Human Ingenuity: How Hitler Shaped a Nation's Response

I was recently perusing the archives of creepy historical photographs when I came across a photograph taken of British nurses who were practicing the procedure to protect infants in a gas attack. Oddly enough, this concern was developed by the Brits themselves from their own actions during World War One.

It seems that Adolf Hitler suffered a mustard gas attack while he was a soldier in the German Army during WWI, a gas attack which was perpetrated by the British and the French.

It horrified him so much that he was actually loathe to incorporate the use of gas onto the battlefield during the German conquest to conquer the world during WWII. Though the horror didn’t seem to stop the sadistic dictator from using his accidently developed Sarin gas to try to murder an entire faction of historic people.

Sarin gas was actually developed by German chemists to combat the weevils which were damaging German food crops.

The Dreaded Covid Mask: Will it Kill You?

I am a prepper. And as such I am naturally distrustful of any and everything, including my own state, local, and federal governments. I have recently been following all of the hullaballoo of various conservative groups regarding the mandates of wearing masks by our children and the trouble this practice can cause in their everyday lives; “it’s unprecedented” many people say, and the emotional and psychological impact could be disastrous.

While I am naturally predisposed to agree with this thought initially, I am reminded of days gone by where children were forced to adapt to other man-made substances that were designed to infect their lungs with poison and end their lives. Not only did most of the children of the mid-1900’s who survived the German invasion and holocaust go on to live productive lives, but they even became “the greatest generation” by account of most historians.

There was a difference however, Those children were raised to be a little tougher than perhaps the children of today are, at least in most countries. A person was the sole provider for him or herself with no reliance on the state for the most part. It’s like that in many other countries today, but for some reason America and many European countries have developed a welfare state concept where an existence is seen to be owed to the citizenry rather than being something that one must provide for oneself. Wouldn’t it be bizarre then, if by the very concept of organized survival, many were lost to the horrors associated with a thin paper mask?

Gasmasks During Civil Unrest: Some Lessons Learned

I recently came across the story of the self proclaimed photojournalist Teri Jacobs, who got into a clash with police and was knocked to the ground by the riot squad when she was perceived as a rioter by one of it’s members.

While I’m aware that she received a $50,000 settlement from the city of Portland, there are some simple mistakes that she made that make me wonder if she was truly there for journalistic documentation, or whether she was simply there to cause trouble. First and foremost, there is the fact that she doesn’t appear to have a camera. Most photojournalists will be taking photographs and most use cameras.

Secondly, she is dressed like a rioter. Antifa has a certain look, and this young woman fit it perfectly. She has nothing on that isn’t black as far as her clothing goes, and nothing that identifies her as a member of the press.

Lastly, and probably most importantly from a tactical viewpoint, is the fact that she isn’t wearing a gasmask, she is wearing a respirator. The difference is that what she is wearing has limited purposes; it will protect you from sawdust and metal shavings, and it will conceal your identity. It will NOT however, protect you from chemical irritants or smoke.

Why is this important? Quite simply because police officers have to make determinations from what they see, hear, smell, and feel. If you don’t want to be perceived as a rioter then you need to make sure that you don’t look, (or act), like a rioter. I have been both a cop and a journalist. I’ve had times, during trouble, that I’ve actually walked among the cops as a photojournalist, without identifying myself as a former cop,. and documented what they were doing with no problem from them at all. Rioters can be another issue and I can understand why one might want to fit in with them to avoid being targeted by them. There is no easy answer; however, one thing I do is I have an oversize press ID that I wear around my neck on a lanyard. I can easily put it in my shirt if I want to blend in the crowd, and quickly pull it out if I want to be identified as press. The important thing to realize is that photojournalism can be dangerous, it’s just part of the job. However, with a little bit of planning and common sense, some of the risk can be mitigated.

Iconic Gasmasks of Old

Many of you have likely seen the attached photo of a wedding party donning gasmasks, and were told either one of two stories that go with it it.

1. That this is wedding that took place during World War 1 in Japan under the threat of mustard gas during the war, or:

2. This is a wedding that was held on an island where there was an active volcano that spewed forth sulfur from some underground depths and required it’s inhabitants to wear gasmasks 24/7. Neither of these, it turns out, are the case.

