The name is absent

300 Science and Human Welfare
which prohibited the use of poison gases, would be wantonly-
broken. But in April, 1915, the Germans launched the first
gas attack. The military situation had reached a stalemate
and the vast stage was set. With all weather conditions cor-
rect, several thousand cylinders of chlorine gas, previously
installed in the German trenches, were opened. The poison-
ous gas, drifting over the soldiers of two French divisions
was so unexpected, so powerful in its effects, so sudden, that
the men who were not overcome fled in terror and confusion.
The attack was devastating in its effects. The German troops
were able to penetrate, unopposed, to a depth of three miles
where they entrenched. Had they pushed on, they might
have been able to reach the sea, thus breaking the blockade
which slowly but surely was starving Germany into sub-
mission.

From that day each warring nation mobilizes its chemists
to devise offensive and defensive methods of chemical war-
fare. Thousands of compounds have been investigated to
determine their suitability, but the requirements which
chemical warfare agents must possess are so specific and
rigid that not more than a score have been found to have
value. Chlorine is an irritant. It causes inflammation of the
respiratory organs, produces quick disability, and may cause
death. Phosgene or carbonyl chloride is a colorless gas having
a sweetish odor. It, too, is a lung irritant. It is much more
toxic than chlorine. The next development was the use of
chloropicrin, which causes nausea and made it impossible to
keep the gas-mask in position. Mustard gas, or beta chlor-
ethyl, dissolves in skin or lung tissue and produces serious
burns. It is a highly effective casualty producer. Lewisite is
another dangerous agent. The lacrimators, or tear gases,
produce a copious flow of tears and intense eye pains. The
Army chemists have developed a standard gas mask which

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