HUNS USING NEW POISON GAS SHELLS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 38, 8 November 1917, Page 8

HUNS USING NEW POISON GAS SHELLS

DEADLY Ai\D TORTMKG , EFFECTS.

British medical officers are. trying to determine the nature of a new poison, used, it is believed, for the first time by the Germans oil the French town of Armentier<?6, near the Belgian frontier. Tho poison bears a certain resemblance to the gas which temporarily blinded a lftrge 'number of British troops some time ago, but its effects are much more serious. A number of persons who wero taken from Armentieres are , in a grave condition. Many have died in hospitals at Ilazebrouek, Aire-on-the-Lys, and at St. Pol-on-the-Ternoise, where most of the victims were taken. , The first lime the poison was observed coincided with the fimip into Armentieres of a hail of small shells of a calibi'D insufficient to break the paving. These contained neither powder nor cas, but a colourless liquid, which spread over the soil, in the streets, and in the court-yarde and gardens. Where tho shells burst traces of the noxious liquids may be found hours afterwards. As the liquid evapourates it produces a heavy eras, which penetrates from rooms and descends into cellars. It is tenacious in character, nnd seems to make more victims among women than men, clineins in their hair. Tho fumes of tobacco seem to act ns an antidote in tho case of men. The odour is variously described as resembling that of acetylene, mignonette, or mustard. Its effects aro not immediate. Some inhabitants of. Armentieres who inhaled the emanations in the forenoon, returned home without experiencing any ill-effects, and took luncheon, but five or six hours afterwards they were obliged to take to bed, and their condition became rapidly worse. The victims at first were affected in the bronchial" tubes; then their eyes swelled, and eventually they lost their sight. These symptoms were accompanied by a feeling of burning inside, and incessant coueh and fever. The skin turned an earthy colour, and in several cases death soon followed. Occasionally, in addition to the symptoms mentioned? the victims were affected by hallucinations, and 'had fits of laughter in their delirium,