   Rather, this is more likely the work of a photographer and artist from 1980’s Russia who was somewhat of an activist, and who was notorious for advocating against global war. There were many artists of the era who used the threat of global destruction; 99 Luftbalons by Nena, for instance. Here is the rough translation of the Russian article that likely was written to support this iconic image:

   “The multi-frame poster “Anatoly Zhdanov,” a reporter for the newspaper “The Soviet Army” in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, attracts attention not only not so much by “doneness”, obvious incentiveness, alignment of each shot – something similar at one time was done by the reporter of the magazine “Soviet Union” May Nachinkin – there is something else here that makes one speak about the work of Zhdanov as an interesting, creative attempt to comprehend the problem of ecology, which has come on the agenda today on a global, global scale. Once upon a time, answering a journalist’s question about how he would define the genre peculiarity of his films, a famous American film director Stanley Kramer said something like this: “All my paintings are kind of message films.” An experienced, mature artist, Kramer was not afraid of accusations of frank publicism _ of his work (which, say for a director with a pronounced tendency to an aesthetized structure, would be tantamount to accusing him of having a bad taste) I did not accidentally recall Kramer looking at the photographs Anatoly Zhdanov – what is depicted on them would not long ago have been the subject of condemnation (if not stronger) from official critics who considered such futuristic forecasts to be “decadent motives,” “propaganda of the apocaly optical trends by means of photo art ”In short, we have before us a new, or rather, a modern view of the possible future of the planet from the point of view of assessing the current environmental situation. However, why is it only ecological? It is possible that Anatoly Zhdanov had in mind not only pollution of the air and the environment in general with all kinds of harmful emissions, it could even be that he had in mind the consequences of the uncontrolled production of nuclear weapons. I don’t know and I won’t argue – the author somehow works in the military One way or another, before us, in Kramer’s words, we see a message addressed not to future generations, but to us, today’s inhabitants of the Earth, inhabitants of cities and villages, who have not yet fully realized, perhaps, the whole dramatic nature of the problems that have arisen before the world.
   To some, such a solution (meaning a purely photographic solution) of this topic may seem too head-on, and partly somewhat naive (the author of these lines must also be admitted), but this is a message, a slogan, an appeal, that is, a form specially designed for the immediate momentary effect of this effect, Zhdanov undoubtedly achieved the undoubted merit of his work. Apparently, it should be said about another, purely professional aspect of the series by Anatoly Zhdanov.
   The fact is that the genre of pho mourner, chosen by him, requires the photograph to have skills and knowledge not only in the field of purely photographic but also – since this genre can be conditionally to call the genre of the cinema – a subtle understanding of things very far from photography, such as scenography,dramaturgy and directing It is actually impossible to solve the frame using several dozen extras without a clear idea of ​​how, by what laws (and such laws undoubtedly exist) they will be located in the frame space, how to solve plastic moments and the behavior of protagonists of the crowd and etc.
   I would not dare to name the works proposed by Anatoly Zhdanov, photojournalist Anatoly Zhdanov, one hundred percent success. But the significant creative potential that is embedded in them allows us to hope that the photographer didn’t leave ie attempts to continue work in this very difficult, no doubt interesting genre.”

Gasmasks for Airsoft: 3 Things You Need to Know

If you are trying to utilize your gasmask for real world training, then one of the best things you can do is to don it while engaging in airsoft battles.

This practice works well in Mobile Field Force training, Active Shooter preparation, Urban Warfare training, etc…

There are however, some things that you must know before you don your military surplus gas mask and head out into the fray.

1. The eye panels are not impact resistant. What this means is that if you take an airsoft round in the eye panel, you’re likely going to get a bullet hole in the panel, and if you’re not wearing secondary eye protection your eye can get injured.

2. Don’t wear it too long. This thing is made of non-breathable latex, and prolonged contact with skin can result in skin problems like infected hairs and rashes.

3. Your hearing and eyesight will be restricted. Many people don’t realize that wearing a gasmask restricts your hearing because respiration is more contained and is therefore much louder than you will be accustomed to.

Gasmask Drill: Empty Hands and Bladework

If you are like me then you have likely got a background in combat training of some sort that goes beyond bombs and firearms and includes those four weapons that God himself has given you, two hands and two feet.

