Air raid precaution appliances / Roberts, McLean & Co. Ltd.

  • Roberts, McLean & Co. Ltd.
Date:
[1938?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Air raid precaution appliances / Roberts, McLean & Co. Ltd. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    INTRODUCTION ITHIN the last twenty years, people have become gas- \ \ conscious. Time was when a wet handkerchief or piece of cloth over the nose and mouth was considered sufficient protection for firemen when meeting the toxic gases to be found at every outbreak of fire. That such primitive protection saved their lives was due to the concentration of the gases being too low to kill. The War did most, probably, to make people gas-conscious, -and since its end in 1918, industry has done much to educate the masses in the need to protect themselves against the gases associated with various commercial processes from cellulose spraying down to the storage of petrol and dangerous chemicals. Political developments of late have further increased this gas- consciousness and have focussed attention on the use of gas in a military sense with the view to the imposing of one nation’s will on the other; the gas dissemination being by means of aircraft. As a leading politician said early last year, “‘ the Bomber will always get through,’ and the best concentration of defence forces will not be able to prevent some hostile aircraft penetrating our defences and dropping gas bombs of all types, as well as high explosive and incendiary shells. That Bombers will get through and discharge their cargoes on big cities is fairly certain, and all that can be done is to find protection for both armed and civilian peoples. That such protection is available should be known without delay, and, moreover, it must be protection against all known gases that will be met with in War. It is interesting to note that, while much is known of most Chemical Warfare methods, very little is known about this new method, vwiz., Gas. Few are aware of the appearance, odours, symptoms of infection and contamination of the several military gases, and fewer know anything of protection against them. Some comfort themselves with “it may never happen,’ while others become resigned to possible fate. 6 , Maintaining the “‘ morale’’ of a people during the early days of the next War is all important and will mean the winning of the conflict, and it should be stated, at once, that knowledge of gases and their effects will enable the average citizen to withstand the early shocks of raids and thus avoid the panic that would spell demoralisa- tion. In addition, there is the personal factor of self-preservation. ROBERTS, McLEAN & CO.LTD.4, LLOYDS AVENUE, LONDON, E.C.3. GNC IN INDIA).
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