GAS IN WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 2, 3 July 1939, Page 16

GAS IN WAR

TREATMENT DESCRIBED

DEFENCE LEAGUE LECTURE

A successful meeting was held in the Horticultural Hall, Lower Hutt, on Thursday evening under the auspices of the I\ew Zealand Defence League (Lower Hutt branch). The speakers were Dr. Alan Tennent and Mr. H. L. Green. Mrs. P. Gillingham presided, and was supported by Miss Betty Olphert, secretary of the Lower Hutt branch, and Mr. Hewitt (Dominion secretary).

Mr. H. L! Green gave a forceful address on the international situation, taking his audience back prior to the Italian-Abyssinian conflict and tracing events down to the present day. He explained the strength of the different countries in man power, aeroplanes, and ships, and concluded by urging every young man and all men who had seen service to support the Prime Minister's appeal and to ..join up immediately.

Dr. Tennent lectured on "Gas Attacks and. Protection." He explained how gas affected human beings, towns, cities, and country areas. He described in detail the methods of protection against gas and explained what a deadly enemy gas could be if the enemy dropped gas shells where troops were concentrated for an attack. He said that at the Geneva Conference prior to 1914 it was decided that gases should not be used. The Germans used the first gas in April, 1915, against the Canadians. Professor Haldane had said that the Allies ought to have known that gas was to be used by the Germans at least three weeks before the actual date and that they.were only waiting favourable winds. . It was a long way back to 1914, but again there were nations who were anxious to get to grips with each other and it was just as well to make preparation not only to protect - ourselves by adequate defence,, but to prepare to protect ourselves against gas. Dr. Tennent said that there were two principal gases at the present time, tear gas, known as C.A.P. and phosgene, known as X.A.X. Tear gas was not dangerous to life, but .only to the eyes. Phosogene. was a choking gas which smelt like old hay. This gas caused congestion of the lungs, cyanosis; and eventually, if a heavy dose, death. Should a person be caught jn the early stages Qf this choking gas life could be saved, but serious results would follow for the rest of the patient's life. MUSTARD GAS. Another gas, mustard gas, smelt like geraniums and was brown like iodine. The singular thing about these gases was that they did hot have any effect on finely-polished • articles. There was one thing to be thankful for—that the antidote was very cheap, namely, chloride of lime, known as bleaching powder. If this gas touched the eyes it caused permanent blindness. There was no irritation at first with this gas, and if it was not treated within two hours it formed a blister. When the blister burst it took weeks to heal. Lewisite ,a much more expensive gas, acted much the same as mustard gas. The method by which gases were used in warfare w.ere as follows: — Cylinders with detonators, hand bombs in groups, shells from field guns, trench mortars and projectors, and "gas from aircraft. The first attack where gas was used from aircraft was in Abyssinia, when mustard and Lewisite were used. One bomb dropping would contaminate an area of 200 square yards/ and nasty effects would be caused on an area of four square miles. Modern aeroplanes carried tanks of this gas under the wings, the gas being sprayed from them., .Every householder-should have in his home a supply of bleaching powder w ; hich should be mixed with lard or grease and spread on any places affected by the gas within ten minutes of contamination. The mixture should be left for a short. while and then washed off. The clothin/ of contaminated persons could be treated by boiling or steaming; to decontaminate; leather, it must be put into steam heat j for eight houts. The lecture was illustrated by cinematograph films, including some pictures taken in England by Dr. Tennent. \ :

A vote of thanks to the speakers was carried by acclamation.