there any vagined bleeding. However, all of the prepnant women were flood (yped visa pre cautlonary measure Se far, dhe exposure to radtiatton bas not had a deleterious etheet on prep nancy, Sinee the departure of (he medteal proup from Rwanileta, ome appaerenity aorniel baby has been born 2.8 we DISCUSSION ON 'THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN THIS GROUP AND IN RADIATION INJURY There were few indications for the use of antibiotics when the princtples of treatment previously mentioned were used. Individuals in the Rongelap and Allinginae groups that received antibiotics are listed in Table 2.5. Of the individuals treated with the antibiotics, the first three received it prophylactically and it would have been indicated had they not been irradiated. The indication for its use in the next three was questionable. There was a defintte indication for its use only in the next three individuals and again it would have been given for similar conditions in unirradiated individuals. The last two individuals with furuncles (botIs) would probably have responded equally well to surgical treatment alone, since the tnfechhon was well localfzed and easily drained. In general, it can be concluded that human beings with the degree of depresston of heniuitopoiesis noted did not need antibiotics prophylacUcally. With severer degrees of radtatiun injury resulting inca greater depression of hematopoiesis, prophylactie antiblotic therapy miutv be indicated in selected cases. If the number of individuals is small enough so that changes in the blood count, temperature, and clinical evidence of infection can be followed closely, it would appear that antibiotics should not be started until there 1s a clear-cut clinical indication for the use of these agents.