Army medical services in the field / [War Office].

Date:
1950
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Army medical services in the field / [War Office]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ivd Nerve gases 444, These are colourless and odourless liquids which give off non-irritant, invisible vapours possessing either a very faint odour or none at all. 445. They are absorbed into the body by all routes, from the lungs, through skin and all mucous surfaces; the liquid penetrates ordinary fabric. The rate of absorption is greater when exposure is to liquid than to vapour or aerosol, since vapours and aerosols are always diluted to a greater or less extent with air. Absorption is particularly rapid through the conjunctive and through breaches of skin surface. 446. Detection of nerve gases is by a chemical test which however does not act quickly enough to give adequate pre-warning of the presence of the gas, as the effects develop so rapidly. Consequently, in any bombardment, when in doubt, it will be necessary to wear the respirator. 447. The effects of nerve gases are upon function, not structure ; they cause no local irritation and no gross damage to tissue. They interrupt the paths along which nervous control of the body by the brain is maintained and stimulate uncontrolled activity at the periphery by destroying cholinesterase, an enzyme which is vital to the orderly transmission of nervous impulses. Respiratory function is severely disorganised, and, if the amount absorbed is large enough, rapid death from anoxia follows unless energetic measures to combat this are taken. Although it is anticipated that the actual fatalities relative to the number exposed will be few, nevertheless all those exposed will be temporarily disabled (unless adequately protected) by the harassing effects described in. para. 449, 448. The potent effect of nerve gases on morale must also be taken into account. Whereas the victims of poisoning with mustard or phosgene usually die out of sight in medical units some time after- wards, those absorbing a fatal quantity of nerve gas die in the field in full view of their comrades. This is liable to have a profound effect on others simultaneously exposed, although suffering from effects of less severity; further, in the initial stages of the use of these gases, widespread alarm may be caused by exaggerated accounts of their toxicity. 449, Although fairly heavy concentrations of vapour are needed to produce fatal effects, harassing actions of a disabling character follow comparatively brief exposure to low concentrations. These consist of headache, rhinorrhoea, nausea, difficulty in breathing, extreme miosis and spasm of accommodation, so that vision is markedly impaired, particularly at dusk, and focusing upon near