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OCR for page 5
Chatter I!
THE PLAN
WITH the considerations outlined in Chapter I
in mind, a plan of attack on the problem was
developed which will now be described.
2.1 Pregrzarzcy registration;.-As mentioned
earlier, in the post-war years the ration system
in Japan was such that pregnant women upon
registration of their pregnancy following the
completion of the fifth month of gestation could
thereby acquire access to certain rationed items.
With the cooperation of the city administrators
of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Kure (a control
city), a system was instituted whereby at the
time of her registration at the city hall (or dis-
trict office) for ration purposes, each pregnant
woman or her representative in these three cities
completed the first two-thirds of a questionnaire
which included such items as identifying in-
formation, a brief radiation history of the hus-
band and wife, a short summary of the past
reproductive performance, and pertinent details
concerning the present pregnancy. In the ma-
jority of instances the informant for this ques-
tionnaire was the pregnant woman herself. Only
rarely were both parents available. Accordingly
the radiation information on this questionnaire
tended to be more reliable for the wife than the
husband (cf. Sec. 4.6~.
Figure 2.1 is an English translation of this
questionnaire, which will be referred to as the
"Genetics Short Form." This questionnaire was
administered by trained clerks who occupied a
special office in the city hall (or district office).
The actual collection of data began in Hiro-
shima in February, 1948; in Kure in March,
1948; and in Nagasaki in July, 1948. The ques-
tionnaire was filled out in duplicate; the original
was then given the registrant, while the Com-
mission retained the copy. At the time of
termination of the pregnancy, the midwife or
physician in attendance completed the question-
naire by answering certain questions pertaining
to the characteristics of the child and delivery.
5
More specifically, information was requested on
the following possible indicators of a genetic
difference between the children of control and
irradiated parents: sex, birthweight, stillbirth,
and presence of malformation. In case there was
an abnormal termination (e.g., stillbirth, mal-
formation), the midwife informed the Com-
mission by telephone as soon as possible. If the
outcome appeared normal, the questionnaire
was held by the midwife until collected by a
Commission clerk. Such collections were at first
at weekly and later twice weekly intervals. Re-
gardless of the type of termination, a Japanese
physician in the employ of the Commission or
the Japanese National Institute of Health
called to examine the child at once, if there
was a report of an abnormal termination, or on
a somewhat more leisurely schedule if the
termination was reported as normal. Midwives
received a small fee for each questionnaire they
completed. Because of this lag between birth,
questionnaire collection, and examination by a
physician, it was also possible to obtain rather
complete information concerning death during
the first 7 days post partum, hereafter referred
to as neonatal death.
The cooperation both of the mother and of
the midwife in this study was of course entirely
voluntary. An attempt was made at the time of
pregnancy registration to explain the rudiments
of the program to the registrants, and, in addi-
tion, each mother was given a brief printed
description of the program. Figure 2.2 is a
translation of this description. Numerous meet-
ings were held with the Midwives' Associations
of the cities to explain the program and answer
questions. Attendance at the meetings was usu-
ally excellent, although, the Japanese birth rate
being what it was, apt to diminish appreciably
between the opening and closing of any given
meeting.
Approximately a year and a half after the
OCR for page 5
6 Genetic Ejec's of Atomic Bombs Chapter II
INVESTIGATION SHEET FOR BIRTHS AFTER ATOM BOMB
PRINTING OF JULY, 1949
1. Name of city and investigation sheet number
00~000
2. Day, month, and year of registration 3. Expected date of birthO
Husband
4. Name (Maiden name
in case of wife)
5. Birth dates of husband
and wife
Age (exact number of
g.
years and months)
Present in Hiroshima or
Nagasaki at time of bombing
Location at time of bombing
(street and number)
Distance from hypocenter
Indoors
11. Type of building
12. Did you have or not
have subcutaneous bleeding-
Did you have or not
have gingivitis
14. Did you have or not have
bloody diarrhea
15. Did you have or not
have epilation
16. Did you have or not
have fever
17. Did you have or not
have burns
Wife
~0 00
A
a
3
18. Did you have or not
have external injuries
Date, month, and year of beginning cohabitation
Number of months interruption of cohabitation
Total number of months cohabitationOOO
Number of months cohabitation before August, 1945_C}OO
Number of pregnancies before August, 1945ON
Number of spontaneous stillbirths before August, 1945O
Number of therapeutic abortions before August, 1945O
Number of months cohabitation after August, 1945MOO
Number of pregnancies after August, 1945 (including present)_ON
Number of spontaneous stillbirths after August, 1945
Number of therapeutic abortions after August, 1945a
Total number of pregnanciesON
Total number of spontaneous stillbirthsO
Total number of therapeutic abortionsO
Marriage of blood relations (first cousin,
one and one-half cousins, second cousins, etc.)O
Present address and occupation of husband
Day, month, and year of beginning of last menstrual period of wife
Day, month, and year of birth expectation (according to calculation sheet)
Present month of pregnancy
Day, month, and year of termination of birthL:O
Number of weeks of pregnancyNO
40. Course of labor: Spontaneous Induced
Duration Use of instruments _ ~C:I
Live birth after 38 Premature birth under and
or more weeks including 38th week
Stillbirth 21-29
weeks
Stillbirth after 38
weeks
41. Condition of
newborn:
Miscarriage 20 weeks
or under-
Stillbirth 30-38
weeks
-A
OCR for page 5
The Plan
42. Multiple birth (2, 3, etc.) Order of birth O
43. Sex of newborn 44. Weight (grms.) O BOW
45. Presence or absence of malformation
46. Type of malformation (give details)
c
:1100~°~
47. Date of death of newborn child ,OO
48. Date of termination of any pregnancies after January, 19480
49. Remarks
50. Name and address of attendant at birth
FIGURE 2.1-English translation of the Japanese-language "Genetics Short Form."
program went into operation, an attempt was
made to ascertain what proportion of births in
Hiroshima were to mothers registered in the
Genetics Program, i.e., to determine the com-
pleteness of our pregnancy registration. Inas-
much as studies by the Public Health and Wel-
fare Section, GHQ, SCAP (Mr. L. V. Phelps)
had revealed that the official Japanese registra-
tion of births by place of occurrence during the
period of this study was quite complete, it was
felt that the most valid (as well as convenient)
approach to this evaluation would be to com-
pare the number of terminations recorded by the
Genetics Program each month with the number
officially registered in the city. The comparison
follows:
1948
August ...........
