What are blood agents classified as in terms of their effects on the body?

Blood agents are classified as systemic poisons because they disrupt the function of the body's organs and systems by acting on the blood. When introduced into the body, these agents interfere with the ability of blood to carry oxygen, leading to hypoxia or asphyxiation at the cellular level. This means that the effects of blood agents extend throughout the entire body rather than being confined to a specific area, which is characteristic of systemic poisons.

In contrast, stimulants, while they may have effects on the nervous system, do not fit the definition of blood agents since they do not primarily affect blood function or oxygen transport. Additionally, while some agents may be inhaled, the classification of blood agents focuses more on their systemic poisoning nature rather than their method of entry into the body. Therefore, the primary reason blood agents fall under the category of systemic poisons is due to their widespread lethal impact on the body’s biological processes.