6 15 children Whtare part of the control series for continued examinations were essential in order to comparison population group who wereliving in again, and the reasons for prohibiting their consumption carefully explained through the inter- the growth and development studies. Several Rongelap people of the exposed group and the Mfajuro were also examined. The Navykindly furnished a ship, the LST detect and treat any untoward effects, should they arise. The coconut crab problem was brought up LYS Ducal County. The team met at Eniwetok preter. To correct a misconception that several cases of fish poisoning during the past vear had team was berthed and fed aboard the ship for the plained that nsh poisoning had been going onin these islands for years and was not connected with radioactivity. After much discussion, it seemed where the ship had putin to onload the 21-ton steel room which had been stored there and also the medical equipment and supplies. The medical expedition. The ship was beached at Rongelap and Utirik for easy accessibility to the villages. Attitudes of Rongelap People When the team arrived at Rongelap, the magistrate of the village indicated that there was some confusion and uncertainty in the minds of some of the people as to the necessity and significance of repeated medical examinations. He thought it wise to call a meeting of the village people in the council house so that they could ask questions to help clarify the situation. For the past 5 years during which the annual examinations have been going on there had been no problem in maintaining excellent rapport with the people, and, indeed, the relations of the team members with the Rongelapese were always cordial and friendly. [t was recognized that there was slightly increasing resistance to blood sampling procedures. Also there was some discontent that, because of the high Sr°® content, they were forbidden to eat coconut crabs, which they consider a delicacy (Figure 4). Since the return of the people to Rongelap, copra production had not increased to the extent that the Trust Territory officials had hoped. Consequently, since copra production is the prime source of in- | come, there was some concern over the slowness with which the people were getting back on their feet economically. It had become necessary to extend food subsistence beyond the timeoriginally planned. Fishing was not being carried on as actively as it should have been. At the village meeting the main questions centered around the necessity for the continued medical examinations in viewof statements on the part of the medical team in the past that the people were generally in good health. It was dificult to explain to them that, though they appeared to be in good health and to have recovered from the acute effects of radiation, very litte was known about the possible late effects of radiation, and been due to eating radioactive fish, it was ex- that the people were satisfied with answers to the questions, and preparations for the examinauons proceeded. Thereafter complete cooperation and the usual friendlyrelations prevailed throughout the stay on the island. During the examinations a United Nations team visited Rongelap. A meeting with the people was held in the church (Figure 5), and manyaspects of the Rongelap situation were discussed. The report of the UN group was favorable towardthespecial medical assistance being rendered the people. Upon compleuon of the 1959 survey, a meeting was held for the people, and they were advised that they were found to be generally in good’ health with no serious effects of their radiation exposure apparent, but that continued examinations would be necessary in order to insure continued good health. They were also advised to try to improve their oral hygiene and observe sanitaryrules to control the flies on the island. Before the team left the island, a party was held for the Rongelapese. The Navy kindly furnished a meal, and small gifts were exchanged as tokens of appreciation of mutal cooperation. Figure 4. Goconut crab (robber crab, Birgus latro), con- sidered a delicacy by the Marshallese. (Photo courtesy American Museum of Natural History, New York, N.Y.)