318 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. [Sess. 
but did not become unconscious. He complains of having a large amount 
of expectoration every morning, in addition to a tight feeling in the chest 
and a pain in the left side. He looks very well, and nothing can be made 
out on examination. The film which was sent from a distance was bad. 
No great reliance can therefore be placed on the result, but, as the man 
has returned to duty, the case is obviously a slight one. The medical 
officer of the convalescent home regarded the man as making the most 
of his condition. 
Case 38 was gassed at the same time as 29. He states that the shell 
gas had a sickly sweet odour. He vomited immediately, but had no cough 
or breathlessness, and did not become unconscious. He was able to put 
on his helmet. He continued in action all night, and felt better in the 
morning. His age is 41, and he has suffered from cough for many years. 
His present attack of bronchitis began two months after the gassing. He 
is evidently a case of chronic bronchitis of long duration. 
Case 40 was gassed in December 1915. He is uncertain whether it 
was shell or cloud gas, but it had a “ pleasant smell.” It made his eyes 
water and caused severe coughing. He felt “ intoxicated,' ” and became 
unconscious, remaining in this condition for about two hours. He vomited 
freely in the dressing station. He returned to duty after six days. He 
has always been subject to asthma and bronchitis, but since being gassed 
he has been very short-winded. His medical officer has no doubt that 
he exaggerated the story of the gassing, as he makes the most of all 
his ailments. His present attack of bronchitis does not appear to have 
been connected with the gassing. A second examination of his blood, 
a month after the first, resulted as follows : — polymorphs 57 ‘5 per cent., 
lymphocytes 33’5 per cent. 
It will be seen that, of the above-mentioned cases, three are much less 
marked cases of gas poisoning than the story of the patient would indicate, 
all having returned to duty within three months of the gassing. Other 
two are cases of chronic bronchitis which happened to be gassed, but a 
considerable interval elapsed between the gassing and “ going sick.” 
No. 29, the only remaining one of the series, is apparently a clear case 
of pretty severe gas poisoning without marked blood change. A com- 
plication in this case, however, is a skin condition — psoriasis. 
Case 50 is of recent origin, but there is every reason to anticipate, 
from the progress of the patient, that his recovery will be reasonably 
rapid. 
We may place in relation to this group the two cases of gas poisoning 
in schoolmasters many years ago, Nos. 42 and 43. Both of these, after 
