[PAGE 1]
57\* tij L. jeeph s. i bhttt. PUBLIC HPALTH SEPVICE 111 Assistant Dtrectot DAIF. Neverber 1, lo6 Maticaz! inatttute of Mantal Health, Nik

Chisf, Leternational Crganisatioa Ralatica. Eranch, INA, OSC

sisit Saple of Pirer Methysticu

The enclosed sazple of the rhizone of siper rethvaticua ia soot to you per our telenbone converaation yesturday. I understand froapeupia vho heve beza ezposed to the cecoction that it has a profound eftect. In small quaaticies (cae-halr a cocozut shell of the liquid) it causes corpleta paralysis for 3 to 4 hours, vith loas ot conactousness for abcut half thit tizs. The lccal practitloners frequently use it as an anesthetic vhen dzrving teeth.

The traditional mathod,of preparation of the k'ava ia to chsw the root uatil it is iapregaited vith salivs, pound it in a wooden bowl, cover it tith water, let it stand for 4 hours. then atrain..

I hive not triad this variety; hovever, the taate of the liquid =ade fron the deizd roct ia Fiji is reminiscant of tha szell of diskhsater and locks as thcugh soneone had washed dirty ice crena platea in it.

Arthur S. Oaborne

Hedical Director

18务5