Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!att!cbnews!military From: denbeste@BBN.COM (Steven Den Beste) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Drugs in War Message-ID: <12427@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 19 Dec 89 04:22:40 GMT References: <12395@cbnews.ATT.COM> Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA Lines: 26 Approved: military@att.att.com From: Steven Den Beste In article <12395@cbnews.ATT.COM> carl@garfield.cs.mun.ca (Carl Noseworthy) writes: >Have governments ever condoned the use of drugs by their soldiers? Have >any governments even encouraged it? I could see some sort of physical >advantage if a whole army was on steroids. What other types of drugs >might be used to enhance performance in soldiers? For example, were Japanese >Kamikaze pilots given some sort of drug before their final flights? The British army historically issued gin to the troops just before a battle. Run or other spirits were routinely issued to sailors in the RN on wooden ships. Alcohol is a good drug for this because in small quantities it makes a person less fearful and more sure of himself. [mod.note: Soviet troops were reportedly issued vodka before some attacks. Lord knows *I'd* need a few stiff belts before joining in a human wave assault... - Bill ] Steven C. Den Beste || denbeste@bbn.com (ARPA/CSNET) BBN Communications Corp. || {apple, usc, husc6, csd4.milw.wisc.edu, 150 Cambridge Park Dr. || gatech, oliveb, mit-eddie, Cambridge, MA 02140 || ulowell}!bbn.com!denbeste (USENET)