"DEW OF DEATH"

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 3, 5 January 1922, Page 7

"DEW OF DEATH"

DEADLIEST CHKMIOAL OF THX WAR. ■

It ia an interesting fact that the deadliest chemical for use in military operations was discovered by tho'Aliies,though it was not ready for employment, in tho field when the armistice was signed. Of this substance details are riven for the first time in a popular work by General Amos De Fries and Major C. J West, both of the United States Army, in • recently published book, "Chemical Warfare,? which contains an exhaustive «o count of the-whole history of gat warfare. - , .The chemical in question was called Lewisite, after' Captain Lewis, of, th* American Army, its discoverer. Its technical name ie "chlorovinyldichlorparsine,'* and it is a' faintly yellow liquid, three times more dangerous than., tho terrible mustard gas. - ■ ■ • '/Not only is it » vesicant (cause of burns) of about the wunc order as mustard gts, but Hie arsenic penetrates the skin of an animal, and three drops placed on the abdomen of a mouse »r© sufficient ft kill within two .to three hours. It is also a. powerful respiratory irritant, and causes violent sneezing. Ifcf possible use in aeroplane bombs has led General De Frie» to apply tho term "The Dew of Death' to ite use in this way.".' The *ecret was communicated to the British chemical' service, and, "unfortunately," as the writer? of this book state; it was roleuecl by them- to the world, thereby making hostile Powers a valuable present. The new poison gasee have many peace applications. Cyanogen bromide is useful for killing, rats and vermin in storehouses, and it «afe to use. Chlor«cetophenon« would be valuable to the police, as it produoe* no permanent injury-'-but f»u*e» '"smarting' and very profuse tears." With 1 it, say the authors, "huge crowd* can b» set to weeping instanth, so that no man. can ccc and no mob will continue onco it has beep blinded with irritating tears." Diphenylnminechlorarsino, which oauee* violent vomiting but not death, could b» used for rho protection of safes and strong-roohiß. The authors pay generous tributns to tho work of the British Chemical War Department and to ite skill and research.