2006-09-11 09:34:33 · 25 answers · asked by Sarah S 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
As a very primitive gas mask. When gas was first used some soldiers covered their mouths with socks or rags soaked in urine to help fight against its effects.
After the first German chlorine gas attacks, Allied troops were supplied with masks of cotton pads that had been soaked in urine.
It was found that the ammonia in the pad neutralized the chlorine. These pads were held over the face until the soldiers could escape from the poisonous fumes. Other soldiers preferred to use handkerchiefs, a sock, a flannel body-belt, dampened with a solution of bicarbonate of soda, and tied across the mouth and nose until the gas passed over.
Using gas as a weapon is as disgusting as mines or cluster bombs (Source: Me)
2006-09-11 09:42:12 · answer #1 · answered by ? 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The answer to this is strange it was used when there was a mustard gas attack... The urin in the soks. They would take the socks and rap around mouth and nose and it prevented the affect of the gas into thier lungs....
2006-09-11 22:39:51 · answer #2 · answered by michael s 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They also urinated on bits of cloth and things like socks to cover their face in the event of a gas attack.
2006-09-11 16:42:48 · answer #3 · answered by AnYa!!!!! 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The urine actually helps the feet in the recovery process of tired, scaled, and rashed feet due to them damn combat boots which were not very comfortable. Todays Soldiers should be fighting with Nike Ultra tread high tops, green in color.
2006-09-11 17:54:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Soldiers countered chlorine gas by urinating on their socks and holding them over their noses (the ammonia repelled the chlorine).
2006-09-11 16:41:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Urine is usually sterile and it has some antiseptic qualities. The biggest problem in the trenches was "foot rot"- an extreme case of "athletes foot", leading sometimes to amputation. Remember these were the times before antibiotics were invented - so it may be that urine was the only thing available to try and control the infection
2006-09-11 16:39:31 · answer #6 · answered by cp_scipiom 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
During both WW1 and WW2 soldiers urinated in their boots to try and soften them up to prevent blisters.
2006-09-11 16:40:41 · answer #7 · answered by james.houghton 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The ammonia in urine neutralized poisonous gas. Soldiers would pee in their socks and put it against their mouth and nose when attacked with gas.
2006-09-11 16:43:02 · answer #8 · answered by grandbendbeachboy 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This is because urine is a good antiseptic, and they always had sore feet and ankles with them rough socks and heavy boots. So urine being a good antiseptic was suppost to help their sore feet heal.
2006-09-11 16:41:56 · answer #9 · answered by Jeanette 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Pee stops the gas they would pee in a hanky or socks and hold it over the month and nose, it gave them a chance when the gas came
2006-09-11 17:25:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