"During the village meeting, held in the Council House, the medical examinations to be conducted and the reasons for them were explained. The people expressed continued concern about the effects of fallout on their health, but to no greater extent than at meetings during past surveys. As in the past, they claimed that fish poisoning was related to the fallout, and said that certain fish have a black spot in their abdomens, which they believe to be due to radioactivity and to cause sickness in those eating such fish. It was again explained to them that fish poisoning was in no way related to the fallout. A new complaint was that several families had developed inflammation and blistering of the mouth and upset stomachs from eating arrowroot flour which they felt was affected by fallout. It was explained that this type of effect has been noted in other islands when the flour is not properly prepared. They asked whether coconut crabs could be eaten yet and were told that these were still not safe but that continuous tests would be carried out and that they would be informed when the crabs had reached a low enough level of contamination. are forbidden to eat. This is the only item in their diet which they Another complaint was that the coconuts were small and that certain changes had been noted in the coconut and pandanus trees which they believed resulted from fallout. "Despite the above complaints the people were very friendly and cooperated with the examining team in all aspects of the examination that followed." No other problems with the examinations or with the people are mentioned in subsequent reports with two exceptions. There is a brief mention in the eleven and twelve year report that, ''The conditions of field examinations naturally limit the procedures and methods that can be used." In the thirteen, fourteen and fifteen year report it was noted, in connection with the lack of vital statistics, that "Trust Territory officials are attempting to improve registration of such data." The Committee is particularly interested in these mentions of problems connected with the attitude of the people being examined. It is noteworthy that the first such mention in a report came five years after exposure, and the second mention only two years later, at seven years. The Committee discussed some of these problems with Dr. Conard, as will be mentioned in the section dealing with the September 1972 survey. 1014121. 120