THE CHEMICAL WARFARE SERVICE 163 



research on fabrics and led to a very satisfactory material. 

 Similarly each piece of the mask led to a search for the most 

 desirable design and the best material. In passing, the eye piece 

 may be mentioned. Triplex glass was soon learned to be the 

 most satisfactory for eye pieces, but the manufacturers almost 

 despaired of its production, the per cent, of rejects being so 

 high. Again science proved its worth, for the Service was 

 able not only to reduce very materially the number of rejected 

 lenses but was able to speed up production to the point where 

 the needs of the Gas Defense Service were adequately met. 



OTHER DEFENSIVE METHODS 



The introduction of mustard gas brought other problems of 

 defense. The viscous nature of this substance, with its high 

 persistency and its capacity to produce severe burns even in 

 low concentrations of vapor, suggested the need of protective 

 ointments and protective clothing. Much effort was expended, 

 by the Medical as well as the Chemical Section, to devise an 

 ointment that might act as a protection to the body. While an 

 ointment was obtained that appeared to give protection against 

 relatively high concentrations of the gas over short periods of 

 exposure, it was learned after continued experimentation that 

 no protection could be expected under field conditions, namely, 

 a low concentration and a long period of exposure. Attention 

 was also directed to the production of various articles of pro- 

 tective clothing, such as underwear, outer clothing, gloves, 

 boots, and masks for horses and dogs. Various types were 

 developed for factory use in the manufacture of poison gases, 

 and also for the front, though they never were used at the 

 front. 



ORGANIC RESEARCH 



The organic chemist found many fields for his endeavors. 

 The first problem to engage his attention was a survey of the 

 whole field of organic chemicals, in order that he might have a 

 clear idea of the possibilities of chemical warfare. This really 



