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{"id":12920,"date":"2017-10-04T11:00:35","date_gmt":"2017-10-04T15:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/?p=12920"},"modified":"2018-02-14T11:29:50","modified_gmt":"2018-02-14T16:29:50","slug":"gassed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/2017\/10\/04\/gassed\/","title":{"rendered":"Gassed!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>By Susan Speaker ~<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12921\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12921\" style=\"width: 187px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"12921\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/2017\/10\/04\/gassed\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_010\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_010.jpg?fit=2533%2C4056&ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2533,4056\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"IQ180","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1473891816","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.016666673547467","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"Defensive Measures Gas Attacks\" data-image-description=\"<p>Confidential No. 253 (Revised)<br \/>\nNot to be taken into Front Line Trenches. Issued Down to include all Officers and Organizations all Combat Units.<br \/>\nDefensive Measures Against Gas Attacks.<br \/>\nHeadquarters American Expeditionary Forces France. November, 1917.<\/p>\n\" data-image-caption=\"<p>Cover of Defensive Measures Against Gas Attacks, 1917<\/p>\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_010.jpg?fit=187%2C300&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_010.jpg?fit=639%2C1024&ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-12921 size-medium\" title=\"Not to be taken into Front Line Trenches.\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_010.jpg?resize=187%2C300&ssl=1\" alt=\"Cover page of "Defensive Measures Against Gas Attacks"\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12921\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cover of <em>Defensive Measures Against Gas Attacks<\/em>, 1917<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>World War I is notable for the size of the armies involved, the huge number of casualties, and the vast amount of national resources consumed. Unlike previous conflicts, it was carried out largely in trenches, and introduced motorized ground transport and aircraft to military operations; it also employed scientific medicine that controlled infectious diseases so that, for the first time, more soldiers died in combat than from camp illnesses. But one of the more remarkable aspects of the Great War was the large-scale application of science to military operations, both offensive and defensive, particularly to produce poison gases. Germany, then the world leader in scientific research and in chemical production, pioneered the development of chemical warfare.<\/p>\n<p>On April 22, 1915, and again two days later, at Ypres, German forces introduced Allied troops to a terrible new weapon: chlorine gas, released from pressurized canisters into a wind that carried it into the Allied trenches and beyond. Caught entirely by surprise, and with no protection from the asphyxiating gas, some 5,000 died, and over 10,000 were injured. The Allies quickly determined that the gas was chlorine and began developing gas masks to protect against it. For the duration of the war the combatants would engage in a chemical arms race. Both sides recruited hundreds of chemists, engineers, and physiologists to serve in special military gas warfare services. These experts worked intensively to discover new toxic gases and delivery systems, and to develop defensive equipment, procedures, and medical treatments.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe extensive use of poisonous gases was one of the most important developments of the World War; no innovation since the introduction of gunpowder has revolutionized warfare to such an extent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left:30px;\">\u2014<a href=\"http:\/\/resource.nlm.nih.gov\/14120390RX15\"><em>The Medical Department of the U. S. Army in the World War, Vol. XIV, Medical Aspects of Gas Warfare<\/em><\/a>,1926, p. 25.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>By September 1915, the British were able to launch their first chlorine gas attack against German forces. A more potent gas, phosgene, made its debut in December 1915, and for the next 18 months, chlorine and phosgene, together with several different tear gases, were used extensively. \u201cCloud\u201d attacks, in which the gas was released from canisters, were superseded by artillery shells loaded with gas, starting in 1916. With the shells, armies could target attacks with little regard for the weather, and use a wider range of toxic chemicals.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular tiled-gallery-unresized\" data-original-width=\"840\" data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":1,"permalink":"https:\\\/\\\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\\\/2017\\\/10\\\/04\\\/gassed\\\/","likes_blog_id":"52242398"}' itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageGallery\" > <div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 840px; height: 236px;\" data-original-width=\"840\" data-original-height=\"236\" > <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 140px; height: 236px;\" data-original-width=\"140\" data-original-height=\"236\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-small\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/2017\/10\/04\/gassed\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_013\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"136\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"232\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"12922\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_013.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2269,3876\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"IQ180","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1473891843","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.016666673547467","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"Headquarters American Expeditionary Forces\" data-image-description=\"<p>Headquarters American Expeditionary Forces.<br \/> France, November 30, 1917.