Medical manual of chemical warfare, 1943 / War Office.

  • Great Britain. War Office
Date:
1943
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical manual of chemical warfare, 1943 / War Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    45/100 page 45
    * 45 Chloracetophenone is a very stable compound which does not decompose on heating or detonation ; its lacrimatory effects, however, are soon lost by reason of its condensation to the solid, inert state soon after the initial dispersion, and it is therefore classed among the non- persistent gases. It is used exten- sively in gas training schools. 57. Methods of dispersion of lacrimators. The liquid lacrimators may be dispersed by shell or bomb, or by mechanical spraying for purposes of ground contamination. The solid C.A.P. can be dispersed from generators by means of heat, or it may be sprayed, in solution, from the exhaust pipes of internal combustion engines. It is, however, unsuit- able for use in shell. For training purposes, small capsules containing solid C.A.P. are heated over a flame to evolve the gas, while in certain countries effective use of this compound is made by the police against mobs. A variety of more or less harmless weapons such as lacrimatory pistols and hand bombs are employed for this purpose. 58. Action of lacrimators. Exposure to any of these lacrimators gives rise to an immediate, acute and localized irritation of the sensory nerve-endings on the corneal and con- junctival surfaces, which may vary from a mild irritation to an intense stinging sensation according to the concentration. Through reflex action, this is fol- lowed by profuse watering of.the eyes and spasm of the eyelids, and the latter may be so acute as to render it impossible to keep the eyes open. With a rise in the concentration of the vapour, further effects may make their appearance. The irritant action of the gas on the respiratory passages and lungs produces a burning feeling in the throat and discomfort in the chest, and, if the exposure be continued, nausea and vomiting may result. Ethyliodoacetate is less irritating to the respiratory tract than chloro- acetophenone. The latter, however, unlike the liquid lacrimators, will irritate the bare skin, especially if it be hot and moist. As a tule, persons exposed to lacrimators do not exhibit more grave symptoms than those described above, as the very high concentrations neces- sary to produce lung lesions are not met with in the field. In confined spaces, however, where the actual liquid may be splashed on the skin, or the gas inhaled in high concentration worse results may be expected. These vary from severe conjunctivitis, with tracheitis and bronchitis from the effects of the vapour, to blistering of the skin, keratitis and corneal opacities after con- tamination with the liquid. 59. Protection against lacrimators. The respirator affords complete protection to both eyes and lungs against all concentrations of tear gases likely to be met. The use of goggles alone is not recommended, as, in addition to the liability of leakage and constant dimming, they offer no protection to the respiratory tract. The irritant action of C.A.P. and other solid lacrimators on the hot, moist skin is not sufficiently intense in temperate climates to necessitate the use of special protective garments. 60. Treatment of tear gas casualties. In the great majority of cases, adjustment of the respirator will suffice to alleviate the symptoms, and, usually, to clear up the condition completely. Experience has shown that even after severe exposures all symptoms disappear within 12 hours. No treatment is likely to be necessary, and there should be
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