September ....
October .....
November ....
December ....
1949
January . .
February
March . . .
April ....
May ....
June ....
July .........
August . .
September
. .. .
City ABCC %
713 653 91.6
723 674 93.2
602 614 102.0
625 596 95.4
555 577 104.0
1,001 914
759 703
740 675
719 630
707 634
728 711
826 759
762 703
740 685
10,200 9,528
93.4
Percentages greater than 100 are probably best
explained by changing city boundaries and
iThe actual figures for registration of live births
during the years 1948, 1949, and 1950 are 98.1~o,
98.8~o, and 98.9% respectively, while for stillbirths
the corresponding figures were 98.7%, 99.4%, and
99.4~% (cf. Public Health & Welfare in Japan, 1948,
1949, 1950, by Public Health & Welfare Section,
GHQ, SCAP).
monthly carry-overs, especially in the case of
the December, 1948 figure, because of the Japa
nese custom of delaying registration on a child
born in late December. Assuming that termina
tions known to the ABCC were also known to
the city, this indicates that approximately 7 per
cent of the births occurring in the city were to
mothers not registered with the Genetics Pro
gram.
A large proportion of these births to parents
not registered with the Genetics Program of the
ABCC subsequently came to the attention of
the Program in the following two ways: (1) At
the time of registration of the birth with the
city, the city clerks routinely inquired if the
pregnancy was known to the ABCC, and if not,
directed the registrant to the Genetics Program
offices in the city hall. (2) Private doctors and
midwives frequently reported the names of all
women whom they attended who were not
registered with the Genetics Program. Births
coming to the attention of the Program through
these channels were placed in an "Unregistered
9~ 3 Series." From time to time, in an effort to im
92 6 prove the coverage of the Program, the reasons
9~.2 were investigated for the failure of the preg
87.6 nancies resulting in these births to be included
897 in the routine registration. One of the more
97179 complete investigations of this type was carried
92 3 out in Hiroshima in October of 1952 and dealt
92 6 with 147 unregistered births occurring in the
period of June through September of that year.
The reasons for not registering given by the
mothers of these 147 children were as follows:
Reason for failing to register No.
Arrived in city just prior to birth of child. . 20
2. Registered pregnancy at city hall, but failed
to visit ABCC office there.......
....... 37
3. Failed to register either with city for ration
purposes or with ABCC, although in town
during pregnancy
Too busy ....
Forgot ......
23
19
OCR for page 5
8
First seen by mld~lfe late In pregnant;
felt registration wasn't ~ortb bother
lng Huh 5
Requested someone else to ranter; that
person faded to do so 17
Too hick to reg~ter 4
DldnT know about regl~rabon 12
4. M~ceHaneous causes 10
fir ~ ~/ Or ~ Onto II
dlRerences in city admlnlstratlon practices, the
percentage of unregistered births was Clays
less in Nagasaki tbaD in Hiroshima.
The guestlon naturally arose as to imbiber
the information collected concerning Bolstered
blabs should also be ~t~lned for these unr~-
tered births, foll~lng ~bicb the two sets of
47 data would, for analytlca1 purposes, be com
TR^NSC^TION Of P^~PHteT D~TRIBuTeD AT THE AGE Of
PREGN^NCY ReGISTR^TlON
0 611 Prospe~lve Moths:
The ABCC teas ~ request to make of all prospective mothers. I presume you are famlllar with the
research project of the ABCC. The AmerlcaR and Japanese doctors work together In ~lvln~ physlca1 exam-
lnabons to aU babies born In Hhoshlm~ Ku~ =d ~t and cooperate In call on other shellac
researches. Me hope that those who hue encountered the bomb and also those who brave not ~111 respond to
our program. ~ comparative study of the pbyslca1 conditions of the persons hobo experienced the bomb and
persons go did not loses the sde~lEc aced of our Bump.
Ruben you register your pregnant at the cay once AN you kindly 611 out ~ quesHonnalre for ABCC?
Our representative ~111 ask you questions and 61I out the queshonnalre You need not be worried about the
quesdonnalre for ~ contalos only quetlons ~ncernlng your expected bay, name of par~t`~bl~bdates, date
of marclage and history of exposure to the atomic bomb. If you bee any questions to ask, our representative
~1 be happy to assist you. Ibe form, on ~ Bate sheet blab you gin be asked to take home Alto you, MU
be filled out by your a~endlng mld~lfe or donor and returned to ABCC.
~hbln ~ month after delved an ABCC donor MU caU on you and make ~ physlca1 examlnabon of
your baby. (If unfortunately your pregnant terminates in abortion, sUllbl~b, or any other abnormaUty, an
ABCC doctor gin also can on you.) By this =amlnatlon you AH be able to know your baby true physlca1
condlbon and at the same time you AH be making an important contHbutlon to medlca1 science.
