GERM-LADEN AIR BOMBS.

Mataura Ensign, 13 January 1916, Page 4

GERM-LADEN AIR BOMBS.

The extraordinary high proportion of deaths, following injuries caused by Zeppelin bom Us- has led to a strong suspicion among Mirgeons who liave treated diese cast's that, die bombs have, been impregnated with deadly . gvrnrs. Tlie evidence in favor ol' the ilximhs having been so treated was reviewed hyone oFtlie surgeons of ;1 . liispital in tlifl London area to which some K> seriously injured victims of the last raid were admitted for treatment. ■•ln the lirst place,'' die surgeon slated, "the death-rate a;iion«r thc*c eiiises lias he-en at leasi live times as high as one would expect in patients wounded- equally severely, either in battle or accidentally in .civil life. .In practically all the oases a germ causing rapid'ly fatal gangrene, very rarely met with in ordinary hospital practice, has been discovered hy Ihe lu.'pital liacleriologisLs. "I'aiicnts who received the best ireainicnt afforded by a modern h-:>spi-ial within 10 minute-- ol' being injured, iiitl'.'-ed a much higher death-rate ihan soldiers a; the Iron'., who. af:cr receiving wounds ouiward'iy of the same decree ol severity, have had to wait--2 ( hours or' more before being ireateil. "Inquiries arc bcino' made to determine whether the Italian ha'-teriolo-gis-ift have found (he same e;erin in the wounds of those injured in the recent raid on Verona. If (his' very rare gangrene-causing germ has been found iliere al-o, it will be pretty 'drong evidence thai die bombs have been del'brrately impregnated with on of the most deadly varieties of disease germs known."