The beginning of the use of "stinky bombs" or chemical weapons in hostilities is associated with the German attack on Iprom in 1915. Then, 170 tons of chlorine were released, up to 15 thousand people were injured, about 5 thousand soldiers of the French army were killed. The invention of a universal remedy for chemical weapons, which rightfully belongs to Russia, is also connected with the First World War. This is a Zelinsky gas mask. The principle of action and activated carbon from birch protects a generation of Russian soldiers and continues to save lives not only in war, but also in peacetime.
Priority Issues
Issues of historical heritage and discovery are open today. Indeed, Nikolai Dmitrievich Zelinsky, professor and inventor of the gas mask (1861-1953), considered it immoral to protect the patent for his invention, it was he who developed the method of spraying chloropicrin, one of the poisonous substances of the imperialist war. And if in the middle of the 20th century the question of the primacy of the gas mask behind the Russian invention (Zelinsky-Kummant gas mask ) was purely ideological, today it has acquired academic significance. And whether to consider the Venetian costume against the plague as a gas mask prototype is a purely rhetorical question.
History of Defense: Military and Peaceful
There is evidence that the miners of Ancient Greece used masks with a filter of dried herbs. The Arab brothers Banu Musa, prominent scientists of Baghdad of the IV century, to prevent poisoning of workers when digging wells. Invented a technical device very similar to a gas mask. It was a stitched mask, with the possibility of replacing the filter. Although the filter materials were also made from dried herbs, they were quite similar to modern chemical protection products.
In the Middle Ages, with the advent of epidemic plague epidemics and the development of the doctrine of miasma (a substance hostile to humans) and contagia (poisonous particles transmitted through the skin and by respiration), a Venetian antiplague kit appears. This is a cloak and gloves soaked in tar, and a "beak" inside which were vegetable filters.
In 1799, Alexander von Humbolt's gas mask appeared, designed to filter and clean mine gases and protect miners.
But the first gas mask patent was issued to Lewis Haslett in 1849 in Kentucky, USA. The device was intended for miners, the filter was a dense fabric of wool, valve breathing was provided.
With the gilding of the domes of St. Isaac's Cathedral in 1838, 60 craftsmen died in St. Petersburg; they were not saved by pipe gas masks. They were made of glass with a hose and were supposed to protect against mercury vapor. But the design was not airtight, which was the reason for the poisoning of the workers.
Coal as an adsorbent
John Stenhaus invented a respirator in 1854, in which charcoal became the main adsorbent. It was a two-layer mask, between the layers of which was located a sorbent - charcoal powder.
Companion of Mikhail Lomonosov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Johann Tobias Lovitz proposed the use of birch coal for water purification, protection against rotting meat.
The merit of Zelinsky is that he was the first to use activated carbon as an absorber - coal with increased adsorption capacity. Coal specially prepared has up to 1,500 square meters. meters of porous surface per 1 cubic centimeter.
Adsorbent plus tightness equals Zelinsky gas mask
The history of the creation of this chemical protection product is associated with another name that rightfully became the second in the name of the gas mask - Emond Kummant, a technologist at the Triangle factory.
The British Patent Office granted Emond Cummant a patent for the original mask he invented. It was a mask that tightly and tightly attached to the skin of the face saved from the slightest contact with toxic substances on the skin.
The positional imperialist war forced opponents to search for methods of warfare using poisonous substances. The main task was to search for protection, including universal filters and a reliable protective mask. The gas mask in question became just such a means of protection.
Zelinsky gas mask: structure
There were three prototypes of them - Petrograd, Moscow and state.
The first, in 1915, entered service with a gas mask of the Petrograd type. The helmet was worn on a rectangular gas mask box with two bottoms, a box size of 200: 80: 50 millimeters. The bottom bottom with the neck was closed with a cork stopper, the same neck was soldered to the top, but higher. Between them was a metal mesh with a layer of gauze on both sides. Between the gauze pads was located 3-6 mm granular activated carbon. The filter volume was 700 cubic meters. centimeters, length - 174 mm. The box was protected by a tin cap. The mask was orange, the box was taped.
The Moscow model entered service in 1916 and was smaller with an oval-shaped box. The volume of the carbon filter has become 1000 cubic centimeters.
However, testing showed the need for improvement. And the third version of the Zelinsky gas mask appeared - like the Treasury gas mask factory. It was slightly shorter than the previous one, with an elliptical box.
Device testing
The Zelinsky-Kummant gas mask appeared in the Russian army in the winter of 2016. In the two years of the war, Russia manufactured more than 11 million pieces of these protective equipment.
Zelinsky gas mask was tested in combat conditions of the First World War. The tests were led by Nikolai Shilov, a student of N. D. Zelinsky. It was he who offered the professor a multi-layer carbon filter. He owns the analytical work to verify the effectiveness of chemical protection in mobile laboratories, as well as the organization of schools for the personnel of the Russian army, where they trained in the use of protective equipment - Zelinsky's gas mask. History has proved the importance of these schools and the insufficient attention paid to them by the command.
Advantages and disadvantages
The ability to purify air from various toxic substances and the discovery of an ideal adsorbent are unconditional discoveries made by Professor N. D. Zelinsky. The gas mask of his invention at the time of its appearance had no analogues in the adsorbing substance. The new filter type of this Russian gas mask was not very convenient, but effective.
Zelinsky’s first gas mask also had its drawbacks. These include the following:
- In a fighting position, the gas mask box interfered with head turns;
- Before use, there was a need for purging, which slowed down dressing.
- Glass fogging, which made orientation difficult;
- Decreased auditory perception and inability to give orders by phone;
- Illiteracy of Russian soldiers who could not read the instructions before use.
Gas masks of that war
The countries participating in the imperialist war did not stand aside from attempts to improve chemical protection means. The French gas mask Jules Tissot, for example, weighed more than four kilograms, the box was located on the back, and caustic soda, mixed with wood wool and metal sawdust, acted as an absorber. All this was saturated with soap, glycerin and castor oil.
Today, the British gas mask of the First World War model is considered to be the prototype of a modern gas mask. In appearance, it really looks most like a modern analogue. But neither the British, nor the French, nor the Germans used activated carbon as an absorber. The British allies of Russia in 1916 asked to send them five gas masks of Zelinsky - Kummant for study. British chemists did not believe in the adsorbing properties of birch coal. But even after checking the operation of these devices, the Allies could not surpass Professor Zelinsky.
It is also interesting that protective equipment was developed for horses. It looked quite entertaining.
What did the professor get for his invention
The Chemical Committee of the Russian Empire filed a motion to the Special Meeting to award the professor for his invention, which saved thousands of lives. However, the matter did not end there. Professor Zelinsky did not receive a single ruble from the Russian government for the Zelinsky gas mask. The story of a professor who did not receive a patent for his unique carbon filter and refused a nomination for a Nobel Prize ended. But his co-author, the author of the patented mask, E. Kummant concluded an agreement with the Triangle factory and received 50 kopecks for each unit of the product sent to the Russian military-industrial committee. Zelinsky’s gas mask was made by millionaire Emond Cummant.
It is noteworthy that in Russia there is not a single monument to Professor N.D. Zelinsky, although the institute in St. Pererburg was named after him.
It is positioned that the creation of gas masks began with the introduction of weapons of war poisonous substances. This is an erroneous statement. First of all, means of protection were invented for peaceful purposes, and after they were used in war. Protecting doctors and medical staff, using workers to come into contact with harmful substances to protect workers are the main priorities of any scientific activity.