The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-02

WASHINGTON, d. G. March Zine
Conference for the Limitation OF Arm
aments, recently concluded here
agreed upon a treaty ending the use
of the gas in warfare and upon chem-
zeal warfare generally. Until the sen
ate ratifies this treaty 1t viii not De
binding upon the United States, Oh
course, and there is strong opposition
TO ratification from those who contend
that troops and ships could be rem
dered ineffective easily and Win iar
fewer deaths and permanent injuries
through the use of chemicals than WIN
the older weapons of war
At this time, though, the Chem.cai
Warfare Service is turning It's atten-
ton to peace time uses OF the COM
binations of chemicals worked out dur
ing the war
Before the war Germany had pract-
ically a world monopoly in many chem
ical lines. So far as the United States
is concerned, its new chemical indus
try, while growing tremendously, is
classed as an infant industry. An in
dustrial war between the German
chemical houses and American man
ufacturers is in progress now. This
fact has helped to stimulate the Army
TO finding peace uses for war gases.
Phosgene gas, described as the most
effective weapon of this sort devised
during the war. is now being used In
the manufacture of perfume. 1t is be-
ing converted into delicate, penetra-
ting and lasting perfume which is eX-
pected to gain considerable popularity.
In the work of converting chemicals
TO the uses of peace and industry, the
Chemical Warfare Service is cooperat-
ing with the Treasury department, the
Department of the Interior, the Depart
ment of Agriculture, and the Depart
ment of Commerce, as well as the Bur-
eau of Standards. One or more coop
erative projects with each of these
governmental agencies has been under
taken.
Ship Fumigation Experiments
With the Treasury Department there
has been taken up the question of
fumigating ships, with the idea of max
ing this fumigation more efficient and
at the same time safer. At pres
ent, hydrocyanic acid is urged for this
purpose, The great trouble with it
is that after fumigation it is difficult
to determine that this highly poison
Gus gas has been removed from all
parts of the ship. 1t is not readily de-
tected by odor or otherwise. Deaths
now and then occur from some one
entering a compartment from which
all of the fumigating gas has not been
removed.
Then occurred the idea of combining
tear gas with the poisonous hydro
cyanic acid gas. Cooperative exper
tad xrrif1 ic
end in view. Difficulties have arisen
as is usually the case in this expert
mental work. but these difficulties are
being ironed out rapidly, and there
is promise that the Public Health Ser
vice of the Treasury Department soor
will have at it's command ship FUN
igation method much safer to human
life than that which has been used.
Phosgene gas to kill rats is beins
experienced with, too In one exper
jment undertaken with the Public
Health Service this gas was useC
against the rats in the seawall at Sal
Juan, Porto Rico. The experiment wa,
pronounced officially as "of value" al
the determination of rats in seaport:
is one of the principal means of guard
ing the country against the entry o
plague.
In the experiments undertaken will
the department of the interior, the us,
of the gas mask for Industrial pur
poses is being developed. Close coop
Grafton exists between the bureau o
mines and the chemical warfare ser
vice. Many ideas of great value il
the use of the gas mask in industr,
have been developed. notably the dis
coyery of 'hopcalite," which when pu
in the canister of gas mask, change
the deadly carbon monoxide gas or
countered in mines and about bias
furnaces into harmless carbon dioxide
Making Ice Plants Safe
The use of ammonia in hotels, res
taurants, ice plants and the like 70
refrigerating purposes has become e.
tensive. Ammonia gas is used in II
dustry under high pressure, and whe
leak occurred it was formerly in
possible for anyone to enter the roor