Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-17
GIVE OFF DEADLY FUMES.
WHICH CAUSE HAVOC

The large bottles contained the va
rioUs forms OF liquid gas, direct from
the front, and in varying degrees Of
strength. Most OF them showed q
volatile ycllowish liquid, which. on
being exposed To the air, gave off the
deadly gases which have wrought such
havoc. There We're three distinct
groups OF these gases: first, those
bursting into tame and commonly
known rs liquid lame: second the tear
producing gases, which d" no, xiii OF
permanently main but Which - blind
:. column of onrushinS troop, ,llrt the!
become helpless and are brought 20 i
halt: and, third. the actual poison gas
which suffocatcs and Kills with ten
times the horror OF :, bullet or shell.
This last. IL is the belief OF military
experts, is n barbarism OF warfare
which must 90 ultimately banned by
the universal sentiment OF civiliza-
ton. But they are equally of the be-
lief that tho lesser forms Of gas
which do not Kill. but merely inter-
rupt tho forward progress Of al at
iack-arc "a permanent element OF de
'-uSivc military strategy which must
lie taken into confederation IN future
,:,Iiolr
This is tho leas; deadly" exclaimed
the chief chemist, as he presented ono
of the bottles containing the iuflan-
mntory gas lie drew the glass stopper
very cauti"usly and Colonel Cosby
took a slight Whit Of the gas. II was
not ovcrpowcring or violent in its cf-
feCt-only a punSent odor OF ether.
Now the second class OF gases were
rcachcd--thc tear producing gases
and these. too were tested in the same
al DN-
ing, but gave the same sharp odor of
ether and a pcrceptiblc effect on the
eyes colonel Cosby was beginning to
think the gases were not So bad after
all.
They had now reached the poison
gas-,he dcac,y gas. which clutches
and kills. The chemist paused
You will not try this he said
appenlinGly.
Yes. AL Of them" said tho colonel
positively, recalling the rather agree
able punscnt odor OF the. other gases.
Then we must be very cautious"
said the chemist. place yourself
about a foot away from the bottle.
will raise the glass stopper the slight
est possible fraction OF an inch so
that only an insignificant portion Of
gas can escapc-but it will be enough.
Now, ready!
INFINITESIMtL PORTION
PROVES ONERPOWf,RING
He drew the stopper the slightest
particle. with Colonel Cosby a foot
away. But in that instant the colonel
felt nc had been hurled back twenty
feet. Tongues Of fire were eating AT
his throat, aud 10000 needles were
darting around his neck 1t seemed
as though live vitriol had emptied i'm
his mouth and was coursinE through
his veins. His whole vocal system was
paralyZed This inflnitesmal portion
of the deadly gas had in an instant,
overpowcrcd him.
1t was some little time before Colo
mel Cosby was in n position to discuss
HIS tests. Tho chief chemist said the
effect would continue some hours and
probably some days. 1t would be most
Observable. he said, in eating or drink
ing.
Colonel Cosby took an auto home. his
throat still on fire, but not otherwise
physically affected. That night every
mouthful Of dinner had the unfnistak-
able taste OF the poison gas: each
draft OF water had the Same taste
OF the deadly gas, and even the pufrs
OF a cigar had tho taste of.so many