One of the things you’re bound to find out when you are donning a gasmask is the fact that many of your killing techniques are somewhat invalidated while wearing one; specifically whenever you’re fighting someone who has a mask on as well. In this post we’ll delve into the times you can find yourself at a disadvantage while dealing with cqb hand to hand combat, and having to contend with a gasmask.

1. Chin tucks. Most people you are fighting will have training and experience in cqb as well. Therefore they will often chin tuck when their neck is threatened. Since they will have an apparatus covering their face and bulging out from their face, there will be extra material that can block your attack be it either from a choke, slash, or knifehand strike.

2. Obfuscation of sight. This is a common problem whenever you are dealing with a violent struggle for life. Many times on the judo mat I have had opponents take my gi collar and either try to choke the hell out of me with it, or blind me so that I could be less likely to counter their next attack.

   You should try to take the time to acclimate your technique to accommodate your mask sometime when you’re in a training session just to see how the gasmask affects your style.

Gasmask Drills: Black Rifle Drills

When you find yourself in a situation that involves wearing a gasmask while trying to operate an AR style rifle, there are a whole new combination of factors to be considered.

The biggest concern for me comes from obstructed view. If my goggles or gasmask viewport fogs up, it isn’t completely out of the question for me to instinctually fire at a target if I’m using a handgun. But, I am a shooter who prefers using a handgun over a rifle. It has just always been my preference. With a rifle, unless I am really close, I need to have a fairly decent sight picture to be accurate.

One way to help un-obstruct your sight picture is to use the larger aperture of your open sight. As a side note, I would recommend using open, iron sights for shooting with a gas mask on, specifically because you might very well find yourself having to aim from an odd angle that would prevent a holographic or laser sight from being completely effective.

One final aspect of using your rifle with a gasmask concerns the physical layout of the mask. On the mask that I use specifically the canister screws into the mask on the left side. Therefore, a left handed shooter, or someone who is taking an off-hand shot, could very easily find himself, (or herself), at a disadvantage if they haven’t ever trained to shoot from the side where the canister connects.

Gasmask Drills:Handgun drills and things to consider

One of the most important drills you can perform with your gasmask, and one of the first you should learn, is to engage an enemy with your handgun while wearing your gasmask. Now, this drill can be performed with a rifle or other long gun as well; however, history has shown that most often people who are donning gasmasks in a non military encounter, are armed with handguns.

The first drill of course, is to practice drawing your handgun and either exchanging magazines or speedloaders without the benefit of full sight. This can often be harder than you think. Getting used to reloading by feel alone is different to say the least, and quite often you’re better off grabbing the next magazine or speedloader in your stack if you fumble and drop one, (trust me, this will happen). But you really can’t understand the feeling of trying to manipulate a weapon with one of these on until you do it. Here are some factors that you will be dealing with while trying to shoot while wearing a gasmask.

1. Limited visibility due to, field of view, fog, tunnel vision, and or paranoia from restricted breathing.

2. having to breath in a non-normative manner.

3. trying to get a sight picture with limited visibility due to one of the above listed factors.

4. moving with cover and concealment while trying to see and breath non-normatively.

The best drills then are to simply try to reload until it becomes second nature, practice solitary and team movement utilizing touch to compensate for sight and sensory loss, and finally go through dry fire drills getting acclimated to a restricted field of view.

The gas mask as a playtoy

Although I’m sure the last thing you would ever want to do is to diminish the importance of donning a gasmask for survival situations, or escape from a riot. The citizens of war torn Europe found it necessary to do just that when confronted with the need for as protection of loved ones, especially their small children.

Hence the invention of the British “Mickey Mouse” gasmask. This child sized mask was created small and colored brightly with an oversized nose flap to make the apparatus less threatening for children.

Obviously the precursor to the “Tickle Me Elmo” doll, this design implemented the nouvelle era of global domination by evil forces in a bright and nonthreatening package… at least that was it’s intention.

As a practicality, I believe that it missed it’s mark completely. I can’t imagine anything more frightening than a group of small children donning such a hideous mask, neither then or now…

Gasmask Drills: The Beginning

The most important drill to start with, in relation to your gas mask, is that of donning your gas mask in a quick manner. As stated before the gas mask does you literally no good if you’re not able to get it onto your face and sealed properly before your airway is contaminated by any form of chemical agent. This entails removing the mask from the bag placing the mask on your face stretching the webbed backstrap over your head and then tightening down the straps So that a good seal is formed between the rubber of the mask and your face.

