At the conclusion of World War I, the world had been introduced to chemical warfare on an unprecedented level. While there were groups that thought that humanity had learned a lesson from the cruel nature of chemical warfare, others prudently went to work on improved chemical defense (Vedder and Walton, 1925). The thoughts of many professional military officers were that future wars would be fought under the new paradigm of chemical warfare (Vedder and Walton, 1925; Vedder, 1926; Smart, 1997). New gas masks were developed and training in chemical environments was introduced (Vedder and Walton, 1925; Vedder, 1926; Joy, 1997). Textbooks and manuals, such as those written by US Army Colonel Edward B. Vedder (Figure 2.6), were introduced to the military medical community (Vedder and Walton, 1925). In addition, the civilian medical community gained valuable insight into toxicology and animal models from the events of World War I (Vedder, 1929; Johnson, 2007). Despite the first-hand experience with chemical warfare, some countries, including the USA, struggled to adequately fund their offensive and defensive programs during demobilization (Smart, 1997). It did not take long for chemical warfare to appear in other conflicts. Chemical agents were used to subdue rioters and suppress rebellions. The British used chemical agents to suppress uprisings in Mesopotamia by dropping bombs in cities throughout the area in the early 1920s (Coleman, 2005). The Soviet Union used chemical agents to quell the Tambov rebellion in 1921, and France and Spain used mustard gas bombs to subdue the Berber rebellion during the 1920s (Werth et al., 1999). Italy and Japan used mustard in small regional conflicts (Joy, 1997). The Italian conflict in Ethiopia was noteworthy because
mustard was sprayed and dropped from planes and the agent’s use was considered by some to be significant
to the Italian victory (Smart, 1997). This use demonstrated the contemporary thought that allowed chemicals to be viable alternatives to traditional combat. The Japanese also used chemical weapons during the 1930s against regional foes. Mustard gas and the vesicant Lewisite were released on Chinese troops and were also used in South East Asia (Coleman, 2005). Lewisite is an arsine which was usually produced as an oily brown liquid that was said to have the odor of geraniums (Spiers, 1986; Hammond, 1994). It was developed in the USA by Winford Lee Lewis in 1918 and was found to be effective at penetrating clothing. The USA produced approximately 20,000 tons of Lewisite but only used small quantities of the chemical in World War I (Coleman, 2005). Dimercaprol, more commonly called British anti-Lewisite, was developed as an effective treatment for the vesicant (Goebel, 2008). In the inter-war period, mustard was a key concern in defensive planning (Coleman, 2005). New stores of mustard were produced in many countries. Work continued on many fronts to improve protective equipment. For example, the US Chemical Warfare Service introduced the M1A2 mask, an improvement of the M1 mask (Smart, 1997). In the Geneva Protocol of 1925, 16 of the world’s major nations pledged never to use gas as a weapon of warfare; it was not ratified in the USA until 1975 (Hammond, 1994). There has long been vigorous debate on the merits of treaties with nations balancing the military needs versus the potential irrational concept of chemical warfare (Vedder, 1926).
to the Italian victory (Smart, 1997). This use demonstrated the contemporary thought that allowed chemicals to be viable alternatives to traditional combat. The Japanese also used chemical weapons during the 1930s against regional foes. Mustard gas and the vesicant Lewisite were released on Chinese troops and were also used in South East Asia (Coleman, 2005). Lewisite is an arsine which was usually produced as an oily brown liquid that was said to have the odor of geraniums (Spiers, 1986; Hammond, 1994). It was developed in the USA by Winford Lee Lewis in 1918 and was found to be effective at penetrating clothing. The USA produced approximately 20,000 tons of Lewisite but only used small quantities of the chemical in World War I (Coleman, 2005). Dimercaprol, more commonly called British anti-Lewisite, was developed as an effective treatment for the vesicant (Goebel, 2008). In the inter-war period, mustard was a key concern in defensive planning (Coleman, 2005). New stores of mustard were produced in many countries. Work continued on many fronts to improve protective equipment. For example, the US Chemical Warfare Service introduced the M1A2 mask, an improvement of the M1 mask (Smart, 1997). In the Geneva Protocol of 1925, 16 of the world’s major nations pledged never to use gas as a weapon of warfare; it was not ratified in the USA until 1975 (Hammond, 1994). There has long been vigorous debate on the merits of treaties with nations balancing the military needs versus the potential irrational concept of chemical warfare (Vedder, 1926).
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar