Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-03
Chemists Blost Secrecy
In Germ War Research
Society Declares Policies
Hamper U. 5. Defense Plans
By Thomas R. Henry


Russian troops captured Germany,s
biological warfare research center at
the end Of the war. together with some
OF the major German technologists and
their records.
Presumably whatever techniques had
been devised to spread death by disease
through civilian populations have been
added to those Of Russia itself, whose
scientists have been working in this
Held for more than 20 years.
This capture of the German Rheims
Institute in the Soviet invasion of the
Reich is revealed in the American
Chemical Society's Chemical and Engi-
neering News. coupled with an appeal
for keeping the public better informed
on the present status Of germs as weap-
ons-especially what this country is do
ing. The Army is conducting crucial
experiments on both offensive and de-
fensive aspects at Camp DERRICK, near
Frederick, Md, but hardly a hint has
been allowed to escape on actual ac-
complishments.
Secrecy Criticized.
This secrecy. declares the chemical
society's official journal, "does not con-
fuse any potential enemy" Instead it
hampers development of sound Amer
lean defense plans. 1t has, the journal
declares, lied to exaggerated claims and
wild flights of fancy. A story to the
effect that there are new types of germs
and poisons so powerful that thimble-
full could kill millions of people Is Q
typical example of twisted facts.
Whether we like 1t or not" declares
the journal, of which DR.. Walter j.
Murphy is editor, biological warfare
agents exist. We can't hope to close our
eyes and find. upon opening them. that
the threat has gone. The effectiveness
OF these agents in war is greatly en-
HANGED If they can be used against ci-
villains who have no knowledge Of them.
The den1oralizing effects could be cata-
Strophic. Our military leaders know
that Germany and Japan had carried
out research in this field for years prior
to World War II and they know that
biological warfare agents could be used
against u.s.
The rarest element in the earths at
moSphere Is proving aspowerful anaes-
thetic.
This Is the heavy gas xenon, which
constitutes about 20 millionth Of the
air. 1t is companion of the rare gases
helium, neon and krypton and hitherto
has been supposed, like helium, to be
completely inert and enter into chemi-
cal combination with no other element.
A combination of 80 per cent xenon
and 20 per cent oxygen now is being
used in major surgery, DR.. John H.
Lawrence Of TIE University of California
has reported to the Joint Congressional
Committee on Atomic Energy. At the
University Of Iowa two appendix re-
movals have been made with no other
anaeSthetic.
Replaces Nitrogen.
The combination retains the same
amount OF oxygen as air. necessary for
the body, but xenon replaces the normal
atmospheric nitrogen. Tie effect shows
that it is by no means inert as supposed,
DR.. Lawrence says.
The discovery came quite accident
ally in the course of experiments on the
medicinal effects of various isotopes at
the university's laboratory of medical
physics. 1t was observed that subjects
exposed to xenon became drowsy. This
led to experiments with rats and mice
which showed that they ,uld be COM
pletely anaesthetized
The significance of the rare gas as
an anaesthetic and the exact way in
which it works remain to be deter
mined. DR.. Lawrence points out. One Of
its good points is that 1t Is entirely nom
explosive.
The heavy gas is obtained from liquid
air after the helilm and argon have
been evaporated, leaving an extremely
small liquid residue.