There is a trick to having your gas mask ready for quick utilization. 

What most of us do, who use gas masks on a regular basis, is to place the gas mask on your head and adjust it appropriately to fit your head and face. Then with your offhand push the gas mask onto your face reach behind your head with your offhand, and peel the back of the gas mask onto the front of the gas mask so that the webbed backstrap is laying over the face of the mask. Then when you want to quickly donn the mask you just reverse the process. 

So, here is the first drill that you will practice: With your gas mask strapped around your waist, by the pouch strap, and strapped around your leg, with the smaller strap, and hanging off to the side so as to be convenient and well at hand, begin your drill by reaching down unsnapping the pouch fasteners retrieving your mask from the pouch. Then, with your strong hand push the gas mask onto your face, with your offhand reach over the front of the gas mask, grabbing the bottom of the webbed backstrap , and strip the webbed backstrap over the top of your head and behind your head, effectively fastening the front of the gas mask to your face. Then reach up with both hands simultaneously and tug the corresponding straps of the webbed backstrap tightly sealing the gas mask to your face then take either your left or you’re right hand whichever side corresponds appropriately with the filter hole on your mask, cup your hand over that filter hole and draw in air to make sure that no air is coming in through the sides of the mask which should be sealed to your face. What should happen at this point is you should try to breathe in and your mask should just get tightened uncomfortably and you should not be able to get any air because you have the air hole sealed off with the palm of your hand. You should do this drill over and over and over again until it becomes second nature. You will find that with just a little bit of practice it will become muscle memory and you will be able to effectively don your gas mask from a free standing position with arms at your sides in less than five seconds.  

Gasmask Drills: These are Things You Must Do Now to Prepare

Unless you’re not paying any attention at all, you probably realize how precarious things are in the continental United States and around the world. Unquestionably, especially if you find yourself in an urban environment, at some point in time you’re going to get caught up in some silliness and find yourself exposed to a chemical agent.

This has already happened to many different people in many different cities around the nation. And, as a result, lots of American are preparing themselves by purchasing military surplus gasmasks to have at the ready.

Here’s the problem though. It only takes a split second to deliver chemical agent to an area, and then a few moments for atmospheric conditions to contaminate large areas of the environment.

It is therefore pertinent that you not only have the protective equipment you will need, but you must know how to don it quickly and properly, and you must drill and practice with it in order to be proficient in the utilization of it.

Therefore, with this goal in mind, the following several posts are going to address various forms of necessary drills and maintenance requirements for you to be most effective with your protective equipment.

Gasmasks as Corona defense: What do They Know That We Don’t?

Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican Rep. donned a gas mask on March 4 while he voted on a bill that would dedicate billions of dollars to combating coronavirus as concerns arose over the spread of the disease.

What’s important to note is that even then the advantage of having a full face enclosure that was both effective in blocking the spread of pathogens as well as which created a physical barrier from digital contact was seen as important even back then.

Gaetz later wore the mask onto the House floor, as evidenced by a photo tweeted by Rep. Jim Himes, a Connecticut Democrat.

Just days after this, Gaetz self-quarantined after coming into contact with an individual who had been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

The gas mask picture from Gaetz follows an announcement that only 11 people had passed away from Corona virus in the US.   Health officials had urged Americans to stop buying masks out of concern of a shortage for health care workers, however, they did not, in contrast, offer the purchase of military surplus  gasmasks as a viable alternative… perhaps they should have.

Covid-19 This Too Shall Pass

It was in 1918 that the world was struck by the deadly pandemic of the Spanish Flu. And much like today, people were somewhat panicked by the prospect of possibly dying young from a dreaded disease, and laws were quickly passed to force -you guessed it - that masks be worn.

I used to have a Judo Sensei named Herzog who often got the students in the dojo to line up in formation during hard times and he always granted the same two pieces of advice no matter what the dilemma.

“When the going gets tough” he would say, “the tough get going”. “And…” he would add almost as an afterthought, “this too shall pass”. He would then turn to the framed photo of Jigoro Kano and bark out “Kiotske! Joseke… rey”

We look now into the dark window of history and simply see that what to the world of 1918 was a worldwide disaster, is simply a trivial historical matter to us as a society today. With this knowledge, your best bet is to hunker down, practice safeguards, take one day at a time, and realize that this too shall pass.