In the ABCC chnlc the most mourn X-ray Ad other medlca1 equlpm~t are file if Be necessl~ of
~ tboroupb examlnabon of your baby ~ found necessary. In such cases the ABCC ~lHcaH for you and bring
you and your bay to the cholc. Abe results of the examlnatlons are stclcHy co~dentla1 but if you desire
tam may ~ Callable to your family doctor. All s~lces are performed free of ~e.
MOTE:
1. Regardless of Nether or not you experienced the atomic bomb, ~hetber your pregnancy terminates
In abortion or stlllbirtb, your cooperation ~111 be appreciated.
2. Please preserve the quesHonnalre that you mere asked to take home and brave the attending Life
or doctor 511 ~ out after defied. If you lose the quesHonnalre it AD be issued to you again, if
you ~111 present your Expectant other Notebook at the city once.
3. Please inform the ABCC If you change address at any time.
Your kind coope~lon is requested In this medlca1 res~rcb program.
figure 2.2 EnglLb translation of the Japanese!angiage pamphlet d~td~uted at the time of pregnant
reglstrstlon.
Reason (1) Spears to represent an uncle
loophole in the program, but lnasmucb as
mothers falling into this category as ~ rule mere
unexposed, this does not represent ~ serious loss
of data. Reason (~) also represents an un~old-
abIe loophole in ~ program geared as this was to
~ dvlc function. Reason to), on the other hand,
reoriented an unnecessary loss of data Unhip
could be and ~ resided), due for the most
part to the fit that the city clerk failed to glut
the reentrant to the ABCC once, either tbro~
forgetfulness or, in the case of new clerks, not
o~lng tab this should be dam. Because of
bleed. In ale of the extent to filch recent
arrivals to the city enter into the co~osibon
of He unregistered grog (20/147 in the pre-
ceding analysis), it gas felt tab it would
better not to combine the Ho series, men
tbou~b this involved the loss of ~ certain amount
of badly needed data.
As mentioned earlier, it gas not necessary
that the pregnant Amen ranter in person, ~
bell possible for her designated Restive
to ranter for her. ID approximately 4 per cent
of all registrations, neither the prospective
mother nor the fiber Speared at the city baU,
OCR for page 5
The Plan
the registration being carried out by some third
party. Such individuals of course were unable
to answer many of the items on the question-
naire. In these instances, a clerk was sent to
the home to obtain the necessary data.
2.2 Special studies or; abrzormo~l terminations.
In the event that a pregnancy terminated ab-
normally, as in a stillbirth or a child with a
congenital malformation, a supplementary ques-
tionnaire was completed in the patient's home by
a doctor in the employ of the ABCC. This ques-
tionnaire covered in some detail gynecologic
history, maternal disease during pregnancy, past
reproductive performance, and economic status.
The actual questionnaire is reproduced in Fig-
ure 2.3 and will be referred to as the "Genetics
Long Form." In addition, in the case of ab-
normal terminations, blood was obtained from
the mother for a serological test for the presence
of syphilis.
If the physician charged with completing the
supplemental questionnaire encountered an un-
usual abnormality, or one concerning whose
nature he was unsure, he could, if the parents
were willing, arrange for the child to be seen
by an American-national pediatrician at the
ABCC headquarters, for such diagnostic studies
as seemed necessary, as well as photographic
documentation of the case.
The Japanese physicians concerned with the
home examination of these infants were for the
most part recent medical school graduates.
Many of them were employed on a half-time
basis, the remainder of their time being devoted
to hospital duties. Each of these men, before
he was sent out on home calls, received instruc-
tion in the systematic examination of the new-
born infant. In addition, from time to time
lectures were given on the recognition of the
more common congenital abnormalities. Be-
tween 30 and 40 full or part-time physicians
were employed in this capacity at any one time.
For a variety of reasons, personnel turn-over
was at first relatively high; this necessitated a
constant training program.
2.3 The "10-percent sample." Each woman
as she registered received a registration num-
ber for her pregnancy, these being assigned
in sequence and without respect to radiation
history. For every tenth registration, which is
to say, all registrations for which the terminal
digit in the registration number was zero, the
same supplemental questionnaire just described
9
in connection with abnormal terminations was
completed in the home. A serological test for
syphilis was also carried out on the mother of
every tenth termination. In this way a 10 per
cent sample was obtained with which to supple-
ment the information obtained on the original
questionnaire concerning the comparability of
control and irradiated parents. In addition, in-
formation was obtained of value in analyzing the
causation of abnormal pregnancy terminations.
2.4 The accuracy arid reproducibility of the
ar~amr~estic data obtained on the Genetics Short
Form arid the Genetics Long Form.-The in-
formation accumulated in the course of this
study is of two types: anamnestic, and observa-
tional. The accuracy of both types of informa-
tion was of course a matter of vital concern.
During the period covered by this investigation,
many women in the study cities had several
pregnancies. Each pregnancy of a given woman
was registered independently of any others.
Discrepancies in the answers to particular ques-
tions in the course of multiple registrations by
a given woman provide some insight into the
reliability of the material. In addition, because
of overlaps in the various segments of the
ABCC program, the same information might be
obtained independently in different studies.
The information obtained on the Genetics
Short Form is of three main types: (1) radia-
tion history, (2) history of past reproductive
performance, and (3) observations by midwives
and physicians on the outcome of the current
pregnancy. The reliability of information of
types (1) and (3) will be examined in detail
in Chapters IV, VIII, IX, and X. The attempt
to obtain information of type (2) was moti-
vated by the possibility of detecting an increase
in the proportion of abortions and miscarriages
among conceptions occurring in the period im-
mediately following the bombing. However, a
preliminary analysis of repeat registrations by
the same mother, in May of 1951, suggested
that the error in the reporting of abortions and
miscarriages was such that any attempt to
utilize these data would be ill-advised. This
study thus utilizes only direct observations col-
lected under supervision during the years 1948-
1954.
