TOLL OF WAR GAS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20485, 11 December 1934, Page 5

TOLL OF WAR GAS.

Victims Who are Going Blind. CASES AT ST DUNSTAN'S. (Special to the *' Star.”) LONDON, October 29. Remarkable instances of men gassed in the war going blind to-day, are described by Colonel R. E. Bickerton, D. 5.0., opthalmic surgeon at St Dun stan’s, in the “ British Medical Journal.” “ With the last eighteen months.” says Colonel Bickerton, “ seven men gassed in 1917 and 1918 have come to St Dunstan’s suffering from progressive deterioration of vision despite continuous treatment. “ These men were badly gassed by shell and cloud mustard gas, and their conjunetivae are as irritable and inflamed to-day as they were after the acute effects had more or less passed off in 1917, 1918 and 1919. Very considerable oedema (smelling) of the conjunctivae and lids first occurred, which slowly settled down, leaving a chronic conjunctivitis of such nature and severity that one can but conclude that some change in the tissues has taken place, resulting in the loss of some lubricating secretion' present in the normal eyelids and conjunetivae. “ This change would appear to be the total destruction of the mucin-secreting glands.” Colonel Bickerton states that he did not come across such cases in the early days of the war when lachrymatory gas, chlorine, bromine, were used, although he saw and attended the greater number of the gas cases arising during the first and second attacks in the Ypres sector. Uncomfortable and irritating as lachrymatory gas was, the effect upon the eyes and conjunetivae soon passed off, as did that of chlorine, which, however, had fatal effects upon chests, lungs and bronchi. Many Lose Their Jobs. Later when mustard gas was used the men were partly blinded. In some cases the mustard gas became absorbed and brought about degeneration of the retina.

“ Many of these men,” said Colonel Bickerton, “ have lost their jobs through failing vision, and some are unemployable because of the appearance of their eyes, the uncertainty of being able to carry out any work without continual breakdowns for treatment, and, sad to relate, the objection of fellow workers.” One of the patients who have just applied for treatment was wounded on the Somme. •He -was in hospital six months, and then went back to the front line. He was a sniper for two years, and was gassed (mustard gas) “ These authenticated cases,” Colonel Bickerton concludes, “ are sufficient to prove that much acute suffering is still being uncomplainingly borne, and all such cases will eventually be cared for by St Dunstan’s organisation, and / account for recent admissions.”