[Illustration: PLATE 41e.—Gas helmet.] Direction for Use and Care of Tube Helmets [Sidenote: Description] These helmets are the same as the smoke helmet already issued, except that stronger chemicals are added and a tube valve provided through which to breathe out. The tube valve makes the helmet cooler and saves chemicals from being affected by the breath. The wearer cannot breathe _in_ through the tube valve; this is intended for breathing _out_ only. [Sidenote: Directions for Use] Remove paper cap from mouthpiece of tube valve. Remove service cap. Pull helmet over head. Adjust so that goggles are over eyes. Tuck in skirt of helmet under coat collar and button coat so as to close in skirt of helmet. Hold the tube lightly in lips or teeth like stem of pipe, so as to be able to breathe in past it and out through it. _Breathe in through mouth and nose, using the air inside the helmet. Breathe out through tube only._ [Sidenote: Directions for Care of Tube Helmet] 1. Do not remove the helmet from its waterproof case except to use for protection against gas. 2. Never use your tube helmet for practice or drill. Special helmets are kept in each company for instruction only. Should the goggles become misty during use they can be cleared by rubbing them gently against the forehead. When lacrimatory gases are used goggles affording mechanical protection may be worn, as these gases are not likely to irritate the lungs, though they sometimes produce sickness. [Sidenote: Improvised Methods] If a soldier does not possess one of the official pattern respirators, the following measures will be found useful: 1. Wet and wring out any woolen article, such as a stocking or muffler, so as to form a thick pad large enough to cover the nose and mouth, and press firmly over both. 2. Place in a scarf, stocking or handkerchief, a pad of about three handfuls of earth, preferably damp, and tie it firmly over the mouth and nose. 3. A wet cloth pulled down over the eyes will be found useful as additional protection, especially against certain gases other than chlorine or when the gas is too strong for the ordinary respirator. 4. A stocking, wetted with water and soda solution or tea, folded into eight folds and firmly held or tied over the nose. 5. A sock folded fourfold similarly wetted and held or tied. If the sock or comforter has been soaked in soda solution it will still act efficiently when dry, though, if possible, it should be moist. The spare tapes from puttees may be used for tying on the sock. 6. Any loose fabric, such as a sock, sandbag, woolen scarf or comforter, soaked in urine, then wrung out to allow of free breathing and tied tightly over the nose and mouth. In the absence of any other cloths, the flannel waistbands issued for winter use could be used for this purpose. [Sidenote: Knapsack Sprayers]