The unpredictable effect of weather and changing winds have led the belligerents to largely abandon the military use of shrapnel fragments coated with irritant powders and chlorine gas released directly from cylinders in favor of artillery shells filled with phosgene (carbonyl chloride) or mustard gas (2,2'-dichloro-diethyl sulfide), delivered on target by bursting artillery charges.

Chemical warfare produces heavy casualties on both sides (eventually totaling about 800,000).

The Russians, who experience the highest casualties from the attacks, suffer nearly 60,000 fatalities from toxic gas alone.

Trotsky arrives in New York in 1917 aboard the steamer Montserrat and allegedly receives funds for the planned revolution in Russi, to which he returns.

The Russian Revolution begins with riots in 1917; Tsar Nicholas II is forced to abdicate and civil war ensues.

Lenin’s Bolsheviks defeat the newly installed liberal government and withdraw Russia from the war.

Tcheka, the secret police of Bolsheviks, is founded the same year.

The Anglo-Americans supposedly work to involve their alleged agent Leon Trotsky in the Revolutionary command.

Finland declares independence from Russia in 1917.

Freud, in 1917, writes Introduction to Psychanalysis.

Julius Wagner-Jauregg treats syphilitic patients in 1917 with injections of the malaria bacillus.

Europe sees an outbreak of encephalitis in 1917, as does China.