<br \/> The following rules and regulations governing defensive measures to be taken against gas attacks are published for the information and guidance of all concerned.<br \/> By Command of General Pershing: James G. Harbord, Brigadier General, Chief of Staff.<br \/> Official: Benj. Alvord, Adjutant General.<\/p> \" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_013.jpg?fit=176%2C300&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_013.jpg?fit=599%2C1024&ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_013.jpg?w=136&h=232&ssl=1\" width=\"136\" height=\"232\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"136\" data-original-height=\"232\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Headquarters American Expeditionary Forces\" alt=\"Opening page containing names of Generals.\" style=\"width: 136px; height: 232px;\" \/> <\/a> <div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\" itemprop=\"caption description\"> Titlepage <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 143px; height: 236px;\" data-original-width=\"143\" data-original-height=\"236\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-small\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/2017\/10\/04\/gassed\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_014\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"139\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"232\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"12923\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_014.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2334,3886\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"IQ180","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1473891851","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.016666673547467","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"General Considerations\" data-image-description=\"<p>Defensive Measures Against Gas Attacks.<br \/> I. – Introduction.<br \/> A. – General Considerations.<br \/> 1. The following notes on defensive measures against hostile gas attacks have been compiled for the guidance of officers in instructing their men and giving orders on the subject.<br \/> 2. In the absence of suitable protection the gases used in war are extremely deadly. Breathing only very small quantities may cause death or serious injury. Hence, it is essential that no time be lost in putting on the respirators or masks when a gas alarm is heard.<br \/> It cannot be too strongly impressed on all that the measures which have been elaborated to meet hostile gas attacks afford perfect protection, and if they are carried out properly and promptly no one will suffer from gas poisoning.<br \/> 3. The whole basis for protecting troops against gas lies a) in keeping the appliances in perfect working order; b) in learning to adjust them rapidly under all conditions; and c) in ensuring that every man is given immediate warning. These results can only be attained:<br \/> 1) By frequent and thorough inspection of all protective appliances. The inspections to be daily in the trenches.<br \/> 2) By thorough instruction and training in their use.<br \/> 3) By every man understanding and complying with all Standing Orders on the subject of defense against gas.<br \/> If these are effectively carried out, there is nothing to fear from hostile gas attacks. Officers must impress this on their men, since an important object of all anti-gas instruction should be to inspire complete confidence in the efficacy of the methods adopted. <\/p> \" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_014.jpg?fit=180%2C300&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_014.jpg?fit=615%2C1024&ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_014.jpg?w=139&h=232&ssl=1\" width=\"139\" height=\"232\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"139\" data-original-height=\"232\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"General Considerations\" alt=\"Introduction page with text.\" style=\"width: 139px; height: 232px;\" \/> <\/a> <div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\" itemprop=\"caption description\"> Introduction Page of Defensive Measures Against Gas Attacks <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 279px; height: 236px;\" data-original-width=\"279\" data-original-height=\"236\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/2017\/10\/04\/gassed\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_015\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"275\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"232\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"12924\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_015.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"4830,4069\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"IQ180","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1473891880","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.016666673547467","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"Carriage of Respirators, General Precautionary Measures\" data-image-description=\"<p>-8-<br \/> Standing Orders For Defense Against Gas.<br \/> I. — Carriage of Respirators.<br \/> II. — General Precautionary Measures.<br \/> -9-<br \/> III. — Action to be taken in the event of an enemy Gas Shell or Trench Mortar Bombardment.<br \/> IV. — After a Gas Shell or Trench Mortar Bombardment the following precautions will be observed. <\/p> \" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_015.jpg?fit=300%2C253&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_015.jpg?fit=840%2C708&ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_015.jpg?w=275&h=232&ssl=1\" width=\"275\" height=\"232\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"275\" data-original-height=\"232\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Carriage of Respirators, General Precautionary Measures\" alt=\"Two page text of pages 8 and 9.\" style=\"width: 275px; height: 232px;\" \/> <\/a> <div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\" itemprop=\"caption description\"> Pages 8 and 9 of Defensive Measures Against Gas Attacks <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 278px; height: 236px;\" data-original-width=\"278\" data-original-height=\"236\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/2017\/10\/04\/gassed\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_021\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"274\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"232\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"12925\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_021.