226 
October 16, 1972 
At Sea; Hiu Island, Torres to Santa Cruz 
British Resident Commissioner 
Port Vila, Efate 
New Hebrides 
Dear Sir; 
The Alpha Helix medical and genetic survey of the Banks and Torres Islands 
has been successfully completed. We are grateful to you for the enormous 
logistic support afforded by your personnel and for the participation in our 
program of Doctors Donald Bowden and Stanley Reveag. Dr. Stanley was returned 
to his home at Mota Lava by the Alpha Helix . Dressers, priests, headmasters and 
teachers of British Schools and the directors and staff of French schools were 
all very helpful on all islands. The people of all islands were 
enthusiastically cooperative and wonderfully hospitable. 
We found no current evidence of malnutrition or insufficient food. 
Continuing drought now threatening the gardens has the people worried on some 
islands, particularly the Torres. 
We encountered no epidemic illnesses, but varicella and conjunctivitis, 
both mild, are proceeding through several Islands slowly and without major 
complicatons . Herpes zoster, probably related to the varicella, also was seen 
in adults. 
A total of 1481 blood specimens were collected, 1232 from Banks Islanders 
and 249 from Torres Islanders. (Forty additional specimens had been taken 
earlier on Tongarikians on Efate.) All subjects bled were given full physicial 
examinations. In addition, medical clinics for all those with complaints or 
desiring a physical examination were conducted on all islands. The survey of 
Merig, Ureparapara and all four Torres Islands was a total population study, 
with blood specimens collected and examinations performed on everyone on the 
islands. 
Laboratory studies will be continuing for over a year in collaborating 
American, Australian, British, French and Singapore laboratories. Results of 
these studies will be sent to your Medical Director as they are completed. 
X-rays, electrocardiograms, and complete neurological examinations were 
done on selected patients, particularly on Ureparapara and Loh. Mycobacterial 
sensitivities were done, using PPD plus six atypical mycobacterial antigens and 
using also histoplasmin and coccidiodin on Merig and Loh Islands. No mycotic 
sensitivities were found. Stools for ova and parasites were collected only on 
Ureparapara. Thick and thin blood smears and other hematology was done on many 
islands . 