To Beard or Not to Beard, THAT is the Question

Recently there has been an advent of special forces operators, in various areas of operation, that have started wearing thick, heavy beards in the performance of their duties.

There are many reasons this has been allowed, most of them cultural and logistic, as these operators often find it necessary to covertly gather information and to blend into the environment; something that’s hard to do in Afghanistan while sporting a Marine Corps high and tight.

Luckily, the specops guys are not often involved with operations that could be conducive to the use of chemical munitions or gas. Because if they were, they would soon be lying on the ground, gasping and wheezing, regardless of the type and style of mask they were wearing.

That’s because a gasmask only works by being fully sealed. It is for this reason that most police departments and prisons across the US won’t allow their employees to wear beards as facial hair. You should definitly keep this in mind as your preparing for your own family’s defense.

Steampunk: The Gasmask as a Cultural Phenom

The QUEEN (@theswedishlady) has created a short video on TikTok with music come with me know_kongros. | Just wait for it!! #neoncity #foryoupage #neonpaint #neon #neoncity #steampunk #fyp #foryoupage

Steampunk as a subgenre of fantasy/science fiction was a culmination of the 19th century industrial revolution and the discovery of the ability of the steam engine. 

This discovery brought the world together through the advent of easy travel and it truly seemed, to the human race worldwide, that there was nothing impossible through modern technology. Though the mechanics of the steam engine were soon to be overshadowed by the superior availability and ease of access produced by the combustible engine, in it’s various forms, the minuscule correlation of levers and gears that are inherent to the cybernetic function of the steam powered apparatus intrigued every mind that held even a modicum of scientific endeavor. Beyond that, the basic concept was also intriguing on a creative, and (some would even argue), a spiritual level, and the art of steampunk was birthed as well.

Unfortunately, with the advent of industrial technology came the ability to wage war on a greater, more destructive level, and weaponry became inherent in the concept. The gasmask, which became an icon of control and warfare was also integral in the advent of the steampunk genre as art. And no steampunk advocate, to this day, can consider their steampunk collection complete without one.

The gasmask as an icon: Welcome to the new age...

With the advent of Coronavirus 19, there is a new day dawning across the nation and across the world. This is the age of the mask. It has long been the subject of writers of fantasy and eroticism. Doomsayers have preached from the street corners, proclaiming the beginning of the end. And now, the governments of the world are joining in the mantra, demanding that we as a species cover our faces, our very breath feared to be toxic.

Perhaps there has been wisdom all along in the Eastern cultures who predominately cover their faces as a protection against the elements and as a barrier against infidelity and lustful interactions. Perhaps this new age will see the advent of burkas, chadors, niqabs, and hijabs that incorporate the ability to defend against chemical as well as biological and spiritual threats.

In any event, the threat is real and there has never been a better time to prepare for a defense against the Covid virus by using a military surplus gas mask. This virus spreads by touching the nose and mouth to transfer the disease. A silky cloth mask does not create a real barrier, (you can easily reach up underneath it to scratch your nose and mouth).

New York restaurant finds new use for gas masks

As the Passover looms, the Pickle Guys shop on the lower east side are working feverishly to grate the horseradish that they sell as a Passover Seder to signify the harsh bitterness that the Jews suffered during their years of slavery in Egypt.

What makes these guys different is the fact that they have discovered that gas masks work perfectly against the harsh fumes that the horseradish root produces as it is prepared for sale. Before they got the bright idea, an idea that has been implemented since the mid 1990's, they used to suffer greatly from the fumes, and were forced to just "sit there and cry".  The idea came about when they hired some service members who had returned to New York from Operation Desert Storm, and they brought their gas masks in to give themselves some relief. This has become a company trademark for these guys at this point and people even come in these days just to take pictures of the guys in the gas masks preparing the food. 

Portland authority accused of using Government funds to purchase gas masks

The Portland Tribune reports that a MUltnomah county Animal Services manager was stealing government funds to purchase survival equipment to include gas masks. 

"The former manager for Multnomah County's Animal Services has pled guilty to allegations of official misconduct, aggravated first-degree theft and ID theft.

Randall Ray Brown appeared before Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Eric J. Bloch on Tuesday to change his plea. As part of the plea agreement, the 55 remains counts in the indictment were dismissed. Those charged included allegations of aggravated first-degree theft, money laundering, ID theft, first-degree theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, computer crime and official misconduct.

