The times., 1899-04-09

temporary Review. The Smithsonian In
stitution esteemed Mr.. Ellis paper so high
ly hat it reprinted it in its report for 1897
issued from the press only a week ago
Neither Mr.. Ellis nor his friends ever took
more than three or four buttons. For =
beginner that seems to be the correct dose
although for sensitive persons such an
amount may prove rather too powerful and
rapid in its action.
Although all the senses are to some ex-
tent stimulated by mescal, 1t was the
visual perceptions that were chiefly affected
in the cases of Mr.. Ellis and his friends.
Mr.. Ellis himself enjoyed rayishing dis
plays OF color-now a succession of hues
and then an infinite variety of the tiuts OF
one hue. For instance. al one moment he
saw in rapid progression scarlets. Grim
sons and pinks, at another time there was
a distinct predominance OF golden color,
The first effect OF the drug. however wa,
the tendency of a printed page at which
he was gazing TO assume a blue or violet
border and at frequent intervals thereafter
he was conscious of an exceptional album
dance of this hue. Almost the only after
effect which he records was heightened
appreciation of blue and violet.
Again there were great alterations in
the brightness Of the show. Sometimes the
colors were sOmbre and sometimes ex-
ceedingly vivid Indeed there were mo-
ments when he seemed to be gazing upon
most dazzling assortment of jewels.
Form was a less conspicuous phase of the
display, yet it was not excluded therefrom.
There were lace patterns, arabesquss por-
celain designs. and finally picturesque hu-
man figures. Occasionally the sense of
smell was excited delightfully."-.
Most of the visual phenomena were per
ceived when the eXperimenter's eyes were
closed but If he raised his lids and looked
about him any conspicuous object, like a
gasjet, was likely to assume fantastic
shapes and constantly changing proper
tiOns. 1t would enlarge and contract with
amazing frequency. Ii has been suggested
that the Kiowas have definite object in
keeping fire blazing before them when
ever they indulge in a mescal seance
Mr.. Ellis also tried the effect of music
having secured the cooperation of a clever
pianist. Without knowing what the COM
positions to which he listened were. Mr.
Ellis nevertheless found some resemblance
between the images suggested to his mind
and the names given to the music by the
composers Sehumann's Prophet Bird"
called up feathery forms; "A Flower
Piece" provoked shapes of vegetation, and
"Scheherazade' produced an effect of float
ing white raiment.
uc aIllSl On WHOM experiments were
tried had a weak heart. and experienced
some unpleasant physical sensations He
suffered slightly from nausea, which was
relieved when a biscuit was handed to him
10 eat; and at times he felt severe pains
in the neighborhood OF the heart He
also reported an oppressive sense of suf-
location. singing in the ears. hot eyes
and hands, and tremors. But he emerged
from the ordeal without harm. His visions
were a little different from those OF Mr.
Ellis, but on the whole the excitation of
the color sense was the predominant fea-
ture. All of the definite forms that he per-
ceiyed were grotesque. and suggested Au-
brey Beardsleys conceptions.
The time which elapsed from the first
dose 10 the last perceptible effect of the
drug was usually about twelve hours.
One might lie down-and he was apt to
feel sufficiently indolent, after q little TO
do so-but the subject was not sleepy. and
he also found that he possessed a certain
amount of intellectual independence. Mr..
Ellis says:
"Mescal intoxication may be described
as chiefly saturnalia of the specific
senses. and above all, an orgy of vision. A
large part of its charm lies in the halo OF
beauty which is casts around the simplest
teal fairyland, where all the senses now
and then join the play. but the mind itself
remains self-possessed spectator. Mescal
intoxication thus differs from the other ar
titicial paradises which drugs procure. I'm
der the Influence of alcohol. as in normal
dreaming, the intellect is impaired though