DOCTORS’ ATTACK

Evening Star, Issue 22452, 24 September 1936, Page 14

DOCTORS’ ATTACK

CHEMICAL WARFARE CLAIM FOR BRITISH MASKS “FULLY EFFICIENT The use of poison gas in warfare was discussed at the annual meeting of the British Medical Association at Oxford (says the ‘Manchester Guardian’). The meeting debated a resolution calling on the British Medical Association to seek the co-operation of the medical professions of all countries to prohibit the manufacture of poison gas. The council reported that the: question of the protection of the community against the effects of chemical warfare was being seriously considered by the Air Raid Precautions Department of the Home Office, and that the council was exploring the situation with the department before making definite proposals. • ■ The resolution, which was submitted by the North Glamorgan and Brecknock Division, said: “That the representative body is of opinion that any protective measures for the general population against chemical warfare can only be very im--perfect and inadequate. Inasmuch' as chemical warfare will cause untold suffering and impairment of health, physically and mentally, together with the destruction of life, it should be proclaimed illegal. In the interests of humanity the British Medical Association should take the initiative with a view to securing the co-operation of the medical profession of all countries to prohibit the manufacture of poison gas.” INTERNATIONAL MOVE. Dr A. T. Jones (South Wales), moving the resolution, said he realised that they could not hope to succeed as a nation alone. They should seek the cooperation of the nations of the world. He quoted the Prime Minister as having said that there was no known defence against air raids and their dire consequences. “ Can we visualise what any effective measure to meet this possibly dire situation would mean—4s,ooo,ooo people wearing gas masks; each new-born baby and infant in arms would have to be so supplied.” Chemical warfare had been declared illegal, but it was used in the war between Italy and Abyssinia. They must strike at the root and prevent the manufacture of deadly poison gases. “ We may say that the politicians are failing, if they have not already done so, and it is for the scientists of the world to take the question up and to say courageously that this sort of thing shall not be done. We should instil interest in the medical jirofession of all countries so that they shall come together and seriously consider the prohibition of the manufacture of poison gas. I am confident that it could be done.” Dr Jones said that medical men must not acquiesce in the wholesale unscrewing of cylinders of poison gas to be disseminated among innocent women and children. Dr A. B. Murray (Banff) said they must not be carried away by their emotions, but must consider what was practicable. “ We know that there should be no poison gas, but how can we prevent it?” he asked. “Is the B.M.A. able to prevent it? If we have not that power we are wasting our time. We may have our pious opinions, but piety alone does not go very far.” Dr Willoughby (Eastbourne) said that even if the utmost resources of London were used not more than onefifth of the whole population could be adequately protected. INHUMANITY RECOGNISED. Dr H. G. Dain (Birmingham) said everybody in the world more or less agreed that chemical warfare was inhuman. Everybody agreed that it should be stopped. Everybody agreed that it was better not to make gas than to take precautions against it. But who was going to take the first step to try and stop it from being made? The medical profession of the world was the only body that was properly international, that had influences in all countries, and that could take such a step “ I want to suggest that the best-organised medical profession in the world is that of the British Empire, and that the B.M.A. is the most competent body to do what is suggested in this resolution—to initiate action among the medical profession of the world with a view to preventing the manufacture of poison gas.” Wing-commander Stanley Turner said poison gases were not manufactured by the medical profession, and the medical profession could do nothing to stop them from being manufactured. Many of the gases used in warfare were used commercially and were required in large quantities. To prohibit their manufacture was, of course, impossible, and in any case they had to remember the recent example of Abyssinia. Dr H. D. Woodroffe (Woodstock) said civilisation was now in the unfortunate position of having a law' without a policeman. “ 1 have been for the past 18 months in touch with the general schemes as outlined by the Home Office as they are being carried out by local authorities, and I would say that they are not inadequate or very imperfect, and that if they aro properly carried out, as 1 hope they will be, throughout the country,

they will afford a very high degree of protection to the civilian population. MILLIONS OF RESPIRATORS. “ I heard from an official of the Home Office in the Hast few days that by the end of next year there will be 25.000,000 respirators for issue to the civilian population, and) 1 want to say here categorically as a thing 1 know for a fact that our British respirator is 100 per cent, protection against any gas that can be used in war. That I will state very definitely as an official fact.” The present policy of the Government was that only such stocks of poison gas should be held as were necessary for experiments in defence against chemical warfare. Dr Elizabeth Cassou. of Bristol, said: “If the whole medical profession knew that a new epidemic was coming in two years it would combine to stop it. We know wo are in danger of gas attacks coming at any time, and there is no reason why we should not combine to study the mentality of those people who want to use gas. We must study not only the problems of gases, but the problems of war also.” Sir Henry Brackenbury declared that to ask that poison gas should not bo manufactured for any purpose would be demanding something which was futile. . Sir Crisp English said: We don’t want war, but there is only one thing that can stop it, and that is a strong British Empire.” The resolution was defeated and an amendment was carried, reading:— “ That this meeting condemns unreservedly the use of poison gas in warfare as inhuman in its results and degrading to civilisation,- and relies up'on the council to do everything in its power with a view to securing the co-operation of the medical profession in all countries in order to prohibit the use of poison gas.”