The first chemical weapon used, Chlorine gas, was mainly used as a scare tactic against troops. It initially caused extreme disorientation to the recipient and then suffocation due to water build up in the lungs. In the end temporary paralysis sets in, resulting in the possible incapacitation of an entire military unit. The first example of this was at the first battle of Ypres Salient. Ypres Salient was at a stalemate, and neither side seemed to be anywhere near defeat. The Germans realized that their new chemical weapon could be just what they needed to turn the tides of the battle into their favor. On the evening of April 22, 1915, near Langemarck, the Germans released 168 tons of chlorine in just five minutes. Two French divisions and the entir

Mustard gas had many devastating effects, but damage to the eyes was the most common. The first symptoms generally occurred two hours after initial exposure to the poisonous gas. It would start with a slight irritation in the eyes, which slowly increased as the time went on. As the irritation would worsen, the body would start to treat the eyes as if a foreign body was in them, and plenty of liquid would be released through the tear ducts. Eventually the eyelids would swell, as would the conjunctiva, forcing the eyes to close shut. The eyelids would then slowly start to burn and become cramped. Because of the sensitivity to light, the eyes would have to be thoroughly bandaged, and soon after vision would be lost. The cornea would then become ulcerated, and eventually decay. The effect Mustard gas had on the eyes was a long and painful process, which only ended in blindness, and yet many soldiers exposed to this chemical usually endured this devastating outcome. Another area of the body that was commonly affected by Mustard gas was the skin. Many soldiers experienced serious blistering all over their bodies. Blistering could start anywhere from a few hours to a several days depending on the exposure to the toxins. The mildest reaction would be minor redness and slight itching, yet these minor reactions were rare. Most soldiers were exposed to the chemical for a long period of time resulting in more severe symptoms. These included large blisters that became infectious and then gangrenous. This area would then have to be amputated in order to save the soldier. The seriousness of the symptoms depended on both the length of the exposure, and the concentration of the Mustard gas. The most harmful occurrences were always associated with extremely potent (or highly concentrated) toxins. Long exposure to the gas resulted in serious side effects as explained previously, but a high concentration of the gas caused more deaths. A concentration of one tenth of a percent and an exposure time of ten minutes caused the eyes to be severely damaged, whereas a concentration of one percent and an exposure time of sixty minutes, added serious lung damage. With a ten percent concentration and an exposure time of sixty minutes, there would be a high-risk of death, and with a 100 percent concentration for an exposure time of ten minutes death would occur within two hours. So, a high concentration of the poison provided a much higher risk of death, than a lower concentration, regardless of time exposed to the gas.

The effects Mustard gas had on the eyes and skin were painful and gross, but they were usually not life threatening On the other hand, the effects suffered by the respiratory tract and lungs were almost always fatal. Even with a small exposure, the lungs could be very seriously damaged. The first symptoms would occur three hours after the initial inhalation. It would start out with a little irritation in the throat, which would cause the soldier to cough

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