Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-03-02

ence for the limitation of ornaments,
recently concluded here, agreed upon
a treaty ending the use Of the gas
in warfare and upon chemical warfare
generally. Until the senate ratifies this
treaty 1t will not be binding upon the
United States, of course, and there is
strong opposition to ratification from
those who contend that troops and
ships could be rendered ineffective
permanent injuries through the use of
chemicals than with older weapons of
war.
At this time, though, the chemical
warfare service is turning its attention
to peace time uses of the combinations
Of chemicals worked out during the
war.
Before the war Germany had prac-
tically world monopoly in many chem
zeal 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 manu-
facturers 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 a delicate, penetrat-
ing and lasting violet perfume which
is expected to gain considerable popu-
larity.
In the work of converting chemicals
to the uses Of peace and industry, the
chemical warfare service is co-operat-
ing with the treasury department, the
department Of the interior, the depart
ment Of agriculture, and the depart
ment Of commerce, rs well as the bu
reau Of standards. One or more CO.
governmental agencies has been under
taken.
Ship Fumigation Experiments
With the treasury department there
has been taken up the question of fumi-
eating ships, with the idea of making
this fumigation more efficient and at
the same time safer. At present, hydro
cyanic acid gas is used for this pur-
pose. The great trouble with it is that
after fumigation it is difficult to deter
mine that this highly poisonous gas has
been removed from all parts of the
ship. 1t is not readily detected by
odor or otherwise. Deaths now and
chen occur from some one entering
Il compartment from which all of the
gas has not been removed,
Then occurred the idea of combin-
ing tear gas with the poisonous hydro
cyanic acid gas Cooperative expert
ments are being conducted with this
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 publir health service
of the treasury department soon win
method much safer to human life than
that which has been used.
Phosgene gas to kill rats is being
experimental with, too. In one cx-
pertinent undertaken. with the public
health service this gas was used against
the rats in the seawnll at San Juan,
Porto Rico. The cxperimnt was pro-
nounced officially as ''of value" as the
determination of rats in seaports is
one of the principal means Of guarding
the country against the entry of plague.
In the experiments undertaken with
the department Of the interior, the use
of the gas masks for industrial pur-
poses is being developed Close CO
operation exists between the bureau of
mines and the chemical warfare serv-
ice Many ideas o. great value in the
use of the gas mask in industry have
been developed. notably the discovery
of ''hopcalite," which when nut in the
canister Of q gas mask, changes the
deadly carbon monoxide gas encount-
cred in mines and about blast furnaces
into harmless carbon dioxide.
Making Ice Plants Safe
The use Of ammonia in hotels. rest