© 2006/2007
J.S. Ketchum
J.S. Ketchum
Documenting a Lost Decade of Clinical Research
Chemical Warfare Secrets Almost Forgotten
Review of the Book
- In chapter 11, you have a nice discussion of the mechanism of action of the anticholinergics, and how they can be reversed by physostigmine. At the risk of turning the book into too much of a medical text, I think a cartoon diagram could make these processes easier to visualize for the lay-person (maybe it would be better suited for the appendix). From a pharmacology class I took, I recall learning about the mechanism of action of nerve agents, how VX covalently inhibits acetylcholinesterase, and I always thought it was a beautiful example of a biochemical process that has been very well elucidated. The tug-of-war that takes place between BZ and
physostigmine is an amazing thing.
- Were the compounds that you tested at Edgewood synthesized on site? In what kind offacilities? I imagine there must have been a group dedicated to the medicinal chemistry aspect of this research, which you don't really touch on. I thought the work on the BZ analogsthat you describe largely in the appendix was very interesting, and I'd be curious toknow the rational that went into making those particular variations on the parent compound. I'm not sure if medicinal chemistry was so mature in the 60's, but I'd be curious to see a
structure activity relationship for this class of compounds. Perhaps this has already been done and I'm just not familiar with the field.
- Is there any chance of digging up the videos you produced at Edgewood and putting them online somewhere? I'd love to see them, especially the fiasco that took place in Project Dork. The only footage I've seen along these lines are a film of one of the British LSD experiments; it was bouncing around the web on humor-related sites for a while, and I have to say it gave me a chuckle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDxBdRdEj2M
- I'd also be interested in learning a little more about the physiological changes that occur in a state of delirium. You describe "pseudowakeful sleep," where a person appears awake but has the brain wave pattern of someone who is dreaming. In some ways I find this the most fascinating aspect of BZ's effects, and I'm curious what is known about it. Perhaps examples of EEG traces before and after administration, if you did that kind of thing (again, maybe an
appendix item).
Well anyway, that's my 2 cents. Again, thanks for sharing this fascinating bit of historical science.
(Name Withheld)
physostigmine is an amazing thing.
- Were the compounds that you tested at Edgewood synthesized on site? In what kind offacilities? I imagine there must have been a group dedicated to the medicinal chemistry aspect of this research, which you don't really touch on. I thought the work on the BZ analogsthat you describe largely in the appendix was very interesting, and I'd be curious toknow the rational that went into making those particular variations on the parent compound. I'm not sure if medicinal chemistry was so mature in the 60's, but I'd be curious to see a
structure activity relationship for this class of compounds. Perhaps this has already been done and I'm just not familiar with the field.
- Is there any chance of digging up the videos you produced at Edgewood and putting them online somewhere? I'd love to see them, especially the fiasco that took place in Project Dork. The only footage I've seen along these lines are a film of one of the British LSD experiments; it was bouncing around the web on humor-related sites for a while, and I have to say it gave me a chuckle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDxBdRdEj2M
- I'd also be interested in learning a little more about the physiological changes that occur in a state of delirium. You describe "pseudowakeful sleep," where a person appears awake but has the brain wave pattern of someone who is dreaming. In some ways I find this the most fascinating aspect of BZ's effects, and I'm curious what is known about it. Perhaps examples of EEG traces before and after administration, if you did that kind of thing (again, maybe an
appendix item).
Well anyway, that's my 2 cents. Again, thanks for sharing this fascinating bit of historical science.
(Name Withheld)
I've finished reading your book, having enjoyed it very much. I found your discussion on BZ very insightful, shedding light on a topic that was previously obscure. The transcripts of the experiments, the quotes from the subjects and descriptions of their bizarre activities, paint a real picture of a very unusual set of circumstances that will probably never be repeated. I took some notes as I was going through it, with additional questions and points of
clarification I'd be interested in seeing.
clarification I'd be interested in seeing.