invention

1854 - Scottish Chemist John Stenhouse
The Gas Mask

Stenhouse's gas mask consisted of various forms of charcoal that he had been experimenting with in the early years of the 1850's.  He used a form of charcoal that was able to capture large amounts of gas which was the first mask that was able to remove any toxic gas that was in the air.  Previous masks were only able to remove small particles.  The mask was built with a powdered charcoal surrounded by two layers of wire gauze that would cover the mouth and nose area of the human who wore it.  The masks purpose was intended for industrial, medical and military but it was a near sixty years before chemical warfare was used on the battle grounds.

The invention of the gas mask was the first step to that when chemical warfare came into play during World War I.  When this time occured the gas mask was able to develope into a new mask that can be mass produced to where even the horses used in the military can have masks to protect them too.  the mask was able to help firefighters going into a burning building could be more protected from the smoke and ash and any other substance that would harm a human if they weren't wearing the mask.