Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Human Tests of Psychochemical Agents
The Army began studies at the Chemical Center at the Edgewood Arse-
nal, in Maryland, using volunteers from the Second Army, as part of a
program that dated back to World War II to test chemical agents, thera-
pies, and protective equipment. The program of contract human studies
continued, and in collaboration with state governments it was expanded
to studies on prisoners under civil detention. Over the 20-year period
1956-1975, at least 6,720 soldiers and approximately 1,000 civilian pa-
tients or prisoners participated in evaluation of 254 chemical agents in at
least 2,000 trials of psychochemicals. Additional contract studies were es-
tablished, notably in July 1956 to the University of Maryland Psychiatric
Institute to study LSD.
On 1 October 1956 the psychochemicals were given the Army desig-
nation “K-agents.” The primary agent under investigation was LSD. A
potent THC analog designated EA1476 was shelved when it produced
pathological toxic changes in animals and only mild mental-status effects
in human trials. Interest in EA1476 was renewed in 1963-1966, when its
ability to produce disabling hypotension was investigated.
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By the fall of 1958 LSD was considered effective in disorganizing small
military units. A publicity campaign announcing the availability of psy-
chochemicals was begun, with a half-hour television program in June
1959 made notable by film sequence of a cat, under the influence of a
psychochemical, being terrified by a mouse. At congressional hearings
held in August 1959 on psychochemicals, additional funding for psycho-
chemical development was urged.
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In 1959 and 1960 additional compounds were evaluated. Notable was
a crash program to standardize phencyclidine (Sernyl), which failed in
1960 because of the large doses needed. This agent, briefly used later as a
veterinary anesthetic, was to become well known among law enforce-
ment authorities as “angel dust” or PCP. Notorious for causing blind
rages, it gave apparently superhuman strength to berserk recreational
drug users. Other candidate drugs came from the atropine/scopolamine
anticholinergic group, originally evaluated as antidotes for nerve agent
intoxication.
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The advent of the Kennedy administration resulted in a reevaluation of
the entire chemical and biological weapons (CBW) program under Pro-
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