthuap. The reports from Saipan did not state whether mud packs were used there. SUMMARY nee Ree } i 9013213 | 7 In the summer of 1948 a survey staff aboard the U.S.S. Whidbey began a health survey of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. its objective being a physical examination of every inhabitant of the area. This report covers the civil administrative districts of the Saipan, Palau, and Marshall Islands. Fifty-two percent’ of all stools examined were positive for intestinal parasites. The most prevalent intestinal parasites were hookworm, Trichuris, and Ascaris. “Approximately 50 percent of the Kahn tests were positive. This was judved to be evidence of the yaws infection on the islands. Of those receiving chest x-ray examinations, 4.5 percent were found to have chest defects and1.3 percent_were suspected of having active pulmonary tuberculosis. The nuniber of chest tumors, cardiovascular ae OCTOBER 3959 122) =