The effectiveness of “mustard” depends upon its persistence.  It is a stable liquid, evaporating slowly and not easily decomposed.  It lingers about trenches and dugouts and impregnates soil and cloth for days.  Gas masks do not afford complete protection, for even if they are impenetrable they must be taken off some time and the gas lies in wait for that time.  In some cases the masks were worn continuously for twelve hours after the attack, but when they were removed the soldiers were overpowered by the poison.  A place may seem to be free from it but when the sun heats up the ground the liquid volatilizes and the vapor soaks through the clothing.  As the men become warmed up by work their skin is blistered, especially under the armpits.  The mustard acts like steam, producing burns that range from a mere reddening to serious ulcerations, always painful and incapacitating, but if treated promptly in the hospital rarely causing death or permanent scars.  The gas attacks the eyes, throat, nose and lungs and may lead to bronchitis or pneumonia.  It was found necessary at the front to put all the clothing of the soldiers into the sterilizing ovens every night to remove all traces of mustard.  General Johnson and his staff in the 77th Division were poisoned in their dugouts because they tried to alleviate the discomfort of their camp cots by bedding taken from a neighboring village that had been shelled the day before.

Of the 925 cases requiring medical attention at the Edgewood Arsenal 674 were due to mustard.  During the month of August 3-1/2 per cent. of the mustard plant force were sent to the hospital each day on the average.  But the record of the Edgewood Arsenal is a striking demonstration of what can be done in the prevention of industrial accidents by the exercise of scientific prudence.  In spite of the fact that from three to eleven thousand men were employed at the plant for the year 1918 and turned out some twenty thousand tons of the most poisonous gases known to man, there were only three fatalities and not a single case of blindness.

Besides the four toxic gases previously described, chlorine, phosgene, chlorpicrin and mustard, various other compounds have been and many others might be made.  A list of those employed in the present war enumerates thirty, among them compounds of bromine, arsenic and cyanogen that may prove more formidable than any so far used.  American chemists kept very mum during the war but occasionally one could not refrain from saying:  “If the Kaiser knew what I know he would surrender unconditionally by telegraph.”  No doubt the science of chemical warfare is in its infancy and every foresighted power has concealed weapons of its own in reserve.  One deadly compound, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, is known as “Lewisite,” from Professor Lewis of Northwestern, who was manufacturing it at the rate of ten tons a day in the “Mouse Trap” stockade near Cleveland.