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"4844,4096\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"IQ180","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1473892061","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.016666673547467","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"Entrance to Gas-Proof Dugout\" data-image-description=\"<p>-20-<br \/> Entrance to Gas-Proof Dugout.<br \/> -21-<br \/> only to his weapons, and that his life may depend on looking after them and keeping them in good order.<br \/> II. — When and where carried.<br \/> D. — PROTECTION OF SHELTERS.<br \/> I. — Methods of protection.<\/p> \" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_021.jpg?fit=300%2C254&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_021.jpg?fit=840%2C710&ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_021.jpg?w=274&h=232&ssl=1\" width=\"274\" height=\"232\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"274\" data-original-height=\"232\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Entrance to Gas-Proof Dugout\" alt=\"Diagram drawing on left page and text on right page.\" style=\"width: 274px; height: 232px;\" \/> <\/a> <div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\" itemprop=\"caption description\"> Pages 20 and 21 of Defensive Measures Against Gas Attacks <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <\/div> <!-- close row --> <\/div>\n<h3>\u201cKing of the battle gases\u201d<\/h3>\n<p>The chemical weapons race was at a stalemate by spring of 1917, because improved gas mask technology kept troops safe from the asphyxiating chlorine and phosgene gases; casualties occurred only when they were caught off guard and exposed before they got masks on. German researchers broke the impasse that year with something new and different: dichloroethylsulfide, also called \u201cmustard gas\u201d (for its odor), \u201cYperite\u201d (for the first place it was used), or \u201cYellow Cross\u201d (for the marking on the shells.) It wasn\u2019t actually a gas, but a volatilized oily liquid that could penetrate clothing and leather, and persist on buildings, equipment, and the ground for days. And within a few hours, it would produce incapacitating burns on any skin surface it touched, particularly the eyes and respiratory tract. The German army used mustard gas for the first time in July 1917, shelling Allied forces in the Ypres area repeatedly from July 12th to August 1st. As with the first chlorine gas attacks in 1915, the Allies were caught by surprise. The mustard gas (unlike chlorine) had no immediate irritating effect except to cause sneezing. Several hours later, however, many of the troops had developed painful blistering, including such severe eye inflammation that they were virtually blind and had to be led around by their comrades. (Lines of temporarily blinded soldiers outside the medical stations would become a common sight, captured in photographs and in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.iwm.org.uk\/collections\/item\/object\/23722\">John Singer Sargent\u2019s well-known painting <em>Gassed<\/em><\/a>, 1919.) During those first weeks, over 14,000 cases of gas poisoning arrived at the British casualty clearing stations, and about 500 of them died.<\/p>\n<p>Gas masks could protect the eyes and lungs from mustard gas, but everyone exposed to it had to get out of contaminated clothing, which had to be isolated and washed, and, then, ideally, wash with hot water, as well.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12941\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12941\" style=\"width: 840px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"12941\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/2017\/10\/04\/gassed\/degassing-station-14120390rx15\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/degassing-station-14120390rx15.jpg?fit=1876%2C1169&ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1876,1169\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"De-gassing Station in The medical department of the United States Army in the world war (Volume 14)\" data-image-description=\"<p>http:\/\/resource.nlm.nih.gov\/14120390RX15<\/p>\n\" data-image-caption=\"<p>De-gassing Station in The medical department of the United States Army in the world war (Volume 14), 1926<\/p>\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/degassing-station-14120390rx15.jpg?fit=300%2C187&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/degassing-station-14120390rx15.jpg?fit=840%2C523&ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-12941 size-large\" title=\"Plan of De-Gassing Station - Tent\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/degassing-station-14120390rx15.jpg?resize=840%2C523&ssl=1\" alt=\"Floorplan for a large tent for groups of soldiers to use to move through a washing and cleaning process.\" width=\"840\" height=\"523\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12941\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">De-gassing Station in <em><a href=\"http:\/\/resource.nlm.nih.gov\/14120390RX15\">The medical department of the United States Army in the world war (Volume 14)<\/a><\/em>, 1926<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12942\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12942\" style=\"width: 187px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"12942\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/2017\/10\/04\/gassed\/mustard-gas-burn-14120390rx15\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mustard-gas-burn-14120390rx15.jpg?fit=1169%2C1876&ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1169,1876\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}\" data-image-title=\"Mustard Gas Burn\" data-image-description=\"<p>http:\/\/resource.nlm.nih.gov\/14120390RX15<\/p>\n\" data-image-caption=\"<p>Mustard Gas Burn (Contact) of Neck in The medical department of the United States Army in the world war (Volume 14), 1926<\/p>\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mustard-gas-burn-14120390rx15.jpg?fit=187%2C300&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mustard-gas-burn-14120390rx15.jpg?fit=638%2C1024&ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-12942 size-medium\" title=\"Mustard Gas Burn\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mustard-gas-burn-14120390rx15.jpg?resize=187%2C300&ssl=1\" alt=\"An illustration of an extensive raw and damaged area of skin on a man's neck.