CHAPTER XXI
THE PHARMACOLOGY OF WAR GASES
The pharmacology of war gases plays such an important part in chemical warfare that a brief discussion may well be given of the methods used in the testing of gases for toxicity and other pharmacological properties.
War gases may be divided into two groups: persistent and non-persistent, each of which may include several classes:
| I. | Lethal |
| II. | Lachrymatory |
| III. | Sternutatory |
| IV. | Special |
Each class necessitates special tests in order to determine whether or not it is suitable for further development.
Toxicity
One of the first points which must be carefully determined in investigating a substance is its toxicity. It is important that this be determined for numerous reasons:
1. To determine what concentrations are dangerous in the field.
2. To ascertain how effective protective devices have to be to furnish sufficient protection against the gas.
3. To furnish a basis for accurate experimental work on the treatment of gassed cases.