Brown's official sentencing will be heard May 14, where it is expected he will received a sentence of 18 months in prison and be ordered to make a payment of $54,587 in restitution.

Tuesday's change of plea hearing was re-scheduled from earlier this month.

The Portland Tribune, a KOIN 6 News media partner, first reported that Brown used county funds to buy gold bullion, gas masks, military grade knives and survival gear." --Portand Tribune

The gasmask as an icon

The gas mask, an absolute necessity since World War One, has since become

something more than a method of keeping breathable air in the lungs, it has become a symbol of power. There was no coincidence in Stephen Spielberg choosing to have Darth Vader, the villain of all villains, don a huge and intimidating respirator as part of his characterization. The lack of human features coupled with the rasping, ragged breath and hissing speech caused by the device was an effective method of developing the character as dangerous and inherently evil. You saw him in the black suit and cape, hissing and staring wildly with those black shiny eye lenses, and you knew - for sure - that you didn't want to mess with that guy. It should be no surprise then that gas masks have found their way into the fetish and BDSM community. The gas mask is perfect in so many ways for achieving different methods of "play" within kink society. The glossy black plastic matches well with latex, the airtight fit offers the opportunity for breath play, and the power exchange opportunities are obvious. The eyeholes can be covered for sensory deprivation, and the entire effect of the mask in general is one of dehumanization. It is the same principal that assault teams utilize in wearing balaclavas when preparing to attack, the lack of facial features give the enemy the illusion of fighting something unknown, dehumanization strikes terror in one's heart; bringing back, if for only a moment, the fear of monsters in the closet.

The icon of the gas mask has come to represent, more than anything else, the coming of the nuclear age. It is an ever present reminder of the fallibility and volatility of human life and is indicative of the condition of one's own environment becoming a threat to that life. strangely, there is a macabre fascination with that fallibility, and it is not restricted to American culture either. Consider the popular Japanese photograph of the nineteen thirties, a time before the nuclear attacks, entitled "Gas Mask Parade". The message it sends is clear, that the population is dehumanized, powerless, and serving as cogs in the machine. Though there are several icons of the nuclear age, none seem to carry the effect that the gas mask has. Possibly this is due to the civilianization of the gas mask. The one item that was mass produced and issued en masse to the world population during times of conflict. It was  a tangible object which promised the dangers of a coming war.

Think you never have to worry about a mustard gas attack in this day and age? Think again!

A recent news story has been printed explaining that treasure hunters in Europe found more than they had bargained for while looking for war relics in in Lincolnshire, UK.

Unfortunately for them the war relics that they uncovered could still be lethal after many years of storage. And though these canisters of mustard oil, which could be converted to gas, were not truly remnants from the first Great War, the lesson is still the same: it would behoove you to be prepared to deal with weapons of mass destruction wherever you find them. And the fact of the matter is that mustard oil can be readily found in mid America even to this day.

Many horse trainers in the Deep South of America still mustard oil to train Tennessee Walking Horses to enhance the “Big Lick” gait that mostly occurs naturally to them.

According to a recent article in “The Daily Mail”:

“Mustard gas was used during the First World War, killing and badly injuring thousands of soldiers in the trenches. It was outlawed by the Geneva Protocol of 1925.

The drama began on Sunday when two people digging for old and collectable glass bottles in the wood had to be taken to hospital with minor burns and respiratory problems after they struck the mustard gas canisters.

RAF Woodhall Spa base was located in the area from 1942 until it was closed in the mid 1960s.

Lincolnshire Police said it was 'believed the canisters have been in situ since when the site was an operational RAF base'.

They said some of the wood has been cordoned off and emergency services are searching for any more devices.

Neither of the burns victim was seriously injured and they were both discharged from hospital on the same day, police added.

The canisters were taken to the 'doomwatch' top-secret Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down, in Wiltshire.”

The important thing to remember about mustard oil is that it is deadly in many ways. It has the consistency and color of diesel fuel, but it will burn to blisters any part of your skin that it touches. If sniffed even slightly, it affects you much like a very hot bite of horseradish will, sending a chilling scald through your nasal passages and over the top of your scalp and behind your eyes. A deep inhale would likely cause death or serious injury.