6 15 children who are part of the control series for the growth and development studies. Several Rongelap pcople of the exposed group and the ¢ comparison population group who wereliving in Majuro werealso examined. The Navy kindly furnished a ship, the LST USS Duval County. The team met at Eniwetok where the ship had put in to onload the 21-ton steel room which had been stored there and also the medical equipmentand supplies. The medical team was berthed and fed aboard the ship for the expedition. The ship was beached at Rongelap and Utirik for easy accessibility to the villages. Attitudes of Rongelap People wi a Whenthe team arrived at Rongelap, the magistrate of the village indicated that there was some confusion and uncertainty in the mindsof some of the people as to the necessity and significanceof repeated medical examinations. He thoughtit wise to call a meeting of the village people in the counci] 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 Peete, an me oe WELeinabe poe relations of the team members with the Rongelapese were always cordial and friendly. It 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 ts the primesource ofincome, there was some concern over the slowness with which the people were getting back on their feet economically. It had become necessaryto extend food subsistence bevond 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 medi- cal examinations in viewof statements on the part Een+ 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 appearedto be in good health and to have recovered from the acute effects of radiation, verylittle was known about the possible late effects of radiation, and See eee re reee ee eee ee continued examinations were essential in order to detect and treat any untoward effects, should they arise. The coconut crab problem was brought up again, and the reasons for prohibiting their con- sumption carefully explained through the interpreter. To correct a misconception that several casesoffish poisoning during the past year had been due to eating radioactive fish, it was explained that fish poisoning had been going on in these islands for years and was not connected with radioactivity. After much discussion, 1t seemed that the people weresatisfied with answers to the questions, and preparations for the examinations proceeded. Thereafter complete cooperation and the usualfriendly relations prevailed throughout the stay on theisland. 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 Rongelapsituation were discussed. The report of the UN groupwas favorable toward the special medical assistance being rendered the people. Upon completion 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 seriouseffects of their radiation exposure apparent, but that continued examinations would be necessary in order to insure continued good health. Theywere also advised to try to improve their oral hygiene and observe sanitary rules to control the flies on the island. Before the team left the island, a party was held for the Rongelapese. The Navykindly furnished a meal, and small gifts were exchangedas tokens of appreciation of mutal cooperation. DOE ARCHIVES Figure 4. Coconut crab (robber crab, Birgus latro), considered a delicacy by the Marshallese. (Photo courtesy American Museum of Natural History, New York, N.Y.)