woe Oboe 7 The medical group arrived in Kwajalein on 8 March. It consisted of ailitary and civilian medical officers and technicians from the Naval Medical Research Institute, the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project and the U0. S$. Eawal Radiological Defense Laboratory and was established as Ecne of the natives nor the Bongerik Americans had prelfminary or normal native population for cempariscn purposes pending time for obtaining base line cata from non irradiated natives. coe my ema we. ae my Perm. oc mvesmnnetho teh. 8 early aysteric aymztoms consistent with radiation sickness from large dosage of external whole body irradiation. A reported case of vomiting and a few cases of loss of appetite were nc significant comsidering the sudden change in environment and diet to which they were subjected. To relieve the load om the station medical facilities, not mowing of the early ar rival of the asdical group, the twenty eight imericans were returned to Enivetok to remain as octpatierts under the supervision of the Surgecn, Taex Group 7.2. Hlood counts were taken at approximately three day inter— vals. They remained asymptomatic although there began a depression of the white blood cells of mild degree. They were returned to Ewajalein a 17 March. During the early days of March all patients remained free of sya teeie symtoms attibutable to irradiation but there was a definite de crease in the white thed cell count more carked in the Hongelap grocp. The blood pictures of the Ailirginae natives and the Rongerik Americans were quite similar which was reasorable considering they were exposed to the sane order of magnitude of radiation. The Utirik group showed nothing particular frem a medical standpoint and were considered as a virtually Side 4 research projects along this Line during interim periods. This allows for prcper evalcation of human effects toward correlaticn with cata on animals from which a great deal of our ideas on hbuzan effects have been extrapolated. Purther, they constituted an angmertation medical group for treatment ‘if necessary in conjunction with station medical facilities. An additional acvantage was that almost all of the personnel had worked together as a unit on previous occasions. fay2 perienced in the field of atomic medicine having been participants in pre= vicas testing using biological caterial as well as having had full tine rg Preject 4.1, 70 13 of Task Group 7.1 with Co=mcancer BE. P. Cronkite, K, USN, as Project Officer. Drs. G. V. Leroy and C. L. Dunham represented the Division of Biolcgy and Medicine, AEC, and were to act as advisors to Project B.l. A systecatic organization was set up with a view toward mnning a aick call, performing blood studies, taking histories, making physical examinations ani documenting the cases by means of records and photo= graphy. Seildings were furnished for these purposes by COMNAVSTAKAAJ and his Station Surgecn, Commander W. J. Hall, worked closely with the group. The establisheent of the investigating group of Project 4.1 was essential and desirable from several standpoints. All the zedical perscnnel were ex- Ry the thirteenth and fourteezth day a tendency to epilate had become evident in the Rongelap natives involving mostly children tut within a few days it had azpeared in adults. ‘The epilation was both patchy and diffuse, confined mostly to the head and particularly in children the scalp assumed a spotty appearance due to depigmentation of the skin. 3 Pa \ ame