The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-09
Humanity and War.

URING the civil wal a certain
VOJ New York chemist. a college pro-
lessor, submitted a proposition
to the war department contemplating
the use Of highly poisonous gases con-
densed into a shell which would be
broken by conclusion when II fell
among the enemy. Tn gas was to kill
some and Supply others so h a they
could easily be taken alive. The chem
list claimed that he had tried the inven-
ton upon animals with results that
were simply astonishing, and he ad-
vocated its adoption by the government
on humane grounds. But the govern
ment promptly rejected 1t on those very
grounds--it would be violative of the
principles of humans warfare" the
war authorities would not even con-
sent TO give the invention a trial.
This chemist has since died. N for
aught we know the invention died with
him. His name was Brown. Prof. J. j.
Brown-may his soul 60 marching on.
There are men in Montana who re-
member Brown. though their ~forgetful-
ness of his lectures on chemistry Is
about as complete and comprehensive
as IL well could be. The present war
has brought to the front a Philadelphia
physician with notions of humane war
fare almost as outre as those OF the
good old college professor. 1t has been
demonstrated hat the velocity and
penetrating force of the perfected small
caliber bullet is so great that IL will pass
! through a mans body without his be-
ing aware Of II Immediately. unless It
strikes and skaters a bone. This Phil
adelphia physician believes he has de-
vised a means by which the suffering
OF a soldier wounded by one of these
missiles can be greatly mitisated. His
scheme is to attach a small wad OF
antiseptic cotton to the read end of the
bullet. This would be covered by the
shell OF the cartridge n would not in
terfere with the loading or firing. He
argues that as the bullet perforates the
man. the antiseptic wad following its
course will prevent suppuration and
blood poisoning and will tend to save
the lives of the wounded.
But the tendency of modern warfare
is TO drop the little missiles for the big
ones. II would take a tremendously
big antiseptic wad to accompany the
output of a lo-inch gun, or of a sub
marine mine, and really IL is not clear
how the antiseptic under such circum-
stances could get its work in. In land
engagements the antiseptic wad might
be more serviceable providing it is es'
tablished that the object of a battle IL
10 wound and not to Kill. With thu
Spaniards for an enemy. most Ameri
can soldiers shoot to kill and may re
gard the antiseptic wad as n positive
nuisance. 1t would be more to the pur
pose. perhaps. IL the Philadelphia doc
tor would devote his energies TO the dis
covery Of some antiseptic that could b
used eficaciously on a nations wound
ed honor.
Speaking of humane feelings In moo
ern warfare. what a glorious exhibition
Dewey is giving in taking care OF tn
wounded Spaniards within his lines
, And what a curious coincidence ther
is In the fact that the number of thes
wounded Spaniards corresponds almos
, exactly with the number OF American
treacherously murdered In the Main
explosion. This is a war OF sharpe,
contrasts.