[Handwritten] Enclosure of Top Secret Z. I. A. H. No. 36
G. Tgb. S. 19, No. 170
From the Institute for Military Scientific Research Department H of the
Research and Instruction Society Ahnenerbe (Reich Leader SS Personal
Staff, Office “A”) Strasbourg, Anatomical Institute.
_Proposed treatment of poisoning caused by Lost [Gas]_
(By Professor Dr. A. Hirt, and Staff Surgeon of the Luftwaffe,
Professor Dr. Wimmer, Strasbourg, 1944)
_General Observations_
The effect of Lost as a poison gas is immediate and, by causing other
pathological reactions within the cells and organs, it damages the
entire efficiency of the individual cell as well as that of the organs.
The organism stands the best chance of absorbing the damage caused by
Lost if there is a large vitamin reserve in the body. In administering
the vitamin treatment after Lost damage has been inflicted, care must be
taken that the medicaments are not administered indiscriminately. The
vitamin combinations (A, B complex, C) taken orally or vitamin B_{1}
administered intravenously in glucose suspension have proved most
effective. Both methods aim at raising the resistance of the
reticuloendothelial system, while simultaneously introducing therapeutic
measures to protect the liver which can be further strengthened by food
with a high carbohydrate and vitamin content. When definite damage to
the organs (liver, cardiac muscles, kidneys) manifests itself, vitamin
treatment has to be discontinued and injections of B_{1} glucose
substituted, as the excretion of the surplus quantity of vitamins
results in a temporary additional overstimulation of the cells of the
excretory organs.
In addition the inter-connection between the effect of sulfanilamide and
vitamin B complex should be noted. In the case of pulmonary
complications (bronchial pneumonia, pulmonary abscess) which are treated
with sulfanilamides, the administration of yeast is definitely not
indicated.
The general treatment, as set forth, especially the administration of
vitamin B_{1} glucose, also has a salutory effect on the healing of
cutaneous necrosis. In average and serious cases, the length of the
healing process can thereby be considerably decreased. Supporting
measures to be taken are bandaging the affected limb in splints until
the appearance of clean granulation or placing the patient in a suitable
recumbent position as well as vigorous, systematic psychotherapy. The
psychological influencing of the largely apathetic Lost patient
constitutes an essential part of the treatment, due to the possibility
of thereby influencing the parasympathetic system (circulation,
circulatory system).
_Outline of treatment_
1. All the directions given for the elimination of the Lost poison are
to be followed carefully. Only _after_ elimination of the poison has
resulted may Lost patients be treated and accommodated together in
enclosed rooms. (Inhalation of Lost vapors!)
2. Damp dressings with Rivanol (0.1-0.05 percent) and Trypaflavin (0.1
percent) have proved to be a successful treatment of the _skin symptoms_
(reddening, swelling, blisters) of the first to fourth day. If
necessary, ointment dressings (10 percent cod liver oil tannic ointment,
boric acid ointment, etc.) may be applied. With the opening of the
blisters, the exposed corium of the skin becomes extremely sensitive to
the drying reflex. Introductory treatment; daily bathing with a
potassium permanganate solution, constant damp dressings of
Rivanol-Trypaflavin solution; later on ointment dressings (5 percent cod
liver oil tannic ointment, boric acid ointment). With the development of
_cutaneous necrosis_ and increasing disinfection of the affected parts
of the skin, the damp dressings are to be substituted—if only for
nursing reasons—by ointment dressings, after bathing with a potassium
permanganate solution at body temperature, which are to be changed
daily. Usually after the 17th day, the necrotic spots on the skin can be
removed by drying them up or better still by brushing them off (under
narcosis if necessary) with a potassium permanganate solution. In this
way the local healing process is considerably shortened.
With the beginning of the knitting of the skin granulation stimulating
ointment dressings (alternately cod liver oil ointment, boric acid
ointment, unguentine, etc.) are sufficient. Lexer’s cod liver ointment
(only 2 hours, painful!) can provide a strong _stimulus_ should
granulation formation be slow and drag itself out.
3. General treatment of average and serious Lost damage begins with
administering a vitamin mixture compounded as follows:
Vitamin A (in the form of Vogane oil) increasing from 4 to 10
drops daily.
Vitamin C (Cantan—Cebion tablets) 2 tablets 3 times daily.
Yeast powder 3 teaspoonfuls daily.
One should consider whether a vitamin compound of similar
preparation—if need be with the addition of glucose—should be produced
for the combat troops. Such a powder mixture would have to be
administered in increasing quantities as well. In all cases of absorbed
Lost damage (liver damage indicated by increased secretion of
urobilinogen in the urine, later icteric skin coloring, cardiac muscle
damage with tachycardiacs, kidney damage with albumin secretion in the
urine) treatment with vitamin mixtures is to be discontinued and to be
substituted by injections of vitamin B_{1} glucose. (Betaxin—Betabion 2
cc.—also in larger dosages—intravenously with 10 cc. 20 percent
glucose solution.) Injections are to be given slowly, since at the
height of Lost damage the veins of the arms incline to thrombosis! In
the latter case glucose has to be administered orally and vitamin B_{1}
intramuscularly. There exists the possibility, in every case of
considerable Lost damage, of a sudden failure of circulation (frequently
between the 7th and 17th day) indicated by a weak response to heart and
circulatory stimulants. Heart stimulants (strophanthin, caffeine,
digitalis) and circulatory stimulants (sympatol, priscol, camphor,
cardiazol) have therefore to be administered with care in serious cases.
The therapeutic routine valid for all clinical treatment is particularly
valid for cases of organic damage.
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-005
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 279
LETTER FROM GRAWITZ TO HIMMLER, 22 NOVEMBER 1944, REQUESTING PRISONERS
FOR EXPERIMENTS
The Reich Leader SS
Reich Physician SS and Police
_Diary No. 39/44 Top Secret_
Berlin W. 15, 22 November 1944
Knesebeckstrasse 50/51
Telephone: 924249.924374.924351.924406.