USAMRICD TECH MEMO 90 1 CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEM CASUALTY CARE

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Subject: USAMRICD TECH MEMO 90 1 CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEM CASUALTY CARE    

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003205

Folder Title: CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE                                                        

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:         31




               16   11:45                                               P.20


          U@@CD Technical Memorandum go-i
               irritancy of Lewisite will cause a soldier to remove
               his mask and receive a higher exposure to the
          combination. This also might have a thickener
           (FHL).
               F. In contrast to mustard, it causes immediate irritation
           I   of mucus membranes and eyes and the liquid causes pain
               on contact with skin
               G. First synthesized by Lewis, hence the name. Acronym is
                    L.
               li. Hydrolyses rapidly in water; effectiveness decreased in
                    moist, wet conditions
               1.   Vapor density, 7.1 (heavier than air) ; liquid density,
                    1.89 (heavier than water); volatility, 4480 mg/cu n @
                    250 C.
               J.   Toxicity data uncertain. Best estimates:
                    vapor (Ct; mg--min/cu ra):
                                        Nasal irritation, 6-8
                                        Odor, 14-23
                                        Skin vesication, 1200--1500
                                        Death by inhalation, 1200--ISOO
           1        Liquid (mg)-.  Vesication, 0.014
                                   Death, 2800
               K. Mechanism of action
                    1. Contains trivalent arsenic; these combine with
                    thiol groups which are present in a wide variety
                    of en@es. Very little work an exact mechanism
               L.   Clinical effects
                    1. Eye
                          a. Liquid: causes very rapid and devastating
                          effects unless promptly decontaminated
                          b. Pain and blepharospasm on contact; Ede=a of
                          conjunctiva and lids soon follows and eyes are
                          closed within an hour. iritis and corneal damage
soon follow. overall damage and permanent
                          effects are dose dependent and 'may be severe
                    2. Skin
                          a. Immediate pain, increasing in severity (gives
                          warning for immediate decontamination)
                          b. After 5 minutes, there is a gray area of dead
                          epithelium, then blister formation (often
                          complete within 12 hours)
                          c. In general, the lesion is more severe than
                          mustard blister, with more necrosis and tissue
                          sloughing
                    3.    Respiratory
                          a. Burning, irritation of nasal area, upper
                          airways causes one to exit the area or seek
                          protection
                          b. Animal data suggest lesions similar to those
                          of mustard with more pulmonary edoma, i.e.,

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Document 22 f:/Week-36/BX003205/CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE/usamricd tech memo 90 1 clinical notes on chem c:12249609312728
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003205
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE
Folder Seq # = 31
Subject = USAMRICD TECH MEMO 90 1 CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEM C
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 24-DEC-1996