concluded that persons exposed to the bombs at the time of
detonation did show effects from ionizing radiation and that some of
these patients, otherwise uninjured, died. Deaths from radiation began
about a week after exposure and reached a peak in 3 to 4 weeks. They
practically ceased to occur after 7 to 8 weeks.

Treatment of the burns and other physical injuries was carried out by
the Japanese by orthodox methods. Treatment of radiation effects by
them included general supportative measures such as rest and high
vitamin and caloric diets. Liver and calcium preparations were
administered by injection and blood transfusions were used to combat
hemorrhage. Special vitamin preparations and other special drugs used
in the treatment of similar medical conditions were used by American
Army Medical Corps officers after their arrival. Although the general
measures instituted were of some benefit no definite effect of any of
the specific measures on the course of the disease could be
demonstrated. The use of sulfonamide drugs by the Japanese and
particularly of penicillin by the American physicians after their
arrival undoubtedly helped control the infections and they appear to be
the single important type of treatment which may have effectively
altered the earlier course of these patients.

One of the most important tasks assigned to the mission which
investigated the effects of the bombing was that of determining if the
radiation effects were all due to the instantaneous discharges at the
time of the explosion, or if people were being harmed in addition from
persistent radioactivity. This question was investigated from two
points of view. Direct measurements of persistent radioactivity were
made at the time of the investigation. From these measurements,
calculations were made of the graded radiation dosages, i.e., the total
amount of radiation which could have been absorbed by any person.
These calculations showed that the highest dosage which would have been
received from persistent radioactivity at Hiroshima was between 6 and
25 roentgens of gamma radiation; the highest in the Nagasaki Area was
between 30 and 110 roentgens of gamma radiation. The latter figure
does not refer to the city itself, but to a localized area in the
Nishiyama District. In interpreting these findings it must be
understood that to get these dosages, one would have had to remain at
the point of highest radioactivity for 6 weeks continuo