238 
contents were not even frozen in the bottom, but were still "cool" (temperature 
not recorded) and they were rushed into the -15® to -10®C where they now are. 
Thus they have thawed briefly but not heated up. How long? We know the freezer 
was deep frozen on November 10th when new specimens were squeezed in on Rennell 
Island. The low temperature would have held for 2-4 days by the Revco even if 
turned off. Thus, they have been thawed for not over a day, if we are lucky. 
Those broken — and there were many — from the thaw, are NOT putrid or decaying, 
and thus is is NOT for even a day that they got "warm." The collection is 
unreplaceable and represents an enormous effort. Sera are all perfect, and I 
hope erythrocytes are OK. Specimens are beautifully documented. Thus it is 
with the effort to see just how damaged the clots are, if they are damaged, by 
the brief thaw. Hemoglobins should be OK and J-Tongariki is a key issue in 
these islands!! Please, Bob, do your best on them. 
SERUM BLEEDING LISTS: Four bound volumes documenting the entire collection 
are now dispatched to NIH. The NH volumes went off 3 weeks ago but got held up 
on Honiara. They are all now off. On receipt Paul will xerox them, and send 
you copies. 
Finger and palm prints, saliva collections, and total medical examinations 
have been done and we got more finished than in our Tongariki studies. Thus, 
all is in order for an enormous expansion of work beyond what we managed on 
Tongariki. . .and perhaps the new Tongariki bleedings may add a bit to that old 
study. 
Final note; The Revco breakdown was a dreadful blow. The temperature 
gauge kept registering -38“C and that threw us off. We purposely avoided 
opening it too often once it was full. However, we did put new virus isolation 
specimens into it on November 10, p.m., and on a.m. of November 14 the specimens 
were all quickly refrozen on discovery of the breakdown. We know that the 
massively filled Revco would have held its cold temperature for quite long: 2, 3 
or 4 days? Surely at least 2... and the specimens did not warm up to ambient 
temperature. In view of the stuck gauge, we now realize that earlier storage 
was probably at -70®C or nearer to it than the -38°C the thermometer recorded, 
for it behaved as though it were down there in the speed of icing up. 
No more for now. Bob, but plese keep in touch with Paul and he can reach me 
daily by radio. On December 10th I shall be back at NIH and working full time 
on this study. I shall also complete any other outstanding work we have with 
you — some 2 years old and the Tongariki work almost a decade old. 
Did you get the West New Guinea and South American Indian paper drafts off 
to me? I have finished the outline for the South American Indian paper and WNG 
should be easy now. Again, my apologies for all this hold up. I have most of 
the year back at the bench and desk and your collaborative work with me has top 
priority. Thank you for all the patience. 
Greetings to your family. 
Carleton 
