In 1938 a Swiss chemist by the name of Albert Hoffman was working at Sandoz Laboratories in Basel, Switzerland. He was researching chemicals extracted from the fungus, ergot and was attempting to develop a stimulant for blood circulation. One of the chemicals was lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) which was deemed to have no use by Sandoz. 5 years later on April 16th, 1943, Hofmann decided to reexamine LSD. He accidentally absorbed a small amount while synthesizing a batch of the substance and felt the effects.