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often difficult to separate these programs from the fragmentary record.
Our discussion will attempt to address only the program that sought a
military munition using a psychochemical incapacitant.
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Army-sponsored research into psychochemicals began in 1951 with a
contract with the New York State Psychiatric Institute to investigate mes-
caline and its derivatives in patients at that institution. Six derivatives
were studied at the facility. An additional 35 mescaline derivatives were
studied by the CmlC itself, though apparently not in humans. The ulti-
mate conclusion was that no mescaline derivative was effective in a low
enough dose to meet the requirements of a military agent that was to
be disseminated widely in the open air. Army interest switched to LSD.
From 1952 into 1956 LSD was studied under contract at several institu-
tions, including the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Tulane Uni-
versity.
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In May 1955 the CmlC established a new long-term project, “Psycho-
chemical Agents” (Project M-1605), for development of a military psy-
chochemical incapacitant with the following requirements:
•
Onset of action less than one hour
•
No permanent effect a desirable but not essential characteristic
•
As potent as nerve gases as a munition fill
•
Low toxicity in handling and stable in storage
•
Capable of dissemination from aircraft in all weather conditions
This project was initiated to seek an improved incapacitating agent that
would avoid the slow onset of mustard gas. A study group organized un-
der Harold G. Wolff and including General S. L. A. Marshal made recom-
mendations on 19 November 1955. The program investigated candidate
agents from the mescaline, LSD, and THC groups. A major problem was
that no agent was effective in sufficiently small quantities to meet the re-
quirements of an open-air release. By the end of 1955, 45 compounds
had been received for study, and 22 had undergone animal testing.
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As of May 1956 none had as yet undergone human testing in a formal
Army program, although such testing was anticipated if an appropriate
agent should be identified. Van M. Sim assumed responsibility for CW
clinical research programs, and on 24 May 1956 formal permission was
granted for human studies using psychochemical agents.
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