The material sought on the Genetics Long
Form was collected with three purposes in
mind: (1) the description in some detail of
congenital defect, (2) the recording of certain
OCR for page 5
Diagnosis:
10 Genetic Effects of Atomic Bombs Chapter II
SPECIAL BIRTH QUESTIONNAIRE
Date of investigation
1. Sex and full name of baby: M F
(Ronzaj:, K``n~i, Fa,~gana)
2. Name of place of birth ;
Home Hospital
4. Date of birth
5. Attendant at birth: Dr. Mw. Nan e:
Address:
Name of ir~vestigating Doctor
3. Questionnaire Number
1' 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 ' ;! 4 ., ~
fi. Diagnosis of defects of child and details: Mm. Sun.
Blood then Y N Birth weight Gms. Birth length In.
Seen by ABCC doctor Y N
Specimen taken Y N CircuTr~ferer.ce: Head In. Chest In.
Photo or X-ray taken Y N
[]
sac
1-1 1 1 1-1 1
°7 °S °9 -0 .t ,.2
[ 1 1~ 1 ,. 1 1 1
.^,X ,^~. .^, ~:' ~:'.7 .~S
1 ..9 1 40 1 411 42 1 4,, 1 44 1
7. Place of death: Age: NEONATAL I I I
Ilome Hospital I I
45 4~;
a. Attendant at death: Dr. Mw. Name:
Address:
9. Autopsy: Yes No- Unknown
Place of autopsy 3.nd Doctors name:
Poe 1 of 2 p.nges
Date:
ABCC Form No. GE~'-2 (OCT 50 R3)
BIRTH QUESTIONNAIRE
FIGURE 2.3 The Genetics "Long Form." Explanation in text.
OCR for page 5
The Plan
10. Nan~e of father:
(Ron,aji, Kanji, Fvri,,gana)
12. Date of birth:
11. Address:
13. Ape: yes. mans.
14. Does the father have the same defect as this child? Yes No Unknown
Details:
Does the f:ttl~er have any ·,ther defect ?
Details:
ir ~To lJnknn~vn
J)ces any of the father's relatives have the same defect as this child ?
Details:
Does any of the fatl~er's relatives haste any other ~lefect ? \' es Nc> IJnt;nown
Details:
15. Blood relatiorusl~ip: I;3ther and brother
Yes No Unknown
Details:
16. Ecor.omic status of family Very Nor O'er
17. Hame of another:
(}~n~a,,2i, Kan,,i, I Wry)
19. Date of birth:
21. Does the mother lI.3Ye the satire defect as this child ? Ves No Unknown
Details:
Does the metier have any other defect ?
Details:
11
47 4S
48
Yes No Unknown
Materr=1 (;rand~>arents
Ares No Unknown
Avenge U'ell-to~do Very rich
Paternal (;randl~3rents
Yes into Unknown
18. Address:
. _
20. Age: yrs. mans.
Yes No Unknown
l:>oes any of the mother's relatives haste the same defect as this child ? Yes Ad> Unknown
Details:
[toes any of the motherts relatives have any other defect?
Details:
Yes No Unknown
22. Menstruation: Age of onset Duration in days Interval in days
23. Irregularities menstruation: Yes To Unknown
Details:
FIGURE 2.3 Continued
F561571~I 1 1
58 do
~1
ABCC Borne No. GEN-9 (OCT 50 R3)
ElIRTH QUESTIONNAIRE
OCR for page 5
12 Genetic Ejects of Atomic Bombs Chapter II
2` Pelvic ol>erations, diseases, or treatn~e.ats prior to >resent pregnancy: (Part~culcrly D& C) Yes
Hame of host>. 8; Dr.: Date:
Address of hosp. & Dr.:
Details:
RECORD OF THIS PREGNANCY
pro Unkno`` n
63
"fi. (;ener31 diseases and sur~i=~1 o~cratio.as
(particularly of afebrilc Arc): Yes Ho Vnkr~own Date: n
Details:
Fever: Onset Duration
I;asl~: Yes Ho Unknown Details:
"a. Uterine bleeding in the first six months of pregnancy: Yes No Unknown.
Onset
Hours of duration:
27. Prese;~tatlon of fetus At delivery: Occil>ut Face Breech Foot Arm Caesarean Unknown
SEROLOGY
38. Mother:
J. Infant:
30. Remarks:
! , . ~
DATE
TEST
RF,SUl,'!
PLACE
DATE
ABCC
ABCC
ABCC
ABCC
~ ~ ~ ~
ABCC
TEST
|RESULT!
l
WASSER MANN
MURATA
IDE
HOKKEN
MF,INICKE
., INDICATE;
POSITIVE as
DOUBTFUL as i
NEGATIVE as -
TEST RESULT PLACE DATE TFST RESULT| PLACE ~ DUSTS
ABCC WASS}:: RMANN
ABCC MURATA
ABCC IDE
. ABCC HOKKEN
ABCC MEINICKE
Page 2 of 2 >es
FIGURE 2.3 Corzti?~ned
ABCC Form No. GEN-2 (OCT 50 R3)
BIRTH aUESrlONNAIRE
OCR for page 5
The Plan
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OCR for page 5
14 Genetic Efects of Atomic Bombs Chapter II
supplementary technical observations of possible
pertinency to pregnancy outcome such as eco-
nomic status and maternal luetic infection (as
revealed by serological testing), and (3 ~ the re-
cording of considerable background information
of possible relevancy to the manner in which
a given pregnancy terminated, with particular
reference to the problem of congenital defect.
