Aono September 22, 1975 Mr. Roger Ray, Assistant Manager repository for Environment & Safety U. S. Energy Research & Development Administration COLLECTION P. 0. Box 14100 BOX Ne. Nevada Operations Office Las Vegas, Nevada 689114 Fotoen —_->O& [PASO / > 2 0 C MARYA Dsus FotoveFo. —LY L275 —- 79 Dear Mr. Ray: Thank you for instrumenting my return to Bikini Atoll to see what I could do to be helpful to the people and the future of the dispensary. I appreciate your kindness. I went to Bikini in December 1974 as a fisherman for the University of During this trip I was asked to see patients on Bikini by Jaramia Lavidicus, the resicent health aide. I found Jaramia capable, intelligent, willing, anxious, involved and deeply concerned person. He understood English quite well and acted as interpreter. Several patients were seen that opened my eyes to some of Jaramia's problems. The first was a boy quite sick, a high temperature and had been getting penicillin injections. He was completely listless, apathetic and had quite obviously not been taking adequate liquid. His fever at this point was due to dehydration. The patient was instructed to take 2 oz. water every hour and nothing else for 24 hours. Oral penicillin tablets would be just as effective as injections and less dangerous to the patient's life. The ‘patient became hydrated and was much improved the next day. The lessons gained here are at least two. The first is that penicillin by injection is a dangerous drug, people develop sensitivities to it. It may cause an anaphylactic reac:ion and almost immediate death, Such a death from the injection of penicillin would destroy the value of the medical’ aide to the people as they would be inclined to feel that he was the cause. penicillin, in most cases, is perfectly adequate for general use. an infinitely less likelihood of causing a severe individual taking it. Oral It has anaphylaxis in the In the best hospitals and medical centers there are deaths due to penicillin by injection. I did find penicillin tablets that were not outdated but looked as if they had been exposed to moisture and were not likely to be useful. This was the only oral antibiotic that I could find on the premises and I explained to Jaramia that oral antibiotics, especially tetracycline and penicillin, ol Woo ne would be preferable to almost any kind of injection except under every extreme circumstances, such as meningitis. He appreciated, understood and accepted the suggestion. ar: ~ or nee V GEuseAL Cage.SpoWDENOE BIKINI TRIP REPORT Hawaii. .