The Medical Profession and Chemical Warfare

Abstract

WE are glad that the British Medical Association, during the session held at Oxford on July 17-25, gave consideration, at the annual representative assembly on July 17, to the subject of chemical warfare. The Council of the Association reported that the question of the protection of the community against the effects of poison gas is being examined in connexion with the Air Raid Precautions Department of the Home Office before any definite proposals are made. After discussion of a resolution submitted by the North Glamorgan and Brecon Division of the Association, the following amendment was adopted: “That this meeting condemns unreservedly the use of poison gas in warfare as inhuman in its results and degrading to civilization, and relies upon the council to do everything in its power with a view to securing the co-operation of the medical profession in all countries in order to prohibit the use of poison gas.” In the course of the discussion, an appeal was made to men of science generally, as well as to members of the medical profession, to protest collectively against the destruction of civilian populations through the use of poison gas, and to try to secure international co-operation with this end in view. Even though politicians may consider it impracticable to do anything to prohibit the destruction of human life by indiscriminate chemical warfare, yet scientific workers should let the community know that they dissociate themselves from the use of such methods. We hope therefore, that at the forthcoming meeting of the British Association at Blackpool the lead given by the British Medical Association will be followed; so that science may not be understood by silence as acquiescing in the application of its discoveries to the degradation of civilized life.