\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12942\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mustard Gas Burn (Contact) of Neck in <em><a href=\"http:\/\/resource.nlm.nih.gov\/14120390RX15\">The medical department of the United States Army in the world war (Volume 14)<\/a><\/em>, 1926<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Mustard gas exposure was a challenge for medical officers at several levels. Because \u201cmustard\u201d could remain active for days, medical staff had to get the clothing off wounded soldiers quickly without getting the stuff on themselves. Mustard gas burns took much longer to heal than ordinary chemical or physical burns, prolonging the soldiers\u2019 time on sick leave, and increasing the chances of wound infection.<\/p>\n<p>And mustard gas didn\u2019t just dissipate with the wind, either\u2014it settled on the ground, coated tents and equipment and structures. If weather was warmer, it would evaporate and the vapors would still be toxic. In cooler weather, it would persist on the ground for weeks. Troops had to decontaminate everything, usually using chloride of lime or other neutralizing agents. And it was hard to see, and difficult to smell (the mustardy odor is faint) so there was a real danger of soldiers tracking it around and exposing others to it. [See instructions for clearing mustard gas in \u201cDefensive measures against gas attacks\u201d in the gallery above] Thus, although mustard gas didn\u2019t penetrate gas masks to any degree, it was an incredibly effective means of hampering enemy operations. It could inflict substantial long-term casualties, and complicated medical officers\u2019 triage work. And it required many hours of clean-up and decontamination, along with extra supplies, including uniforms.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tiled-gallery type-square tiled-gallery-unresized\" data-original-width=\"840\" data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":1,"permalink":"https:\\\/\\\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\\\/2017\\\/10\\\/04\\\/gassed\\\/","likes_blog_id":"52242398"}' itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageGallery\" > <div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 840px; height: 210px;\" data-original-width=\"840\" data-original-height=\"210\" > <div class=\"gallery-group\" style=\"width: 210px; height: 210px;\" data-original-width=\"210\" data-original-height=\"210\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item \" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/2017\/10\/04\/gassed\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_031\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"206\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"206\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"12926\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_031.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"4858,4110\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"IQ180","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1473892222","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.016666673547467","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"Gas Alarm devices, Method of use of Anti-Gas Fans\" data-image-description=\"<p>-40-<br \/> II. — Other gas alarm devices.<br \/> III. — Anti-gas fans.<br \/> Method of Use.<br \/> -41-<br \/> Special methods to be used after shelling with “Mustard gas” (Dichlorethylsulphide).<\/p> \" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_031.jpg?fit=300%2C254&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_031.jpg?fit=840%2C711&ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_031.jpg?w=206&h=206&crop=1&ssl=1\" width=\"206\" height=\"206\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"206\" data-original-height=\"206\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Gas Alarm devices, Method of use of Anti-Gas Fans\" alt=\"Two-page text.\" style=\"width: 206px; height: 206px;\" \/> <\/a> <div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\" itemprop=\"caption description\"> Pages 40 and 41 of Defensive Measures Against Gas Attacks <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <div class=\"gallery-group\" style=\"width: 210px; height: 210px;\" data-original-width=\"210\" data-original-height=\"210\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item \" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/2017\/10\/04\/gassed\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_039\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"206\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"206\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"12927\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_039.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"4858,4096\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"IQ180","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1473892309","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.016666673547467","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"Inspection of personal anti-gas equipment, box resirators, masks\" data-image-description=\"<p>-56-<br \/> General points on training with anti-gas appliances.<br \/> APPENDIX II.<br \/> INSPECTION OF PERSONAL ANTI-GAS EQUIPMENT.<br \/> A. — Box respirators.<br \/> -57-<br \/> B. — Masks.<\/p> \" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_039.jpg?fit=300%2C253&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_039.jpg?fit=840%2C708&ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_039.jpg?w=206&h=206&crop=1&ssl=1\" width=\"206\" height=\"206\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"206\" data-original-height=\"206\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Inspection of personal anti-gas equipment, box resirators, masks\" alt=\"Two-page text.\" style=\"width: 206px; height: 206px;\" \/> <\/a> <div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\" itemprop=\"caption description\"> Pages 56 and 57 of Defensive Measures Against Gas Attacks <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <div class=\"gallery-group\" style=\"width: 210px; height: 210px;\" data-original-width=\"210\" data-original-height=\"210\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item \" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/2017\/10\/04\/gassed\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_040\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"206\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"206\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"12928\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_040.