POISON GAS WAR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19125, 21 September 1936, Page 11

POISON GAS WAR

CONDEMNED BY B.M.A. APPEAL TO DOCTORS LONDOX. .July IS. Doctors, assembled yesterday in their Kmpiro I*arlianiciit —the representative mooting ot' tlio. British Medicnl Association tit Oxford —condemned tlit* use of poison gas in wartime. The council was urged to sock tlio 'cooperation of doctors in all countries m secure its prohibition. The discussion arose on a resolution from ike North Glamorgan and Brecknock Division declaring that: “ Protective measures for ilte general population against chemical warfare can only lie very imperfect and inadequate. Inasmuch as chemical warfare will cause untold suffering and impairment of health physically and mentally, together with the destruction of life, if should lie proclaimed illegal. “Jn the interests of humanity, the British Medical Association should take the initiative with a view to securing the cooperation of the medical profession of .-ill countries to prohibit tin' manufacture of poison gas.’’ The council reported that protection of the community against I ho effects of 'chemical war!',-ire was being' considered by the Air Paid .Precautions Department of the Home Office. The council was exploring' the situation with the department before making definite proposals. “ 4.1,000,000’ IN GAM MASKS” Dr. A. T. Jones, South Wales, moving tlio resolution, quoted the Prime ■Minister as having said that there was no known defence against air raids and their dire consequences. “] could,” he added, “quote doctors who have addressed meetings up and down the country on 'boha It' of the St. Joint Ambulance and the British Bed Gross. They mentioned the inadequacy of any protective measures against, chemical warfare. “Gan we visualise what any effee-

live measure to meet this possibly dire situation may mean—4o,ooo,ooo people wearing gas masks, for each new-born baby and infant in arms would have to be supplied.

“.Someone said the other day that' the devil was having a good laugh :it the -political leaders of the world. We may say that Hie politicians are failing, if thoy have not alrealv done so. It is it]* to thi' scientists of the world to take the question up and to say courageously that this sort of thing shall not be done.” Afcdical men must not acquiesce in the wholesale unscrewing of cylinders of poison gas to be disseminated among innocent women and children. Dr. W. (3. Willoughby, Eastbourne, said that, even if the utmost resources of London were used not more than one-fifth of the whole population could be adequately protected. Ho added: “As medical ofiiccr of health of a district, 1 have to arrange for the precautions in that district, and il is perfectly true that whatever we can do is going to be utterly inadequate.” COMMERCIAL -GASES Wing-Commander Stanley Turner told the conference that many gases used in warfare wore used commercially and were required in largo quantities. To prohibit their manufacl are ■was, impossible. Dr. 11. I). Woodroffe, Woodstock, j Ox on., said he had heard from an ofli-r-in lof the Home Olliee that 1»v the end 1 of next year then 1 would be 23,000,000 respirators for the use of the civilian | population. “L want to say here ealegorieall.v tts a tiling I know for a fact,” lie added, “that oar British respirator is 100 per cent protection against any gas that can be used iu war. That 1 will state very delinitely as an oftirial fact. ’ ’ Dr. Woodrolfe slated that the present policy of the Government, was