=Type of Masks Used.= In the future the 1919 model will be used for
all tests. In general, during the War, the following procedure held,
although variations occurred in special cases:
When men entered a gas-chamber, the full facepiece was, of course,
required. The type of facepiece was determined by the nature of the
gas. If the gas was most easily detected by odor or eye irritation, a
modified Tissot mask was used. If it was most easily detected by throat
irritation, a mouth-breathing mask was employed.
When men were outside the chamber, the choice was made in the
same manner, except in the case of detection of the gas by throat
irritation. In this case the mouthpiece was attached to two or three
lengths of breathing tubes and a separate noseclip was used. The
facepiece was not needed and the men were much more comfortable without
it.
=Disinfection of Masks.= Mouthpieces are disinfected after use by
first holding them under a stream of running water and brushing out
thoroughly with a test tube brush; then the latter is dipped into a 2
per cent solution of lysol, and the inner parts of the mouthpiece are
brushed out well; finally the mouthpiece and exhaling valve are dipped
bodily into the lysol solution and allowed to dry without rinsing.
Tissot masks are wiped out with a cloth moistened in alcohol, followed
by another cloth moistened in 2 per cent lysol solution. The flexible
tubes are given periodic rinsings with 95 per cent alcohol.
=Applicability of Man Tests.= Man tests are applicable to all gases
which can be detected by the subject of the test before he breathes a
dangerous amount.
The man test laboratory described above provides facilities for
obtaining information concerning the efficiency of canisters,
facepieces, etc., within very short periods of time, without waiting
for the construction of special apparatus required for machine tests.
To get satisfactory results from machine tests, a delicate qualitative
chemical test for the gas is essential. Man tests can be made when such
a qualitative test is not known. Further, man tests can be made with
higher concentrations of some gases than is practicable with machines.
Evolution of excessive amounts of moisture when high concentrations of
some gases are used causes much more trouble with machine tests than
with man tests.
On the other hand, man tests are adversely affected by the varying
sensitiveness and lung capacities of the men, and the humidity of the
air-gas mixture is not subject to as exact control as is the case with
machine tests.
FIELD TESTS
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