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"4844,4082\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"IQ180","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1473892314","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.016666673547467","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"Instructions for the use of British anti-gas horse respiratior\" data-image-description=\"<p>-58-<br \/> APPENDIX III.<br \/> INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE USE OF BRITISH ANTI-GAS HORSE RESPIRATOR.<br \/> I. — Description<br \/> II. — Method of use.<br \/> -59-<\/p> \" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_040.jpg?fit=300%2C253&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_040.jpg?fit=840%2C708&ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_040.jpg?w=206&h=206&crop=1&ssl=1\" width=\"206\" height=\"206\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"206\" data-original-height=\"206\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Instructions for the use of British anti-gas horse respiratior\" alt=\"Two-page text.\" style=\"width: 206px; height: 206px;\" \/> <\/a> <div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\" itemprop=\"caption description\"> Pages 58 and 59 of Defensive Measures Against Gas Attacks <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <div class=\"gallery-group\" style=\"width: 210px; height: 210px;\" data-original-width=\"210\" data-original-height=\"210\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item \" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/2017\/10\/04\/gassed\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_041\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"206\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"206\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"12929\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_041.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"4858,4137\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"IQ180","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1473892320","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.016666673547467","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"Illustrations of a horse respirator.\" data-image-description=\"<p>-61-<br \/> APPENDIX IV.<br \/> TYPICAL STANDING ORDERS FOR COMPANY GAS N.C. O.’s.<\/p> \" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_041.jpg?fit=300%2C255&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_041.jpg?fit=840%2C715&ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_041.jpg?w=206&h=206&crop=1&ssl=1\" width=\"206\" height=\"206\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"206\" data-original-height=\"206\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Illustrations of a horse respirator.\" alt=\"Three drawing of a horse on left page and text on right page.\" style=\"width: 206px; height: 206px;\" \/> <\/a> <div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\" itemprop=\"caption description\"> Page 61 of Defensive Measures Against Gas Attacks <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n<p>Several dozen chemical agents were developed as weapons between 1914 and 1918. Some, like chlorine and phosgene, were asphyxiants, which caused massive <a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/article\/000140.htm\">edema in the lungs<\/a> and obstructed breathing. Many others were \u201clachrymators\u201d (tear gas) or caused sneezing or vomiting. Vesicants such as mustard gas (and lewisite, developed by the U. S. late in the war) inflicted blistering burns. Chlorine, phosgene, and mustard were used most extensively, and sometimes mixed together for added effect. Over the course of the war, chemical weapons accounted for about 1,300,000 casualties, including 91,000 deaths. This was only about 5% of the war\u2019s total casualties.<\/p>\n<p>Chemical weapons were developed and used in the Great War despite several international agreements (in 1899 and 1907) that poisons would not be used in war. The Geneva Protocol, prohibiting the use of both chemical and biological weapons, was signed in 1925 and took effect in 1928. Nevertheless, most countries continued to develop, manufacture, and stockpile chemical weapons; expecting that some nation would fail to honor the agreement, they wanted to be prepared.<\/p>\n<p><em>Through 2018, <\/em>Circulating Now<em> will periodically publish posts featuring NLM collections that illuminate the medical history of <a href=\"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/category\/series\/the-great-war\/\">The Great War<\/a>, which lasted from August 1914 to November 1918.<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Susan Speaker, PhD, is Historian for the Digital Manuscripts Program of the History of Medicine Division at the National Library of Medicine.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Susan Speaker ~ World War I is notable for the size of the armies involved, the huge number of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114947422,"featured_media":13403,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Gassed! - World War I saw large scale use of chemical warfare and the development of mustard gas #WW1","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[12763,347145303,1269102],"tags":[490,233805,13460426,488,103772,110820],"class_list":["post-12920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-collections","category-rare-books-journals","category-the-great-war","tag-animals","tag-chemical-weapons","tag-gas-warfare","tag-military","tag-warfare","tag-world-war-i"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/nlm_msc155_bx9_fl10_041_feature.jpg?fit=900%2C400&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/s3xcDk-gassed","jetpack-related-posts":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12920","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/114947422"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12920"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12920\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13017,"href":"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12920\/revisions\/13017"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} |