CHEMISTS TEST GASES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23537, 15 January 1942, Page 4

CHEMISTS TEST GASES

PRACTICAL EXPERIMENT. MADE r CLASSIFICATION OF REACTIONS ■ (P.A.) AUCKLAND, January 14. For half an hour last night 16 Auck* land chemists coughed, spluttered, and retched in a city building, their eyes streaming and handkerchiefs clasped . to their, noses. Some reeled about a narrow balcony and others lay on the floor. A seventeenth chemist stood by with a gas mask, gargle, and good advice. For the purpose of testing and learning reactions to poisonous and irritant gases, these 18 chemists are allowing themselves to be gassed twice weekly. They are part of the Emergency Precautions Services organisation and are making a scientific study, of gas warfare, headed by the Government an- , alyst (Mr K. M. Griffin), who has with him five of his staff, two university chemists, and 10 industrial chemists. Last night was the first practical tryout. One room was filled with poison smoke, as used in shells, and a second room with tear gas mixed with other gas. The chemists first entered the rooms wearing service masks, and then removed the masks and entered the chambers unprotected. They spent the next half hour recovering. “We will have to test the effect of these gases as often as we can to gain a knowledge of the different types to recognise them instantly, and know what action to take to counter them," said Mr Griffin.