Suicide pills

euclid

Where did I put me specs?
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 13, 2008
Messages
1,964
Reaction score
229
Location
Paradise
Website
www.jjtoner.com
Does anyone know anything about suicide pills? I'm interested in the WW2 period. I need to know:

Were suicide pills inserted into teeth in that period?
If so, how could they be removed for use?
Was there some sort of hinged mechanism or removable crown on the tooth?

Any information or relevant links gratefully received.

Thanks

JJ
 

Glyax

Self-proclaimed Wordsmith
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 20, 2015
Messages
487
Reaction score
54
Location
Colorado
Ohhhh, spiffy secret spy stuff!!!

I'm interested to see what others say, but I know Camp X (I believe it was called) had a manual that came out covering how to do all the high speed low drag super secret stuff for American spies during WW2. Which nationality are you looking at?

Also, here's the wiki for Suicide pills. It should have helpful information, as well as relevant links :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_pill
-----------------

During World War II, British and American secret services developed the "L-pill" (lethal pill) which was given to agents going behind enemy lines. It was an oval capsule, approximately the size of a pea, consisting of a thin-walled glass ampoule covered in brown rubber (to protect against accidental breakage) and filled with a concentrated solution of potassium cyanide. It could be carried in the mouth, shaped as a false tooth; if it was accidentally swallowed it would pass harmlessly through the body. To use, the agent would bite down on the pill, crushing the ampoule to release the fast-acting poison. Brain death occurs within minutes and the heartbeat stops shortly after.
 

frimble3

Heckuva good sport
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
11,574
Reaction score
6,396
Location
west coast, canada
Am I the only person who thought "Eww, broken glass crunching in your mouth", before remembering 'doesn't matter, dead in a couple of minutes'?
 

Roxxsmom

Beastly Fido
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 24, 2011
Messages
23,083
Reaction score
10,780
Location
Where faults collide
Website
doggedlywriting.blogspot.com
We just covered this in class last week (during our unit on metabolism). Potassium cyanide kills via the inhibition of cytochrome C oxidase enzyme in the inner mitochondrial membrane. This shuts down the electron transport chain, which means the cells stop making ATP (the most important source of cellular energy). Death follows from energy starvation, and it can occur very quickly via hypoxia of neurons in the brain (in a matter of minutes) if the toxin is absorbed quickly. However, it doesn't always go this smoothly, as various factors can affect the speed at which it is absorbed, most notably stomach acidity.