Incapacitating Agents
permanent aftereffects than has been true of high
explosives used in past conflicts.
Incapacitating agents were developed through
intensive study and research. They are used to wage
They are simpler weapons system. Agents of this
and win a war without resorting to the massive killing,
type are easily stored, loaded into munitions, and
enormous destruction of property, and immense
delivered on target. They may be projected from
monetary cost, as in past wars, which undeniably will
generators upwind of the enemy as an aerosol;
characterize any future conflict in which nuclear
they may be introduced clandestinely into his
weapons are used. Incapacitating agents are the latest
food and water supplies; or they may be injected
discovery. Many are still in the research, development,
by one well-placed agent into the ventilating
and testing stage; and much remains to be learned
systems of large headquarters.
about them.
They are difficult to detect. Most agents of this
The effects of incapacitating agents are not
predictable and may even change from dose to dose
type are colorless, odorless, tasteless, and
and person to person. During a single exposure, a
produce no immediate recognizable
person's feelings may range from impatience,
physiological symptoms. Sprays can be made to
restlessness, and anxiety to an exuberant sense of
resemble obscuring smoke; artillery shells can
happiness. The person may suffer from delusions of
be designed that display the same burst
persecution or grandeur. Some people may reach a
characteristics as HE rounds.
catatonic state where they cannot move voluntarily and
will hold any position in which placed. In this state, a
Effective personal protective measures can be
person may suffer from hallucinations, panic, and
adopted with incapacitating agents as with other
make violent outbursts.
chemicals--the protective mask, protective clothing,
highly sensitive alarms, or detectors.
An agent of this type is BZ, a slow-acting aerosol.
It enters the body by inhalation and interferes with
Toxins
mental processes that control bodily functions.
Toxins are poisonous products of animal or
Although there are many unanswered questions
vegetable cells. When injected into animals or people,
concerning the physiological action of these
t h ey c a u s e t h e f o r m a t i o n o f a n t i b o d i e s c a l l e d
incapacitating compounds and much research remains
antitoxins. The most important toxins are those
to be accomplished, they offer many advantages. Some
produced by bacteria, the most potent of which is
of these advantages are as follows:
botulin. Botulin is hundreds of times more poisonous
They are flexible. The effects can be tailored to
than phosgene, mustard gas, or cyanide, and it is
several times more toxic than rattlesnake or cobra
meet a commander's needs--ranging from
venom. Toxins can be used in two ways--they can be
drowsiness or mild hallucinations and confusion
produced outside the body and introduced into food,
and lack of physical coordination to hysteria,
water, or wounds, or the organisms producing them can
irresponsibility, or complete withdrawal.
be used as agents. In peacetime, control is exercised
They are economical. They are far less expensive
over diseases of this group by strict sanitary measures
to produce, pound for pound, than fissionable
and thorough medical inspection of all foods
materials or even some of the more advanced
prescribed by the Food and Drug Administration.
conventional weapons.
Incendiaries
They are not destructive. An enemy nation
Incendiary weapons, unlike other chemical agents,
subdued by the use of incapacitating agents
are concerned primarily with material damage, rather
against its armed forces and against its support
than with inflicting casualties. Incendiaries have been
services will not pose to the victors the
used against personnel. However, their greatest
mammoth problems of reconstruction and
application is in the destruction of industrial
rehabilitation. Factories will remain standing;
installations, housing, ammunition, fuel dumps, and so
cities will still be alive.
on. Modern military incendiaries may be divided into
They are less injurious. Properly employed,
three categories--oil, metal, and a combination of oil
a n d m e t a l . T h ey m a y a l s o b e d iv i d e d i n t o
these agents are likely to cause far less loss of
spontaneously flammable materials, such as
life, less maiming or crippling, and less
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