Books by "Alexander Crum Brown"
12 books found
Exploring the Vertebrate Central Cholinergic Nervous System
by Alexander G. Karczmar
2007 · Springer Science & Business Media
Even if the “weapons of mass destruction” (WMD) and, among them, stocks of organoph- phorus (OP) agents (also referred to as war gases and nerve gases) were not found in Iraq following the US-Iraq war, the relative ease with which these substances can be made from harmless precursors and the low cost of their manufacture will continue to fascinate pow- hungry, ruthless dictators, as well as multinational and international terrorists, particularly as the close relationship between the OP agents and useful insecticides makes it easy to disguise the importation and purchase of small amounts of the precursors. Indeed, the use by Saddam Hussein of a nerve gas against the Kurds and his possible employment of the OP agents during his war with Iran, and the Sarin attack in the Tokyo underground by an extremist religious set magnetized the world with respect to the OP drugs. As these drugs exert their toxicity via their cholinergic action on the nervous, particularly central nervous, system, it is no wonder that the research in the cholinergic ? eld attracts, and merits, our intense attention. These considerations underlie the signi? cance of this book, as Alex Karczmar devotes an entire chapter of Exploring the Vertebrate Central Cholinergic Nervous System to anticholinest- ases (antiChEs), and as he is an acknowledged expert in the ? eld of cholinergic toxicity as well as a consultant to the Surgeon General of the U. S. Army.
Poisons: Their Effects and Detection by Alexander Wynter Blyth stands as a seminal work in the field of toxicology, providing a comprehensive overview of the substances that have spellbound and horrified humanity through history. The book meticulously catalogs the development, classification, and the physiological impact of poisons. Blyth's treatise is noted for its rigorous scientific approach and its eloquent prose, offering readers not only an encyclopedic knowledge of toxic substances but also an understanding of their role in societal and criminal contexts. The distinguished literary style enriches the technical discourse, while the historical anecdotes provide a rich tapestry that situates the topic within a broader cultural and temporal framework. Alexander Wynter Blyth was a noteworthy scholar and public health analyst, whose fascination with chemical substances and their effects on the human body led him to pen this authoritative text. His expertise is evident in every page, and his scientific curiosity breathes life into what might otherwise be a purely academic subject. Contributions from Blyth's experience, especially in the public health sector, ensure the book's rigor and relevance, bridging the gap between scientific theory and practical implications. This magnum opus of Blyth is not merely a reference volume for experts in the fields of medicine, toxicology, and legal investigation; it is also an engaging read for anyone intrigued by the lethal dance of chemistry and biology. Poisons: Their Effects and Detection offers an indispensable resource, steeped in scientific knowledge yet accessible enough to captivate enthusiasts of history, mystery, and the macabre. It is a book that promises to enthrall its readers with tales of danger and detection, even as it educates them on an undeniably significant aspect of human interaction with the natural world.