“The gas instantly caused severe burning in the throat and lungs. The men clutched their chests, coughed and gasped for air. Attempts to protect themselves from the gas were largely futile. Many tried to dig out their noses and mouths or cover them with cloths, but the wet, thick poison penetrated everywhere” (Taylor 17). These were the effects of chlorine cited by an eyewitness. The gases and biological agents used against people in war are very cruel. They cause many deaths in short periods of time, leaving lasting effects wherever they are unleashed. These weapons are very volatile and in small doses can cause mass destruction around the world. No matter how they are used, they still leave a lasting effect on the planet and its inhabitants. Over time, biological and chemical weapons have been used to take control of the battlefield, but their future effects have not been considered. Biological weapons are pathogenic microbes including viruses, bacteria, rickettsiae, toxins, and any other living agent that is harmful to living things (McCarthy 1). The main difference between chemical and biological weapons is that chemicals harm directly and biological agents harm indirectly through disease (McCarthy 1). Pathogens are classified based on how they are delivered (McCarthy 1). Most pathogens can be carried by any agricultural pest, insect, tick, rodent or flea (McCarthy 1). Contact diseases include Ebola, dengue fever, smallpox, yellow fever, and plague (McCarthy 1). Water- and food-borne illnesses include dysentery, E coli, Salmonella, cholera, and typhoid (Hutchinson 237). Viral pathogens include smallpox, horsepox, dengue fever, yellow fever, and psittacosis (Hutchinson 238). Ebola has passed... middle of paper... gentlemen, each with the ability to cause diseases that spread throughout the world, killing many people and stoppable only with certain antibiotics or vaccines. There are numerous chemical agents used during the world's past wars, some so deadly that they were frowned upon, and some were even so inhumane that the people who used them rebelled against their use. As these weapons are used, less and less people seem to care about the effects they cause, and many people may therefore suffer greatly, now or in the future, because of someone's mistake. There are weapons being built that significantly exceed the levels of protection currently existing in the world, and one small mistake could be disastrous for everyone. Maybe one day everyone will realize the dangers of these weapons, or they will continue to use them, condemning all people to a horrible death..