POISON GAS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 277, 4 September 1936, Page 3

POISON GAS

ITS EFFECTS AND TREATMENT «* THE DANCER TO NEW ZEALAND. ADDRESS GIVEN BY DR. W. G. RICH; The effects of various types of poison gas, and means of counteracting them, were dealt with by Dr. W. O. Rich (officer in command of the Third Ambulance Brigade) in a public lecture at St. Stephen’s Hail last evening. The speaker advocated the strengthening ot the defence forces to prevent any possibility of an attack as being the only way of dealing with the gas attack problem. The lecture was arranged by the Ashburton Squadron of the Legion of Frontiersmen, but not a great deal of interest was taken in it b,y the public, only about 20 people being present. The Mayor (Mr \V. H. Woods) presided and expressed reget at the small attendance when introducing the speaker. “We hear from time to tune that there is not so much danger from gas these days,” said the speaker. “That is not correct.” He said he thought everyone .should have some knowledge of gas and its effects on the human system. When we thought of aeroplanes we did not think of one or two, but hundreds. It was very difficult for instance to stop a bombing squadron passing over London, and experts considered something like 50 per cent, of the machines would be able to pass over London. Fart of an attack on London would consist in dropping the new incendiary bombs, which would burn through anything. Then the gas attack would follow. All the doctors in the world would be ’able to do nothing to stop it. All the talk about building bomb proof shelters was playing with the subject and leading people into a sense of false security.

Possibility of War. Tf England became involved in a war in the near future, the Singapore Base would not be ready until 1939. It had been said the probable combatants would be England, France and Russia against Germany, Italy and Japan. With England occupied in Europe this would give Japan a clear run to Australia and New Zealand. There was very little to stop seaplanes flying over one of our cities, after being brought close by cruisers. Two tons of incendiary bombs would be enough to set fire to a large part of Christchurch. An aeroplane could scatter gas over an area of 30 acres in six seconds. Poison gas was divided into two main groups, the persistent and non-persis-tent gases. Persistent gases combined with the air and could be blown away by it, and there was some doubt about its efficiency. Persistent gases, such as mustard gas, was in a liquid form, and could remain on the ground for weeks before evaporating. A further classification divided the gases according to their effects, such as lung irritants and blistering gas. Lung irritants, including phosgene gas, gave a stinging effect in the eyes and throat. Then coughing began and a pain in the chest. Acute pain was followed by reaching and vomiting. Finally the victim turned an unpleasant blue, or violent colour and death ensued. A gas mask was necessary for this gas and was proof against it. Medical treatment, which could not do very much, consisted of rest, warmth and oxygen.

Sneezing and Tear Gas. The sneezing gas was a more cheerful picture. It was more a nuisance than anything else, causing stinging round the eyes and nose, a band like feeling round the chest, and acute pain in the teeth and gums. Tear gas caused fluid to scream out of the eyes with uncomfortable pain. The effects of thes.- gases was soon recovered from, but a new type of tear gas had been evolved for use in civilian warfare which would cause great panic among the population, who would not he able to see unless provided with gas masks. Another important division jvas blistering gas, including mustard gas, with which the Abyssinians were sprayed. It had effect on the lungs within two to eight hours the effect on the skin through the clothing causing bad burns difficult to heal, and the effect on the face and eyes direct, causing blindness. It was an oily liquid which lay about and could be transferred to a person who had not been gassed iiom one who had been. This was one reason, he said, why lie thought there was no harm in educating people to the effects of gas. As far as gases were concerned we were uncivilised. Treatment for mustard gas was the gas mask, a hath within 20 minutes or being in proximity to the gas, and making homes gas proof by hanging wet blankets over the doors and windows Rubber clothing was necessary to walk about in it, as the gas would pass through leather.

An Enoirmous Problem. The whole thing developed into an enormous problem if we were going to wait for the enemy to drop gas and then make up our minds to do something about it. To the speaker s mind this involved increasing the defence to prevent attack. T lie air roice was without doubt being increased, but the second line of the defence, the infantry should he developed. . I here were an excellent lot of otnceis ill tiie country. All they wanted was the men to train, and an excellent citizen army would be available. But the young man of to-day did not seem to take much interest in the situation, and perhaps did not realise the gravity of the situation. One of the most important points the speaker would like to make, he said, was about children. Young children would not wear their gas masks tor more than two minutes, and as they were dependent on us we would let them down very badly if we did not make provision for their safety. Mr E. M. Gabites, on behalf _of the Legion of Frontiersmen, moved a vote of “thanks to the speaker, which was carried by acclamation. Mr Gabites referred ‘the work the Frontiersmen were hoping to do in educating . the public and in being ready for a national emergency. I)r. Rich demonstrated the latest type of gas mask.