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From: fish@ihu1g.UUCP (Bob Fishell)
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.med
Subject: Re: Scopalamine
Message-ID: <287@ihu1g.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 13-Apr-84 16:54:55 EST
Article-I.D.: ihu1g.287
Posted: Fri Apr 13 16:54:55 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 15-Apr-84 00:47:47 EST
References: <1725@sdccsu3.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 16

Yes, scopolamine (a belladonna derivative) was used by the Germans as
a 'truth serum' during WWII.  It has been supplanted by sodium pentathol,
a more potent drug.

Belladonna alkaloids in sub-lethal doses produce very unpleasent hallucinogenic
effects.  The Mafia purportedly marketed belladonna as LSD in the '60s; it
was subsequently dubbed a "horror drug," because the users has such awful
hallucinations as being covered head to toe by large black spiders.

Scopolamine itself has hypnotic properies at lower doses, and for a time
was used in over-the-counter sleeping pills.  It is still used in
"Contac."
-- 

                               Bob Fishell
                               ihnp4!ihu1g!fish