Antidote available for deadly gas

Press, 29 February 1984, Page 1

Antidote available for deadly gas

The antidote to the nerve gas is the drug, Atropine, which is readily available in Christchurch, according to the medical superintendent-in-chief for the North Canterbury Hospital Board, Dr R. A. Fairgray. Atropine was commonly used and well known by doctors in Christchurch, he said.

It was used in pre-opera-tion medication and most doctors in practice had a supply. When approached by “The Press” last evening, Dr Fairgray was not aware that the police believed Bruce Douglas Cameron to be in Christchurch. Medical services in Christchurch would cope adequately in the unlikely event of the release of nerve gas, said the Chief Officer of St John Ambulance in Christchurch, Mr Bernard Chatterton. St John in Christchurch had readied itself for such an emergency after Cameron made his threats in Auckland last week.

Mr Chatterton said Atropine was commonly used for cardiac patients. It helped speed up the heart in certain cases. The drug was readily available in hospitals and St John medical staff were also trained to use it. Staff at the science faculty at the University of Canterbury have been asked to watch for Cameron. Christchurch detectives have given the staff a “special notice” which includes Cameron’s background and description. The notice said “Cameron is very chemically minded and has manufactured most forms of synthetic drugs in the past.” It also said that he had the “intelligence and ability” to manufacture the nerve gas. “It is anticipated that he will approach the drug wholesale outlets to obtain the necessary chemicals to carry out this threat,” it said.

Cameron escaped from the security ward at Oakley Hospital, Auckland, about

9.30 p.m. on February 22. He was awaiting trial on charges of possessing and manufacturing a hallucinogenic drug, known as “Angel Dust.” Cameron has threatened to manufacture the nerve gas Sarin-GB, which paralyses the breathing system by interfering with one of the body’s biochemical functions. A small dose could cause death in a few seconds. The gas is lethal up to a distance of 10km, depending on the wind. Sarin-GB was invented by the Germans in World War 11. It was normally fired in a shell which exploded to form a fine mist. The GB designation means the gas is in the United States Army arsenal. Cameron could get the ingredients to make the gas from chemical supply companies, said a Department of Scientific and Industrial Research analyst in Auckland this week.

The analyst, Dr Peter Nelson, said that the chemicals were “pretty innocuous” on their own. However, if Cameron was in a conventional laboratory that was recognised by the supply companies, the chemicals would almost certainly be easy to obtain. Cameron would need protective gear to make the gas and a laboratory would have that. Dr Nelson said that the nerve gas was a highly corrosive liquid substance. It would break out if not stored properly, and could corrode a canister but it would dissipate on contact with air and moisture. Little of the nerve gas would be needed to be lethal if confined to a room, but in a field “fjuite a bit” would be needed. Dr Nelson said that Cameron should be taken very seriously. It was not worth the risk that by some chance he could make the gas. Two days before Cameron was transferred to Oakley

Hospital he tried to hang himself in his Mount Eden’ Prison cell, a prison officer said yesterday. The prison superintendent, Mr S. G. Ward, said that staf had to resuscitate Cameron after he tried to hang himself with sheets on February 8. He was transferred to Oakley Hospital on February 10. Mr Ward said that Cameron had been withdrawn at the prison. “I think he was only eating enough fruit and drinking enough fluids to sustain life. He was not on a hunger strike.” Cameron had been under constant medical supervision and had been monitored by staff. “I think he was bent on self-destruc-tion.’’ Mr Ward said.