Psychotoxic Substances
Abstract
During recent years, this group of substances has gained in importance among the synthetic poisons. In a publication of the Chemical and Engineering News an expression of opinion by the former Chief of the Army Chemical Corps was reported, in which it is said verbatim: '...new developments in nerve gases and psychochemicals (lysergic acid derivatives) may be ready for major battlefield use in five or 10 years.' At another place it is said that the synthetic poisons may be just as fatal as the atomic weapons, but that they may also be 'more humane'. They can be adapted to the various occasions in such a way that the will of an individual to fight may be destroyed and armies can be conquered without killing a person. Communications of this kind, without more detailed information on the nature of these substances, have in the past appeared in several issues of the U.S. Armed Forces Chemical Journal. For this reason, substances with psychotoxic or hallucinogenic properties, which are already known from the literature, have been included in the framework of this study.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 16, 1964
- Accession Number
- ADA310965
Entities
People
- Kurt Stade
Organizations
- Joint Publications Research Service