This included a brief family history of both
father and mother, a detailed reproductive his-
tory of the mother, disease during pregnancy,
etc. The reliability of the material collected
under headings (1) and (2) will be discussed
in Chapters V and VIII. The reliability of anam-
nestic data mentioned under heading (3) will
be briefly considered here. This material is in
the strict sense not relevant to the problem of
radiation effects, the questions having been in-
troduced because of the opportunity of adding
to existing knowledge concerning the etiology
of congenital defect. Unfortunately, particularly
with reference to the occurrence of congenital
defect in other members of the family, several
analyses have raised serious doubts as to whether
these histories are of sufficient reliability for
research purposes. There is in general less major
congenital defect reported in family histories
than would be expected on the basis of the ob-
servations made during the course of this in-
vestigation. This may in part be due to lack of
information and forgetfulness, but is probably
in no small measure due to the social stigma
connected with congenital defect, and the conse-
quent efforts to conceal it.
2.5 The autopsy program. As the over-all
program of the ABCC developed, and particu-
larly after a Department of Pathology was
established, it became possible to initiate the
performance of autopsies on deceased or still-
born infants falling within the scope of the
program. Because of the greater concentration
of Commission personnel in Hiroshima than
in Nagasaki, infant autopsies were begun in
Hiroshima in December, 1948, but not in a
methodical fashion in Nagasaki until several
years later.
A request to perform an autopsy was rou-
tinely made of the parents of each stillborn
infant and of each infant dying during the
neonatal period coming to the attention of the
Commission. If permission was granted, the
contactor brought the cadaver to the ABCC
pathology laboratory. A complete autopsy was
performed in all cases save where maceration
made this impossible. Photographs and X-rays
were taken when indicated. A copy of each
autopsy protocol was ultimately filed with the
appropriate Genetics Long Form. The cadaver
was then carried to a crematorium in an ABCC
vehicle. Ashes were returned to the family in
a suitable receptacle on request. Cost of the
coffin and cremation fee were borne by the
ABCC.
When the autopsy program was well under
way in the two cities, some 50 per cent of the
total available material came to autopsy. For
instance, an analysis of 300 consecutive regis-
trations terminating in stillbirths or neonatal
deaths, beginning January, 1950 in Hiroshima,
revealed that out of the total of 311 infants in-
volved, 158 (50.870) came to autopsy. Of the
remaining 153, 46 (14.8~o) were seen by an
ABCC physician but did not come to autopsy.
There were 107 (34.4~o ~ who were not seen by
an ABCC physician, and concerning whose ap-
pearance at birth there is only the statement of
the mother and attending midwife. This repre-
sents the most serious potential loss of informa-
tion in the entire program, since a certain
amount of congenital malformation could well
go unrecognized or concealed. However, these
unexamined infants can introduce bias into the
findings only if there is a difference in report-
ing on the part of exposed and unexposed
parents. We shall examine the latter possibility
in Chapter XIII.
2.6.The collection of data on infants aged
9 rnor~ths. Japanese homes are not always
well lighted and, because of their construction
and the fuel shortage, are decidedly cold in
winter. These conditions are not favorable for
an adequate physical examination of a newborn
child. The possibility had to be recognized that
for these reasons, as well as diagnostic over-
sights, some malformations were not being ob-
served at birth. Furthermore, certain defects,
such as congenital dislocation of the hip, spastic
paraplegia, deafness, blindness, congenital heart
disease, or mental defect are not always readily
diagnosable at birth. Accordingly, in January of
1950, the earliest date at which the over-all
development of the ABCC permitted such ac-
tion, a program was inaugurated to bring into
the central clinical facility at age 9 months
as many of the children examined shortly after
birth as possible, both as a check on diagnostic
OCR for page 5
The Plan
oversights at the time of the first examination
and on supplementary diagnoses. Certain an-
thropometric measurements were also obtained
as an index of general physical development.
Furthermore, because of the possible relation-
ship between genetic damage and death during
the neonatal period of infancy, information as
to time and manner of death was obtained for
deceased children. The age for this study was
set at 9 months rather than, e.g., one year,
because of the relative ease with which a 9-
month-old infant may be examined. The form
on which the data were recorded is reproduced
as Figure 2.4, and will be referred to as the
Genetics 9-Months Follow-up.
Since it was not possible to conduct studies
of all the babies examined at birth who were
still alive 9 months later, a system of obtain-
ing a random sample had to be set up. This was
done by the simple expedient of calling in
babies for examination according to the terminal
registration digit of the pregnancy. Each month
all babies with certain specified terminal regis-
tration digits were seen, the number of children
seen being regulated by the other demands on
the clinical facility and the personnel available.
In this fashion, a random 10, 20, 30, etc. per
cent of the original group could be called in
for examination. Parental cooperation was usu-
ally excellent. Where a child who was included
in the sample could not be examined, an attempt
was made to establish why, in an effort to detect
possible sources of bias.
A comparison of the recorded findings on a
series of infants examined shortly after birth
and again at 9 months provides a check on both
the clerical and medical efficiency of the pro-
gram. Such a comparison was carried out in
1952, based on 4,578 pregnancy terminations
studied at birth and followed up again at age
9 months in Hiroshima in 1951. The compari-
son involved the findings coded on the IBM
cards used for the final analysis (see below)
rather than on a matching of the two original
forms, since the IBM cards are of course the
basis for the final tabulations. Particular atten-
tion was directed towards the occurrence of
across malformation in the two series.
