Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-02
Lord Northcliffe's
Repeated Assertions
of What He Sa1u on
the Firing Line and Scientific
Explanation of How Ether Works or
the Nerves and Muscles of Soldier

TOR many months mysterious and in
definite reports have come from
the battlefclds OF Europe that the
German infantry were hcins sent for.
ward out OF the trenches under the in
fuence OF drugs The first definite state.
mcnt as 10 the exact nature OF the drug
which WAS being used came the other
day from Lord Nor,hclihe. the proprietor
OF HE London Times and Daily Mail.
This distinguished British editor was
given the unusual privilege Of visiting
the battlefront at Verdun. So complete
an opportunity OF observation was given
Lord Northcifc that he was permitted
10 go forward even into the first line
trenches, where he could look across
harrow intervening space and watch each
separate rifle shot from the German front
line trench.
From so good an authority, so close an
observer and so responsible a man we
have this statement in Lord Northclitfe's
own written words:
The ether with which they were
druggcd before facing the French and the
giant guns. 1000 in number. under whose
fire they advanced. alone enabled them 10
survive the terror under the influence OF
which some OF them were almost unable
TO speak
Still further Lord Northclife says:
This week Thursday was black day
for Germany. when, druggcd with ether.
the men came on in mass formation TO be
mown down ny the French 75s and ma
chine guns"
Another significant observation was
his remark that the German prisoners
who escaped the raking fire OF the French
75s presented wild. haSSard. terrified
appearance that would move heart Of
stone"
If the German troops are druS2ed, is
there any drug which would provide a
temporary false courage and Indifference
TO danger and yet not react with dis.
astrous results? Does ether fulfill the re-
quirements?
with wide experience in surgery and the
use of anaesthetics, when questioned. did
not hesitate TO say that ether would
have the effect described. Being an
American Of somewhat pro.German SYM
pathes. he was inclined to resent the
suggestion Of Lord Northciffe that it
was necessary TO drug the German SOL
dicrs in this manner, but nevertheless he
declared THAT ether in liquid form in
small doses could certainly be admins
tered TO give men an abnormal reckless
ness.
The important point about ether is that
it stimulates mans motor centres and
dcprcsses his sensory centres. thus max
ing him abnormally active and daring,
while rendering him more or less unoon.
scious OF impressions of pain and terror
There seems no doubt said this ply
z cian. that the war has brought into
wider scope than ever before the use of
powerful drugs. Not only have the medi-
cal corps Of the various armies given
their attention 10 the most effective way
Of alleviating pain and suffering, but the
soldiers themselves have been brought 10
closer study of their own anatomy than
ever before. Hundreds of thousands Of
men lying for months inert in trenches
have doubtless discussed among them
selves every form and possibility of min
imizing by artificial means their own un
happy condition.
dutch courage attained through The
use Of alcohol has long been familiar 1t
was always the custom, and may be still
as far as know in other navies than