Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 51 — page 104: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION gen which should be men- tioned and which occurs in the body. This is adreno- chrome, a breakdown product of the naturally occurring adrenaline. It is produced by a faulty biochemistry, and is capable of producing hal- lucinations similar to those of the drugs mentioned above. All these substances which produce these effects have been found to have the follow- ing arrangement in their struc- tural chemical formule: R-C-CH,-NH-CHs, This grouping in the mole- cule is associated with in- hibitors of amine oxidase. This enzyme is concerned with the proper functioning of the biochemistry of the brain. The biochemistry of the brain and the action of the hallucinogens has not fully been worked out, but the inhibition of certain enzymes has shown that glucose is one item of particular significance in the process. WONDROUS VISIONS To appreciate the signific- ance of these drugs and their use by mankind it is necessary to go back into history. The subject is vast and for our purpose it is sufficient to state that man has always sought for some panacea in his nor- mal life, but in addition there is also a long history of drug-taking associated with religious ceremonies. It is in this respect that mescalin is taken in the present day by the Indians. Leaves of the cactus aré dried and sliced and the resultant pieces of material are known as peyotl berries. These are chewed on special occasions and during religious ceremonies. There. are differences of opinion regarding the effects of this practice. Christian mission- aries maintain that the cus- tom destroys will-power, but on the other hand an American philosopher who studied the question thoroughly has re- ported differently. No doubt this matter will be resolved in due course, but meanwhile it is of interest to. note that the drug mescaline and the native peyotl have not been controlled under poison regulations, nor narcotic con- trol, either national or inter- national. Mescalin effects have been described in detail by Mr. Aldous Huxley in his book The Doors of Perception. The impressions of any subject 103 comiclooks.cormn