A total of 38 clerical errors came to light.
Approximately half of these arose in the fol-
lowing manner: a tentative diagnosis of major
malformation made when a child was seen in
the home was not confirmed when the child
15
was brought into the central facility for ex-
amination a short time thereafter. When this
same child was seen at age 9 months and the
defect again not observed, this was erroneously
coded as a refutation of an earlier diagnosis,
when in fact no actual diagnosis had been
reached. This error did not affect the actual
analysis of the data. The other 20 clerical errors
were of a more serious nature, involving for the
most part an error in the use of the 6-digit
code developed in connection with this study
for the classification of congenital malformation.
From the medical standpoint, the comparison
of the two sets of records brought out the unre-
liability, under the conditions of this study, of
the diagnosis shortly after birth of congenital
heart disease and congenital torticollis. This
finding led to omitting these two diagnoses from
the "at birth" data, although both were included
in the "9 months" data.2 Excluding these two
diagnoses, there were 48 instances of major
defect listed among the 4,578 terminations
studied shortly after birth. The follow-up ex-
amination at age 9 months increased the number
of diagnosed major defects (exclusive of con-
genital heart disease) to 122. On the face of it,
this amounts to a 154 per cent increase. How-
ever, analysis of the data revealed that three
diagnoses contributed disproportionately to the
9-months total, as follows:
No. of times
No. of times made on
made on first second
examination examination
26
22
19
Diagnosis
Dysplasia of acetabulum 3
Pilonidal sinus 5
Inguinal hernia (females only). 5
13
67
Exclusive of these three diagnoses, there were
35 diagnoses of major defect at the time of the
first examination (all confirmed later), as con-
trasted to 55 at the second examination, an in-
crease of 57 per cent. It was apparent from this
that the 9-months examination not only served
as a valuable check on the "at birth" program
but significantly increased the amount of con-
genital disease recognized in these children,
although the bulk of this contribution was due
2 The diagnosis of congenital heart disease was
based on one or more of the following criteria: per-
sistent cyanosis, a grade III or IV apical systolic mur-
mur, a precordial thrill, or cardiomegaly in the ab-
sence of another adequate explanation.
OCR for page 5
16
Genetic EJects of Atomic Bombs
ATOMIC BOMB CASUALTY COMMISSION
PeOl~TRIG FOLLOW-UP (Initial Record)
| Kanji l
Chapter II
Gem
. _
Master File Num her
-
Location: H O K ~ N O Exposed | | | Control O
Day Month Year
Sex: M ~ Fad
Birth Date:
Day Month Year (Era Year)
Genetics pro.
Dept. No.
Address:
Source of Info.
l
Year of Birth
Reliability
Narne (Romaji)
Mother:
Family History: Consanguinity
Diseases:
Date of Birth Health (G'F'p'D) Sex Date of Birth
General Health
(Good, Fair, Poor)
(Good, Fair, Poor)
Health (G,F,P,D)
1. Tuberculosis: 4. Venereal Disease:
2. Blood 5. Endocrine:
. . ,
3. Nervous: 6. Other:
Mother:_
Prenatal Care
Pregnancy Complications:
~'here
Para
Delivery Midwife, doctor, other) (normal, abnormal) Details if abnormal:
Condition at birth (and first 14 days) (Good. Fair, Poor) Details if Poor:
Birth Weight:
Nutrition: Age Begun Terminated Illnesses:
Breast hlilk
Other Milk
Solid foods
1.
2.
3.
Vitamin Supplements:
Motor DevetoPment: Sat
(age in months) Walked
Talked
Remarks:
Immunizations:
Gravida
No. Months
Date Reaction
History Taken By
Examining Physician
Ped Follow.Up I.
FIGURE 2.4 The form used for recording pediatric information at age 9 months. Explanation in text.
OCR for page 5
The Plan
ATOMIC BOMB CASUALTY COMMISSION
PEDIATRIC FOLLOW-UP (art - at
17
Aromas) Family none Given na:ne (Bsn,Il Naster tile no.
Furleana)
| location: }I ~ K ~ N O Exposed | | | Control O | Sex: M C F O Day Mooth Year l
Day Month Yes. (Era Year) Age (mom) Dept. No.
Birth Date:
., 1
Interval History: Bowel movements
Feedir~gs per day
.
Vomiting or regurgitation
Sleep
_ . . i, I ~
Measurements:
Weight | Ibs. oz. |1 Abdomen `~m'
Height (cm) l l Pelvis (cm)
Health (cm) l
Chest (cm)
Physical Examination: Temp: (O) (R) Pulse:
. ~,)>,~,,,~ .,_ I'm;, .¢,>.~ >, 2 ~3~:~:
,'. : it: ~ I::: ~ :, ~ ~ ~ I:: : ~ :. : ~. ~ it:: : :~: ~ ~ ~ i: ~,~ :,~: ~ ~' ~::. ~:~:~:~:~ ~ ~.~:~'~'~:~'~,~.~'~'~'~.~:~: :~:~:~:~:~ ~:~'~ ~, :~ ::':'' ~:~ :~,~':~':':~
Teeth: Present (X) Erupting (O)
Right Left
~ ~v ~ m ~I I 1 ~m ~_|
. 1
Motor Development: (good, fair, poor)
Muscles: (good, fair, poor)
Subcutaneous tissues: (good fair, poor)
, , Menu 1
:
Laboratory" _(X) Examination Completed; (A) Abnormal Finding
i. -
Hematology
Urine l
Serology l
Stool -is l
X-ray (hand)
X-ray (chest)
:
~-
Remarks:
_
1
Examining Physician
ABCC Fonn No. PED-6 (FEB 51)
PED FOLLOWER INr.
FIGURE 2.4 Con cl ad ed
OCR for page 5
18 Genetic Effects of Atomic Bombs Chapter II
to a relatively few diagnoses. The question of
whether these three common diagnoses "un-
balance" the 9-months data will be examined
later. On the basis of these findings, the de-
cision was made to conduct separate analyses
on the malformation findings "at birth" and
the additional findings at the later examination.
It should perhaps be emphasized at this point
that although we have presented the above
analysis in terms of specific defects, the unit in
the statistical analysis to be presented later of
the relationship between radiation history and
congenital defect was the malformed child
rather than specific defects, i.e., for analytic
purposes each child is scored only once regard-
less of the number of major defects present.
2.7 The processing of the data. All of the
questionnaires employed in this study were
checked for completeness by trained clerks. In
the event of an omission or an obvious error, the
individual concerned was queried either by mail
or by a "contactor." Where a discrepancy ap-
peared between the information obtained on a
first registration and on a subsequent registra-
tion by the same couple, an attempt was made
to determine which of the two statements was
correct and the reason for the discrepancy.
When the questionnaires were completed, the
data necessary to the projected analyses were
coded, and the coded results transferred to
standard 80-column machine tabulation cards.
The codes used for the Genetics Short Form,
the Genetics Long Form, and the Genetics
9-Months Follow-up are reproduced in Ap-
pendix 1.
2.fS The study of spontaneous abortions.
Early in the planning of the study, the possi-
bility presented itself that a significant fraction
of the detectable genetic effects of the atomic
bombs on the first post-bomb generation would
be in the form of dominant lethals which would
find expression during the early stages of preg-
nancy. Although some of these dominant lethals
might manifest themselves prior to implanta-
tion, others might not be en ective until a month
or two after implantation. Theoretically, the
occurrence of dominant lethals in any number
might be detectable through an increase in
early spontaneous abortions.
In the fall of 1949 an attempt was initiated
i'n Hiroshima to obtain as many records as pos-
sible of pregnancies terminating spontaneously
prior to the twentieth week of gestation. Data
were collected through the personal contact of
one physician with the practicing obstetricians
and gynecologists of the city. Radiation histories
were obtained on each couple involved, with
the intent of determining whether these histories
differed significantly from those obtained from
parents when the pregnancy was of twenty or
more weeks' duration.
In the fall of 1950, the physician originally
responsible for the collection of these data sev-
ered his association with the ABCC; the collec-
tion of the data was continued by two younger
men. The collection of data was discontinued
in early 1952. Data on 1,053 early spontaneous
terminations were obtained during the first por-
tion of this study, and information on 638 dur-
ing the latter portion.
Many problems were anticipated in the col-
lection of data on early spontaneous termina-
tions; most of these anticipations were realized.
During the spring of 1952, a preliminary analy-
sis of these data was carried out. This analysis
clearly revealed heterogeneity within the data,
in terms of differences between the findings of
the first and second portions of the program.
Because of the impossibility of determining the
source of these differences, as well as continu-
ing difficulty in the collection of such data, this
aspect of the program was abandoned, and will
not be referred to again.
2.9 Cytogerzetic effects of the atomic bombs.
-As one facet of the over-all Genetics Pro-
gram, the possibility has been explored of de-
tecting by cytological methods chromosomal
damage among the survivors of the bombings.
Testicular material obtained either at the time
of surgery, by biopsy, or at autopsy was ex-
amined, using appropriate methods. These stud-
ies, which will be described in detail elsewhere
by Dr. M. Kodani, revealed an unsuspected
amount of chromosomal polymorphism among
normal Japanese, a finding which has served as
a serious drawback in the use of this material
as originally envisioned.
2.10 The decision to discor~tir~e work in
Kare. At the outset of the study, when satis-
factory information was not available concern-
ing the composition in terms of irradiation ex-
perience of the population of the cities of Hiro-
shima and Nagasaki, an effort was made to
collect control data in the city of Kure, located
some 18 miles from Hiroshima. Preliminary
analyses of the year-to-year data quickly revealed
OCR for page 5
The Plan
that a considerable proportion of the inhabitants
of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during
the years 1948 through 1953 had not been there
at the time of the atomic bomb explosions. Thus
there existed in these two cities a source of in-
ternal controls which appeared to obviate the
necessity for a separate control city. Accordingly,
in September, 1950, after data had been col-
lected on some 8,391 pregnancy terminations,
work was discontinued in Kure.
2.11 The termination of the program ir;
January, 1954. At the time that the program
which has just been described was initiated,
Japanese birth rates were at record levels. How-
ever, in 1948 and 1949 the Japanese govern-
ment, as one of a series of measures designed
to reduce the disparity between population num-
ber and available food resources, liberalized the
legal indications for the performance of "thera-
peutic" abortions by physicians. Although exact
figures are impossible to obtain, in 1951 ap-
proximately 300 pregnancies were being inter-
rupted each month in Hiroshima alone. In
consequence of this and possibly other measures,
the birth rate in Japan, including, of course,
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, underwent one of the
most spectacular declines ever recorded in a
civilized country (Koya, 1953, 1954; Popula-
tion Reference Bureau, 1953~. The decline in
actual number of births registered with the
Genetics Program in the two study cities is
shown in Table 2.1. In addition, during the
first five years of the study, there was not only
an absolute decline but in Hiroshima, the largest
source of data, there was also a tendency toward
a relative decrease in the numbers of infants
born to more heavily irradiated parents. The
reasons for this are not entirely clear. In part
the finding is undoubtedly due to emigration
from the city and completion of reproductive
span on the part of older exposed individuals,
without proportional replacement by younger
age groups, but other factors may also be
involved.
