Accession Number:

AD0460308

Title:

EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR DETONATIONS ON A LARGE BIOLOGICAL SPECIMEN (SWINE)

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.

Corporate Author:

WALTER REED ARMY INST OF RESEARCH WASHINGTON DC

Report Date:

1961-08-11

Pagination or Media Count:

191.0

Abstract:

The data presented in this report results from investigation of the effect of nuclear devices on a large biological specimen swine in the following fields injuries caused by the nuclear device, wounds produced by glass missiles as the wounding agent, and radiation studies with exposure to both gamma rays and neutrons. The pig was chosen as the biological target because this animal approximated the human in cross section for the radiation study and had been the subject of previous study during Operation Greenhouse. The median lethal dose of nuclear device radiation was shown to be 486 10 rep of gamma rays and neutrons. The radiation syndrome and median survival times were similar to those in previous animal studies. Wounds and burns in combination with nuclear radiation have been studied at all dose levels. In specimens exposed to the combined injuries from a nuclear detonation, the most frequent bacteriological invaders are Staphylococcus albus, Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus and Pasteurella multocida--organisms originating from sites other than the gastrointestinal tract.

Subject Categories:

  • Nuclear Warfare

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE