"Many people who did not die right away came down with nausea, headache, diarrhea, malaise, and fever, which lasted several days. Doctors could not be certain whether some of these symptoms were the result of radiation or nervous shock"

The quote from John Hersey highlights the consequences of a devastating event, likely the atomic battles of Hiroshima or Nagasaki during World War II, which Hersey documented in his influential work "Hiroshima". This passage presents a harrowing account of the immediate physiological and mental consequences experienced by survivors.

At first, Hersey highlights the intense health effects. The phrase "did not pass away right away" recommends an environment of extensive death where the immediate danger of death was prevalent. Surviving the initial blast did not ensure safety, as survivors quickly began struggling with symptoms such as nausea, headaches, diarrhea, despair, and fever. These signs show the start of severe radiation illness, a condition that occurs when the body is exposed to a high dosage of penetrating radiation, such as from a nuclear explosion.

The reference of "despair"-- a basic feeling of pain or unease-- and fever recommends a systemic physical response, suggesting that the radiation impacts were not separated to a single part of the body, but rather assaulted the system as entire. The duration of "numerous days" of suffering highlights the persistent and relentless nature of these conditions, indicating the profound and long-lasting physical chaos inflicted by radiation direct exposure.

The quote also probes the uncertainty faced by physician, as they came to grips with comparing direct radiation results and "nervous shock"-- a term that can be equated with mental trauma. This suggests the synchronised effect of both physical destruction and mental distress on survivors. The failure of physicians to definitively establish the cause of signs underscores the complicated interaction in between the physical devastation wrought by radiation and the psychological anguish stemming from the disaster.

In summary, Hersey captures a post-event circumstance where survivors faced a dual battle: one against the perilous internal ravages of radiation, and the other against their own psychological trauma. It paints a sobering picture of the turmoil and uncertainty that pervaded the lives of those who endured the atomic bombings.