In the original planning of the program, the
anticipated duration had been approximately
ten years. By 1952 the annual decline in the
amount of data becoming available had reached
the point where it was apparent that a serious
reconsideration of the duration of the program
was indicated. Accordingly, on July 10-11,
1953, a Second Genetics Conference met to con-
sider the results of a preliminary analysis of the
19
data, and to reach recommendations concerning
the future conduct of the work. The members of
this conference were Dr. G. W. Beadle, Dr.
D. R. Charles, Dr. C. C. Craig, Dr. L. H.
Snyder, and Dr. Curt Stern (chairman) with
Drs. W. I. Schull and J. V. Neel functioning
ex officio. In view of the relatively small ex-
pected return, in terms of reducing the sampling
variances of possible differences, from observa-
tions extending over an additional four years,
and in the light of the very real problems and
the expense involved in maintaining the pro-
gram at a satisfactory level of efficiency, it was
the unanimous recommendation of the Con-
ference that the program be terminated in the
near future. This recommendation was accepted
Year
1 ...
2 ...
3 ...
4 ...
5 ...
6 ...
TABLE 2.1 PER CENT OF ALL REGISTRATIONS ~ IN
CLUDING THOSE INVOLVING PARENTAL CON
SANGUINITY ~ WITH AT LEAST ONE PARENT
HEAVILY EXPOSED (RADIATION CATEGORIES 4, 5)
Nagasaki Hiroshima
,. . ~
MorF,
4 or 5 Total
..31 778
..269 8,736
..259 7,621
..226 7,093
..222 6,664
..158 5,348
1,165 36,240
MorF,
% 4Or5
4.0 356
3.1 593
3.4 488
3.2 393
3.3 360
3.0 317
3.22 2,507
Total %
3,805 9.4
8,064 7.4
6,878 7.1
6,064 6.5
5,239 6.9
4,723 6.7
34,773 7.21
by the Committee on Atomic Casualties; actual
data collection was suspended in February of
1954.
2.12 Acknowledgments. It is obvious that
a program of this complexity and magnitude
depends for its success on the efforts of many
people in addition to the authors of this mono-
graph. In particular, our heartfelt appreciation
is due Lt. Col. Carl F. Tessmer, Dr. Grant
Taylor, Dr. John Morton, and Dr. F. H. Con-
nell, who, as successive directors of the Com-
mission faced with the difficult task of balancing
many demands on limited facilities and person-
nel, were always most generous in their treat-
ment of the Genetics Program. Without the
staunch, long-time support of the Committee
on Atomic Casualties of the National Research
Council and the Division of Biology and Medi-
cine of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission,
this program could not have been undertaken
nor continued. In particular, we are indebted to
Drs. Max Belle, Harold Plough, and Earl
OCR for page 5
20 Genetic Efects of Atomic Bombs Chapter II
Green, who, during their tenure as geneticists
with the Division of Biology and Medicine of
the Atomic Energy Commission, gave freely of
their time and advice, and to Dr. A. E. Brandt,
who, as biometrician to the Health and Safety
Division of the New York Operations Office
of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, offered
a number of helpful suggestions. Turning now
to Japan, it is a pleasure to mention the support
received from various members of the Public
Health and Welfare Section, GHQ, SCAP, and
in particular from Brigadier General C. F. Sams,
Chief of the Section, Col. Harry Johnson, Chief,
Medical Service Division, and Mr. L. V. Phelps,
Chief, Health Statistics Division. Dr. Harry C.
Kelley, Deputy Chief, Scientific and Technical
Division, Economic and Scientific Section,
GHQ, SCAP, was an important link with Japa-
nese science. Our special thanks are due Dr.
M. Tsu~uki, who, as Chairman of the Medical
Section of the Special Committee for the Investi-
gation of the Effects of the Atomic Bombs of
the Japanese National Research Council, assisted
the work in many ways during the early days of
the study. Later, when the Japanese National
Institute of Health entered into the picture, Dr.
R. Kobayashi, Director of the Institute and Dr.
I. Nagai, Chief of the Atomic Bomb Section,
were most helpful. Dr. H. Maki, as Director of
the National Institute of Health staff in Hiro-
shima and Nagasaki, was an unfailing source
of counsel in meeting local problems as they
arose. Dr. Taku Komai served as a frequent and
greatly appreciated source of contact with Japa-
nese geneticists. The statistical analysis profited
greatly from discussions and correspondence
with Dr. C. R. Rao, Dr. H. L. Lucas, Dr. Robert
Krooth, Dr. Martin Kastenbaum, and Mr.
Donald E. Lamphiear. Mrs. Betty Hsiao pro-
vided invaluable assistance in the computations.
In addition the following persons have been so
kind as to read and criticize all or part of the
manuscript: Dr. H. Fairfield Smith, Dr. I.
Olkin, Dr. C. C. Craig, Dr. P. S. Dwyer, Dr.
Joseph Ullman, Dr. Curt Stern, Dr. L. S. Pen-
rose, Dr. Bradford Hill, and Dr. P. Armitage.
The burden of preparing the manuscript has
been substantially lightened by the conscientious
assistance of Miss Frances Davidson, Mrs. Jane
Schneidewind, Mrs. Barbara Seijas, and Miss
Grace Yesley. We are grateful to the Rockefeller
Foundation for defraying publication expenses
through a grant to the National Academy of
Sciences. Finally, to the literally hundreds of
other people, American and Japanese employees
of the Commission and local Japanese, who have
contributed so much to whatever success this
program may have enjoyed, our sincerest thanks.