Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfare (2008) - The Black Vault

Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfarechemical and biological weapons, and result in a renewedbiochemical arms race involving both lethaland nonlethal agents that would not only increase thedanger of chemical and biological warfare betweennational military organizations, but also allow proliferationof biochemical weapons technology to nonstateterrorist organizations. 139 Similarly, arms controladvocates fear that development and employment ofnovel acoustic, microwave, and laser weapons wouldstimulate an arms race using these modalities, all ofwhich lend themselves to easy modification into lethalor permanently disabling weapons. 86Other military and civilian opinion sees the developmentof modern NLWs as a method of reducingundesired and unintended collateral casualties whencivilians are placed in danger during military or paramilitaryoperations. These advocates of new NLWspoint out that restrictions or prohibitions on the useof new NLWs may result in the use of lethal weaponsby default. 140 Perhaps the greatest uncertainty in NLWpolicy is how safe and effective new NLWs will be,and how the existing and future restrictions should beapplied to their use against threats encountered in thechanging circumstances of the 21st century. 140SummaryThe search for incapacitating agents capable oftemporarily preventing military personnel from performingtheir duties (without permanent injury) has along and colorful history. Candidate compounds offerpromise, but, for a variety of reasons, they have notgenerally been used in overt warfare in the 20th century.Preference for conventional lethal weapons by most aggressorsand the many uncertainties applying to NLWuse by friendly nations has led to their elimination fromthe US arsenal. In the attempt to find an incapacitatingagent that would meet the numerous constraints imposedby practical and political concerns, many studieswere conducted, including the program at EdgewoodArsenal. Although an ideal incapacitating agent wasnever found, much was learned from the search.A major medical benefit arising from the study ofbelladonnoids in volunteers was the demonstrationthat physostigmine (and other anticholinesteraseagents) could be both effective and safe when properlyused in healthy individuals. The usefulness ofphysostigmine has been recognized in mainstreammedical practice; it has proven useful as an antidotefor delirium brought on by belladonnoid overdose andother drugs with significant anticholinergic effects.Reversible incapacitation by nonchemical methodsor by psychedelic drugs such as LSD and other indolederivatives, as well as centrally active phenethylamines,tranquilizers, or antipsychotic drugs, are eitherinsufficiently effective or carry risks that make theiruse unlikely. The recent use of potent opioids to releasehostages from terrorists in Moscow resulted in highlethality, although Russia has considered the drugssafe enough for potential field use. More futuristicconcepts, such as the use of agonists or antagonists atneuroregulator or neuromodulator receptor sites, donot appear to be feasible at the present time.REFERENCES1. US Department of Defense. Policy for Non-Lethal Weapons. Washington, DC: DoD; 1996. DoD Directive 3000.3. Availableat: http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/300003p.pdf. Accessed July 25, 2007.2. Ketchum JS, Sidell, FR. Incapacitating agents. In: Sidell FR, Takafuji ET, Franz DR, eds. Medical Aspects of Chemical andBiological Warfare. In: Zajtchuk R, Bellamy RF, eds. Textbook of Military Medicine. Washington, DC: Department of theArmy, Office of The Surgeon General, Borden Institute; 1997: Chap 11.3. Frontinus SJ, Bennet CH, trans. The Strategems. London, England: William Heinemann; 1925. Cited by: Goodman E.The Descriptive Toxicology of Atropine. Edgewood Arsenal, Md; 1961.4. Buchanan G; Watkins J, trans. The History of Scotland. London, England: Henry Fisher & Son and Peter Jackson; 1831.Cited by: Goodman E. The Descriptive Toxicology of Atropine Edgewood Arsenal, Md; 1961.5. Lewin L. Die Gifte in der Weltgeschichte. Berlin, Germany: Julius Springer; 1920: 537–538. Cited by: Goodman E. TheDescriptive Toxicology of Atropine. Edgewood Arsenal, Md; 1961.6. Mitchel TD. Materia Medica and Therapeutics. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: JB Lippincott; 1857: 233. Cited by: Goodman E.TThe Descriptive Toxicology of Atropine. Edgewood Arsenal, Md; 1961.432