Show CIVIL DEFENSE Knowledge of Biological Warfare W Is Vital Link in Civil Defense This is the third of a Series of ot articles on civil defense b br bT Walter A. A Shead a W Western a s I a r n Newspaper Unions Union's Washington VA r ne neBy correspondent By WALTER A A. A SnEAD WASHINGTON DC D.C. With an enemy which places no value whatever whatever whatever what what- ever upon the lives of Individuals which has no moral scruples as we know them an atomic bomb bombIs Is not the tho only peril perU faced by the American people In an out all war with Russia Biological warfare against people and against animals is one of these perils This sort of warfare which can spread a wide variety of disease disease dis dis- dis ease ase including a number of viruses fungi protozoa proto proto- zoa oa and soluble toxins may be waged from within by sabotage or from without by enemy planes and can be disseminated through a variety of media chief chIc of which are food air and water These in in- diseases taken in by humans humans humans hu hu- hu- hu mans through inhalation absorption absorption tion through the skin or by food could be disseminated by aerial bombs and other munitions by release release release re re- re- re lease of Infective aerosols from planes or from ground devices taking advantage of favorable winds or by release in ventilating systems of large auditoriums Particularly Particularly Particularly Par Par- effective Is contamination of water sources In addition to humans biological warfare against animals can be effective since meat dairy and poultry products are an Important source of diet for both military and civilian personnel Production of wool and leather might be curtailed curtailed curtailed cur cur- tailed and important and Pharmaceuticals such as adrenalin adrenalin adrenalin ad ad- renalin liver extract and insulin entirely dependent upon animal glands and organs could be cut of off aU Such animal diseases as foot- foot mouth and-mouth disease fowl pest and foreign types of Newcastle disease appear to have greater possibilities pos pos- for damage In this country coun coun- try Then there is biological warfare against crops in the spread of insect insect insect in in- sect pests and plant diseases which constitute a threat to our food sup sup- ply It would be comparatively easy for low flying planes to spread such crop and animal diseases across across the vast stretches of the country's great plains where wheat oats and the meat animals are raised and where population Is comparatively meager The department department depart depart- ment of agriculture knows about many of these foreign pests such as Japanese beetle European corn borer Mediterranean fruit fly citrus citrus cit cit- rus canker and other pests Our most successful method of keeping down losses is development of strains resistant to specific diseases diseases dis dis- eases which takes time But it is likely that new organisms which present crop varieties cannot resIst resist resist re re- re- re may be introduced even In peace time and herbicidal chemIcals chemicals chemicals chem chem- might be disseminated openly openly openly open open- ly over these vast crop areas where hostile planes might gain access 5 OF COURSE CONSTANT vigilance vigilance vigilance vigil vigil- ance hand before knowledge how to detect the effect of biological warfare on both humans and animals animals ani am- ani- ani mals the proper method of fighting the effects and how state towns cities and counties can be organized organized organ organ- to fight these perils is a function function function tion of the civil defense adminis adminis- Probably one of the most Insidious and dangerous methods of chemical warfare is the dIssemination dissemination dissemination dis dIs- dis- dis of called so-called nerve gases developed In Germany during World War II These nerve gases are more toxic than any previously known war gases and are nearly colorless and odorless They are liquids which yield toxic vapors when they evaporate and are laid down near the ground These gases cut off of breathing and blood circulation Action is prompt and lethal and inhalation Inhalation inhalation in in- halation for a few seconds may cause death Exposure to mild traces of the vapor causes bronchial bronchial bronchial bron bron- chial restriction with difficulty In breathing coughing and a water discharge of the nose A slightly greater exposure induces painful ft h 1 tUU V UI ct eye lIlU CleS terrific ier- ier pain back of the eye Larger doses cause rapid and Severe severe severe se se- vere spasms broncho-spasms preventing both inhalation and exhalation The victim becomes confused a and n d cyanotic may have nausea and vomiting and falls unconscious The blood pressure falls heart beat is slowed and may mayor or may not start again The The US U.S. public health service has worked out treatments for all these inhuman forms arms of modern warfare in the biological and chemical chemical chemical chem chem- ical field The point Is in learning how to combat it what treatments to give in emergencies and in the thelong thelong thelong long pull for recovery to pile up stocks of the right kind of medicines medicines medi medi- cines dries particularly and plenty of gas masks protective protective protective pro pro- clothing how to prevent contamination hospitalization and anda a dozen other necessities In case of such an attack Doctors and veterinarians must take special courses in how to combat combat com corn bat the effects and this professional profession profession- al nl manpower must come from the private ranks Therefore full cooperation cooperation co co- operation of the various state county and local medical and related related related re re- re- re professional groups Is essen essen- Be ready to volunteer Next weeks week's article will discuss national state and regional train train- ing In centers In tho the civil defense program pro- pro gram Cram |