142 REPORT OF THE PSYCHOLOGY COMMITTEE 



whole nor the effects of its several parts. There are conse- 

 quently no traditions to guide us either in the selection of 

 the processes that are likely to be most affected, or in the 

 order of the experiments. Even military traditions are rela- 

 tively scant. There are no standard experiments that corre- 

 spond to definite military tasks. There is no way of tell- 

 ing whether a given experimental disturbance is or is not of 

 military consequence. Furthermore, there are no standard 

 masks, fittings, or harness. There is no adequate analysis 

 of the psychological and physiological problems that are in- 

 volved. 



"A serial investigation of the neural and mental effects of 

 each part of the various masks now in use, or proposed for 

 use, would be an investigation of some magnitude. It is 

 doubtful if there are any available methods by which it could 

 be satisfactorily completed. At present such an investiga- 

 tion is apparently particularly impracticable. The situa- 

 tion demands immediate results, not exhaustive programs. 

 We lack available laboratory facilities and personnel as 

 well as time and techniques. 



"In view of these considerations, I proposed and have 

 initiated an investigation consisting of two parts, calculated 

 to give the most important information in the least possible 

 time. 



"Part I. A preliminary experimental exploration of the 

 effects of as many different types of mask as may be called 

 for, using a single observer, techniques that have proved 

 themselves useful in previous investigations of neuro-muscu- 

 lar condition, and sufficient repetition to avoid gross chance 

 errors. 



"Such an exploration should discover: (i) the direction 

 of any gross disturbances; (2) the kinds of measurement and 

 procedure that are likely to prove useful in squad experiments; 

 and (3) more or less probable indications of especially desir- 

 able and undesirable features of the various masks. 



"Part 2. From the exploration, it should be possible 

 with military assistance to devise definitive military group 

 tests of the relative satisfactoriness of available masks." 



