Kit, Treatment, Gas Casualty (Item #97767)
(submitted by Alan Batens)
(Gas Casualty Treatment Kit, Item #97767 – period 1944-1945 – from the collection of Alain Batens)
Closed view of subject Kit
Contents of a Gas Casualty Treatment Kit
(Period 1944-1945)
Remark: this kit is packed in a transportable wooden case and is part of the Medical Officer’s kit for treatment of gas casualties . The wooden case is rectangular, and completely opens on both sides with 2 + 2 clips, it has only one carrying handle, made out of olive drab webbing . The case itself is painted olive drab, and the cover shows following all-black markings,
TREATMENT in the upper part, + black outer circle w/Caduceus, US ARMY + MEDICAL DEPARTMENT center, and GAS CASUALTY in the lower part . The cover contains a pamphlet w/instructions for use by the Medical Officer (missing) and also a full list of contents (present) . The deeper part of the case is subdivided in 8 different compartments, each indicated as a different Section (i.e. A-B-C-D-E-F) with their specific contents .
Gas Casualty Treatment Kit, Item #97767 – period 1944-1945 – from the collection of Alain Batens)
Open view of subject Kit (the cover contains a label with full list of different Sections i.e. A-B-C-D-E-F w/contents, official nomenclature, and name of manufacturer, while the deeper part shows the 8 different compartments (or Sections) holding the medical items) - Remark: the Kit was unfortunately empty when I purchased it …CONTENTS:
(Period 1944)
(from L to R)
Section F
1 X Pamphlet for Use of Medical Officers (in cover) missing
Section E
4 X Amyl, Nitrite (item #1069000) all item numbers have 7 digits (in lieu of 5), i.e. indicating issue after June 1944
2 X Calamine Concentrate (item #9104800)
7 X Petrolatum (item #9116500)
Section D
6 X Bal Ointment (item #9102800)
7 X Petrolatum (item #9116500)
Section C
1 X Kit, Water Testing, Screening (item #9931000)
4 X Protective Ointment, C.W.S. (item #9118700)
1 X Ophthalmic Disks (item # 9116300)
1 X Sodium Sulamyd (item #9120300)
1 X Bottle, Plastic, 3 ½ to 4 Fluid Ozs. (Item #9911700)
8 X Sulfadiazine Tablets (item #9120400)
1 X Copper Sulfate Powder, approx. 37 Grams (item #9107300)
Section B
2 X Eye, Solution, Bal, ½ Oz. (item #9109525)
1 X Soap, White, Floating (item #7493000)
2 X Eye and Nose Drops (item #9109100)
1 X Copper Sulfate 5% Solution (item #9107500)
2 X Chloroform, approx. 2 Oz. (item #9105800)
Section A
3 X Amyl Salicylate, 8 Fluid Ounces (item #9102700)
1 X Soap, White, Floating (item #749300)
MODIFICATIONS
Modifications occured in 1943 whereby 4 X Eye & Nose Drops (item #91091) were reduced to 2; and 4 X Sulfanilamide Crystalline 5 Grams (item #91211) + 7 X Sulfathiazole Ointment (item #91213) were cancelled and replaced by 8 X Sulfadiazine Tablets (item #91204)
Remark: The markings and contents indicate this kit was only issued later in WW2, i.e. around mid 1944 (see numbering scheme) but, it was already listed in the Army Service Forces Catalog MED 3, dated 1 March 1944 Complete Kit is Item #9776700, Container is Item #9776800
Above kit was manufactured by
A.E. Halperin Co Inc., Boston, Mass., U.S.A. (no date)TM 8-285 Treatment of Casualties from Chemical Agents, 15 April 1944 indicates in Appendix V … Medical Department Items for First Aid and Treatment of Chemical Warfare Casualties … (list of 70 Items)
The above Manual also lists Set, Gas Casualty, M-2 (item #97756), Set, Gas Casualty, Aprons & Gloves (item #97758), Aparatus, Oxygen Therapy, Closed Circuit, Boothby-Lovelace (item #93640), Set, Gas Casualty, Veterinary, Chest "A" (item #98156), Set, Gas Casualty, Veterinary, Case, Aprons (item #98155) and Set, Gas Casualty, Veterinary, Chest "B" (item #98157)