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, mainlyin 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 (whic aow operates as a physical rehabilitation center and orthopedic surgical ward) was created to care for 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 had severe residual paresis. Venereal disease appears to be on theincrease. Dental caries has been a notable finding during physical examinations of the Marshallese; it is at- tributed to poor oral hygiene, inadequate dental care, and possibly nutritional deficiency. Some of the younger generation are now showingthe bene- fits 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 (heavycalculus, loss of alveolar bone), and edentulous mouths in the aging. No significant difference between exposed and unexposed Marsha!lese has been seen except for a slightly greater incidence andseverity of periodontal disease in the exposed group.It ts not known whetherthis findingis related to radiation exposure. Fish poisoning is common in the Marshall Islands. Symptomsare usually minor but occasionally severe or even fatal. Inflammation of mu- Tabie 8 Physical Findings* in Rongelap and Utirik Adults, 1970-1974 Rongelap exposed (68 examined) Rongelap unexposed (135 examined) Utink exposed (117 examined) No. To No. % No. % Acne ° Anemia Arteriosclerosis (mild) Arteriosclerosis (mod.-sev.) Asthma Atrial fibrillation Bradycardia Cardiac enlargement Cervical erosion Cystourethro-rectocele Deafness Emphysema Epilepsy Hernia Hypertension 2 3 7 7 1 2 3 11 8 2 2 8 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 11.8 I 1 2 11 2 2 3 5 3 1 2 16 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 11.9 ~ 8 6 2 1 1 3 ~ I ~ 2 17 0) 0 6.8 51 L7 08 0 08 2.5 Q 9 v8 9 Ly 14.5 Migraine Obesity (gross) Osteoarthritis Pelvic inflammatory disease Prostatic hypertrophy Rheumatic heart disease Rheumatoid arthritis Spermatocele Syphilis (?) (arrested) 1 7 3 3 1 I I 2 1.5 10.2 4.4 0 4.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 29 20 12 \ L. l 2 2 4 0 14.8 8.9 0.7 0.7 0.7 1.5 1.5 2.9 14 l 1 ~ ) 120 O8 0 0 PD) 08 ) 0) Tumor, malignant Varicocele 1 ~ 1.5 0 ] 2 0.7 1.5 - a \) Leprosy, arrested Tumor, benign (except thyroid) 1 2 1.5 2.9 *Findings on ophthalmology and diabetes are reported separately. - 2 0 1.5 - 0) 08