Poisonous Gases Dbq

Poisonous gases changed the experiences of the people in the war for the worse. Breaking on impact, the canisters released yellowish green fumes that wafted slowly toward the French and African troops near the Belgian town of Ypres. As the fumes reached the Allied forces, soldiers realized the cloud was poisonous chlorine gas. Quoted in Dooly's Great Weapons of World War I, one French doctor at Ypres expressed his horror: “I had the impression that was looking through green glasses. At the same time, I felt the action of the gas upon my respiratory system; it burned in my throat, caused pains in my chest, and made breathing all but impossible. I spat blood and suffered from dizziness. We all thought we were lost.” ("Technology.") Canisters