asphyxiating gas is no worse than a storm of shells, or if worse then the more effective.
"The Soul of the War"
Philip Gibbs
The room was asphyxiating, but no one except Audrey seemed to be inconvenienced.
"The Lion's Share"
E. Arnold Bennett
Finally, on the day of the great eruption, a vast column of volcanic dust, cinders, blocks of lava and asphyxiating gases rose thousands of feet into the air, spreading in all directions.
"Complete Story of the San Francisco Horror"
Richard Linthicum Trumbull White Samuel Fallows