Biological Weapon Dispersal 1952

An ideal biological warfare agent would be easily disseminated in the open air by using off-the-shelf devices such as industrial sprayers or other types of aerosol-producing devices. These could be mounted on an airplane, boat, car, or other moving vehicle, or even placed in a stationary position. An alternative method would be to disseminate the agent in an enclosed space (such as a building), where it could more efficiently infect or intoxicate humans living or working in the area. In addition to having the proper particle size, an ideal agent might also be dried (by freeze-drying or spray-drying), which would make it easier to disseminate widely and over longer distances. Although logistical difficulties mitigate against using toxins of low lethality as open-air weapons, they could be used on a smaller scale (as in an enclosed space such as a building, or as an assassination or terrorist weapon). This is clipped from the 1952 film, What You Should Know About Biological Warfare, produced by U.S. Federal Civil Defense Administration. The entire film is available at the Internet Archive.