The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-06-05

as turpentine. In contact with the
skin it's presence is at first not no.
ticed. Then there begins the burning
and swelling which prompted its
nickname among the Tommies. 1t
spreads through the tissues, and on
reaching the lungs breaks them
down, setting up what is called
"chemical" pneumonia, usually fatal.
Nethvl is somewhat more volatile,
and is comparable in that regard with
benzol. Instead of being inoffensive
at first contact, it sets up an acute
and almost uncomfortable pain. 1t does
not spread through the tissues, but
poisons the blood and attacks first
the kidneys, then the heart and
lungs. 1t hardens the cell tissues of
the lungs. and causes simultaneously
strangulation and a heart affection
which speedily produces violent
death. If taken into the lungs by
inhalation in any perceptible guam
titles it kills almost instantly. 1t is
estimated to be y times deadlier
than mustard.
The processes of manufacturing the
two poisons differ radically. 1t is not
permissible even now to tell what
basis is used for methyl, but its man
ufacture from the raw material re-
quires but short time. The equip
ment is elaborate. No fear is felt that
experimenters will be able to make
such a gas. That the United States
came to know of such poison was
due, in the first place, to an accident.
Years ago a student of chemistry,
then living in another country, nap
pened upon combination which al
most cost him his life. 1t was COM
pound never made before, or at least
never recorded. subsequently he
came to this country, and when the
question of poison gasses came to
the fore he recalled his narrow es-
cape and impaired the information to
the government. The production of
methyl resulted.
Not one worker died from poison
ing. In large measure this was due
to the precautions enforced by Capt.
George A. Plummer, physician from
the Mayo institute, whose work was
the care of lives in an institution ded-
icated to the destruction of life. But,
in addition to those precautions, a
mask and suit of clothing was de-
vised which afforded protection
against methyl Defensive work went
hand in hand with the offensive
work. None of the gas masks in
vented to save lives from mustard gas
and the other poisons was effective
against methyl. 1t is certainty that
even now, should it ever become nee
essary to use this poison in warfare,
the enemy would be long time in
finding way to protect himself. But
the workers themselves were equip
ped with uniform and face cover
ing which afforded safety.
The work went ahead with remark
able rapidity. An entire plant was
supplied with an equipment such as
had never been used before. To COM
plete the plant required three
months. The speed accomplished was
due to the fact that the biggest in
dustries in the United States fitted
for that kind of work put themselves
behind Uncle Sam in his war effort.
Col. F. NJ. Dorsey, former chemi-
cal engineer of the National Lamp
Works of the General Electric COM
pany, graduate of Ohio State uni
versity in 1908, and. a man who add
ed courage and tremendous driving
energy to his specialized technical
ability, became chief of the develop
ment division under General Sibert.
The General Electric company per-
mitted him to give all his time to the
work. NJ. W. Allen and Mr.. Bachelor
of the National Carbon company, F.
S. Terry and B. G. Tremaine, general
managers of the National Lamp
Works, and J. E. Randall, its consult
ing engineer, offered their facilities
and met all the expenses involved,
under an agreement to be reimbursed
later at the convenience of the wars
department. This was to save the
time which would have been con-
sumed in waiting for appropriations.
Time was as precious as poison gas
in those days; and to the efforts of
these men can be credited much of
the success of the development divi-
sion of the service.