We have, as you all know been making preparation for defence against gas for a long time, but we have also been continually hoping that it will not be used. We must remember though, that we are fighting an Enemy who will stop at nothing provided he can gain his own ends – if the Nazis think they can conquer us or even obtain a military advantage by the use of Gas, then I have no doubt they will try it. Again if the enemy does use Gas it may not be long before he makes the attempt.
The Home Secretary stated in his broadcast a few weeks ago “Gas is contrary to the Laws of War and the principles of Humanity and though Germany states it is not going to be the first to use it, this promise like all the others which it has made cannot be believed” We must be prepared for whatever horror a devilish and inverted mind can invent.
Gas, if used as a weapon against an unprepared country can be deadly, but this country is prepared – every citizen has been provided with adequate protection and if this is used by everyone, then Gas, if employed, can be nothing more than a nuisance.
It may be used for the sole purpose of causing panic, but this will not occur if we take all the precautions which have been made available to us, and at the same time, use common sense.
It is impossible to say what kind of Gas will be used, but whatever it may be, we are prepared.
There are four main groups into which the best known War Gases can be placed namely: – Tear Gases, Nose Irritants, Lung Irritants and Blister Gases of these Tear Gases and Nose Irritants can be regarded as merely nuisance gases, although they produce symptoms which can be both distressing and alarming they are not very deadly when used by themselves. On the other hand Lung Irritants and Blister Gases can be very deadly.
The Tear Gases, which are also called Eye Irritants or Lachrymators act, as the name implies upon the eyes. They may cause intense smarting and profuse flow of tears, but they do not normally affect any permanent damage although the symptoms produced are extremely distressing.
The Nose Irritants or sneezing Gases are usually what are known as Arsenical Smokes and these may give rise to intense pain in the nose, throat and chest, which may be accompanied by nausea and mental depression; but like the Tear Gases the effect is only temporary although though the symptoms develop slowly and may continue for some hours after exposure to the gas.
The Lung Irritants, sometimes spoken of as Choking Gases, Asphyxiants or Suffocants attack the respiratory system. In a fair concentration they are highly lethal. They irritate the throat and Lungs, causing coughing and difficulty in breathing and in severe cases give rise to acute inflammation of the lungs – in fact it has been known for the victims to appear quite alright for some hours after exposure and then to have a sudden collapse which would most likely prove to be fatal.
The Blister Gases or Vesicants are also known as Skin Irritants, and they exert an aggressive action on all parts of the body with which they come in contact – Eyes Lungs, Skin etc causing intense irritation, and in severe cases deep and extensive blistering – Their effect is more or less delayed, a circumstance which makes them doubly dangerous. There may not be noticed any immediate irritation, the symptoms only developing some time after exposure and when it is too late to take protective measures. To this group belong the much talked of Mustard gas and Lewisite.
Against all these gases, as I stated earlier, every member of the public has been provided with adequate protection.
The Respirators which have been issued, if prompt use is made of them, will definitely protect your eyes and prevent you from breathing in any gas which is likely to be used. That is all very well you might say, but what protection have we for our skin against Mustard Gas which is a Blister? This again presents very little difficulty so far as you are concerned as the so-called Mustard Gas is really a liquid and the only real danger to the skin when it actually comes in contact with it. If this should occur the effects can be neutralised by the prompt application of either Bleach Paste or Anti-Gas ointment No. 2.
In this connection should Mustard Gas be used the Ministry of Home Security has asked every Retail Chemist in the Country to cooperate by placing pails of Bleach Paste outside his premises so that members of the public, if they think they have been splashed, may help themselves and apply this to the affected parts immediately.
I might say in passing that every Chemist in Dorking has volunteered to give this service. At the same time every first aid and Wardens Post has supplies of Anti-Gas Ointment. You will see that adequate provision has been made to protect you in this way. – There is also a danger of Mustard contaminating clothes and footwear which have come in contact with it, so that it would be necessary that these should be properly decontaminated. Here again ample provision has been made by the Local Authority to undertake this task. You are therefore provided for in every case and there is no need for alarm.
You will remember that I divided the Four Groups of War Gases into two main categories – The Tear Gases and Nose Irritants and the Lung Irritants and Blisters and I and I also called them the Nuisance Gases and the Lethal Gases.
There can be no object in using one of the Nuisance Gases by itself in attacks against the Civil population but they may be used to cause inconvenience and discomfort with an ulterior purpose. For instance, if you have been exposed to one of these for a short time before you have been able to put on your Respirator, the symptoms will be such as to make the wearing of it extremely difficult and uncomfortable so you may be tempted to take it off to try and relieve some of those symptoms, – therein may lie the danger for in the meantime one of the more lethal gases may have been used and the taking off of your Respirator would exposure to this, and the result might be fatal. The most subtle type of nuisance gas to use in this way would, in my opinion be one of the nose irritants as the action in the first place is only a slight irritation in the nose, but all the other symptoms would develop after you had put on your Respirator i.e. sneezing neuralgia throat irritation with an intense headache, and depression; all of which might make you imagine you are still breathing in the gas.
The advice here is regardless of any symptoms you may experience keep your Respirator on and remain quiet until all the symptoms have passed off, and don’t take off your Respirator until you have been informed that it is safe to do so.
In brief conclusion I cannot do better than repeat the words of Mr Gordon Clark – Carry your Respirator always [you never know when you may need it.] Practise putting it on [so that you can learn to do this quickly] and wear it frequently [in order to become accustomed to it]. And finally, in the event of a gas attack remain indoors if at all possible.
