Document Detail


Proposals for chemical weapons during the American Civil War.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18543573     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Proposals for chemical weapons that arose during the American Civil War are described. Most incendiary and all biological agents are excluded. The described proposals appeared primarily in periodicals or letters to government officials on both sides. The weapons were usually meant to temporarily disable enemy combatants, but some might have been lethal, and Civil War caregivers were ill-prepared to deal with the weapons' effects. Evidently, none of the proposed weapons were used. In only one instance was use against civilians mentioned. Among the agents most commonly proposed were cayenne pepper or other plant-based irritants such as black pepper, snuff, mustard, and veratria. Other suggested agents included chloroform, chlorine, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic compounds, sulfur, and acids. Proponents usually suggested that the chemicals be included in explosive artillery projectiles. Less commonly proposed vehicles of delivery included fire engines, kites, and manned balloons. Some of the proposed weapons have modern counterparts.
Authors:
Guy R Hasegawa
Related Documents :
21900483 - Brush and spray: a high throughput systemic acquired resistance assay suitable for larg...
6643363 - Analysis for fusarium toxins in various samples implicated in biological warfare in sou...
19287603 - Efficacy of oxamyl coated on alfalfa seed with a polymer sticker in pratylenchus and me...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Historical Article; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Military medicine     Volume:  173     ISSN:  0026-4075     ISO Abbreviation:  Mil Med     Publication Date:  2008 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-06-11     Completed Date:  2008-08-01     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  2984771R     Medline TA:  Mil Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  499-506     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Publications and Drug Information Systems Office, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
American Civil War*
Chemical Warfare / history*
History, 19th Century
Humans
Military Medicine
Military Personnel
United States

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  The overlooked heroines: three Silver Star nurses of World War I.
Next Document:  Guillain-Barré syndrome variant: presenting with myalgias and acute facial diplegia.