1887
Peyote Effect September 4, 2018 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1525/california/9780520285422.003.0002
Summary
The chapter discusses the early exploration of peyote by European and American scientists, highlighting John Briggs' writings in 1887 and James Mooney's experiences with the Kiowa in 1891. German scientists were more successful in identifying four alkaloids from peyote by the mid-1890s compared to American researchers. Additionally, notable studies included self-experimentation by English intellectuals under Havelock Ellis, although their findings did not lead to widely accepted breakthroughs in mental health applications.
Study at a glance
| Population | European and American scientists studying peyote |
|---|---|
| Key finding | German scientists identified four different alkaloids in peyote by the mid-1890s, while American researchers struggled to unlock its chemistry. |
Abstract
In this chapter, we consider the moment when European and American scientists “discovered” peyote. John Briggs was one of the first Americans to write about peyote (in 1887), followed shortly by James Mooney, who recounted his experiences among the Kiowa of Oklahoma at the Anthropological Association in Washington DC in 1891. Around this time, the German scientist Louis Lewin encountered peyote while on a trip to the United States. Americans proved less adept at unlocking the chemistry of the cactus than their German counterparts, who identified four different alkaloids in the cactus by the mid-1890s. This period also saw notable studies of peyote by investigators in the United Kingdom, including some fairly dramatic self-experimentation among English intellectuals overseen by Havelock Ellis. Though their work did not yield widely accepted breakthroughs, these researchers were early pioneers in the exploration of the use of peyote and then mescaline as a tool for mental health professionals.