Treatment for Blister Gas, WWII Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 5, August 13, 1942 (Lone Sentry)

Several small bakelite boxes taken from German prisoners in Libya were labelled "HAUTENTGIFTUNGSMITTEL" and contained ten small tablets. Upon analysis the tablets were found to be stabilised bleach, with an available chlorine content of 39.8 percent. These were identical with tablets found on German prisoners in Europe. They are referred to in German as "Losantin." Each box had ten tablets, and the normal issue is reported to be two boxes per man. The method of use for treating skin contaminated by blister gas, is printed on the label, and consists of making a tablet into a paste with water or saliva which is then applied to the affected part. After ten minutes it is washed or wiped off. The example of the incautious experimenter who ate several tablets under the impression that he was eating "Nazi food tablets" should NOT be followed.

It has been reliably reported that tablets of bleaching powder are distributed to workmen in all large German factories for skin application against the effect of mustard gas and lewisite. (See Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 1, p. 8.) A sample tablet was examined, with a label attached, bearing the inscription "CHLORKALKSTIFT D" (bleach pencil D).

This tablet was found to consist of bleaching powder which had undergone extensive decomposition through exposure. However, it would still provide slight beneficial effect on contaminated skin, though it is definitely inferior to the "losantin" tablets (see above) in bakelite containers issued by the Germans.