History of Chemical and Biological Warfare

Society today has been the witness to the use of chemical weapons upon various groups of people. A prime example is the use of poison gas in Syria.( http://fair.org/take-action/action-alerts/iraq-then-syria-now) Chemical weapons were made by chemist to do great harm. Typically, a chemical weapon is defined by chemist as any toxic chemical or its precursor that can cause death, injury, temporary incapacitation or sensory irritation through its chemical action. Because of the destruction caused by the use of chemical weapons, society has tried to place controls on their use with the development. Throughout the years, many treaties and conventions have been developed in an effort to control the use of chemical and biological warfare.(http://www.opcw.org/news publications/history)The intent of this paper is to address an overview of the history, the development, and the use of both chemical and biological weapons in modern society.
Contrary to popular belief, the history of the use of chemical and biological warfare date back to ancient and classical times. Ancient evidence points to Hannibal's use of pots filled with snakes in a battle with the NAVY of King Eumenes of Pergamon. The pots were hurled onto the decks of the ships, where they broke where the Pergamene were forced to fight both the snakes and Hannibal's armed forces resulting in a loss for Hannibal's men. Further evidence is documented in that the Solon of Athen is said to have used hellebore roots (a purgative) to poison the water of an aqueduct leading from the Pleistrus River around 590 B.C. during the siege of Cirrha. Writings of the Mohist sect in China dating from the Fourth century B.C. tell of the use of ox-hide bellows to pump smoke from furnaces w...

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...clear weapons states--there have been approximately 100 wars in the intervening 60 years. (http://www.hampshire.edu/academics/22169.htm)
Of the three types of weapons used to hurt others, people can somewhat make preparations for their own protection in the case of chemical and biological weapons but little can be done to prepare for the wrath of nuclear weapons. The best way to protect yourself in case of a chemical or biological weapons is to educate yourself about them. One should remember to keep calm, don't panic, seek higher ground, seek open spaces or seek a self-contained air supply, use your senses of touch, taste and smell and most of all use common sense. Have a radio with working batteries and keep up with the news. Pay attention to the Civil Defense advisories and think before you act.(Chemical Weapons and Warfare Agents, Helmenstine, Anne Marie)