Furthermore it is topically active (Boye 191 1, Phisalix 1922) and 

 is capable of inducing physical states of simulated death charac- 

 terised by immobility, peripheral paralysis and extremely low 

 metabolic rates (Akashi 1880, Kimura 1927, Leber 1927, Fukada 

 andTani 1937, 1941, Fukada 1951, Halstead 1978, Davis 1983). It 

 would seem, in closing, that, if zombification has a real pharma- 

 cological basis, the active constituent of the toxic preparation 

 would undoubtedly be tetrodotoxin. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



This research was undertaken whilst 1 was supported by the 

 Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada 

 (Doctoral Fellowship). Direct financial support for all phases of 

 the project was generously provided by the International Psychi- 

 atric Research Foundation. My botanical determinations were 

 verified by Prof. Richard A. Howard of the Arnold Arboretum, 

 Harvard University and the expert on the flora of the Caribbean. 

 Zoological determinations were furnished by the staff of the 

 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. In par- 

 ticular 1 would like to thank ProL Ernest Williams and Messrs. 

 Greg Mayer, Jose Rosado, James Knight, Franklin Ross, 

 Karsten Hartel and John Hunter. Complete sets of voucher spec- 

 imens have been deposited at the M.C.Z. (animals) and (plants) at 

 the Economic Herbarium of Oakes Ames in the Botanical 

 Museum of Harvard University. I would especially like to thank 

 Prof. Richard Evans Schultes for reviewing the manuscript, and 

 Dr. Bruce Halstead for providing bibliographical material. The 

 zombi project was born of the vision of three men: Mr. David 

 Merrick, Prof. Heinz Lehmann, and the late Prof. Nathan S. 

 Kline. 



In Haiti I received essential logistical and intellectual assistance 

 from a number of individuals. Dr. Lamarque Douyon shared his 

 insights concerning medical aspects of zombification. In the Hai- 

 tian countryside, I worked directly with several houngan who 

 openly shared with me their remarkable knowledge. In particular 

 I would like to thank Messrs. M. Pierre, Levoynt, J. Belfort, M. 

 Bonnet, La Bonte and Madame Jacques. Finally I would like to 



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