Residual radiation in Civil Defense

Widespread contamination of casualty-producing magnitude, incident to nuclear warfare, constitutes an environmental health hazard of major proportion. Radiological defense is not and should not be a medical program. It is, however, a health program, and the implied responsibilities cannot be ignored. In this connection, the medical profession, especially radiologists and public health physicians, must become more active in administrative and advisory capacities. As is the case with most health programs, preventive and therapeutic measures are involved. It is the responsibility of the medical profession to render such guidance, direction, and assistance as may be necessary in the non-medical aspects of the program for the most effective protection of the health of the individual, and from a medical standpoint to restore to health the greatest possible number of casualties in the shortest possible time. Three broad organizational patterns to deal with these problems are being tried. In some states, radiolog...