NARCOTIC PLANTS AND STIMULANTS SAFFORD. 401 



entire, resembles a carrot or radish rather than a mushroom, and 

 when cut into longitudinal slices or irregular pieces, would never be 

 mistaken for a fungus. Its chemical properties were investigated 

 first by Dr. Lewin of Berlin, in 1888 ; afterward by Dr. Heffter of 

 Leipzig. It was also studied by Drs. D. W. Prentiss and Francis 

 P. Morgan of Washington. Alkaloids derived from it have been 

 named lophophorine, anhalonine, and mezcaline. 



IDENTITY WITH NARCOTIC PEYOTL. 



Sahagun, who described the drugs of the ancient Mexicans from 

 {•specimens brought to him by Indian herb doctors, failed to recognize 

 the identity of the teonanacatl and peyotl of the Chichimecas, al- 

 though he attributes similar narcotic properties to each. The latter 

 he describes as follows : 



There is another herb, like tunas ^ of the earth ; it is called peiotl ; it is white ; 

 it is produced in the north country ; those who eat or drink it see visions either 

 frightful or laughable; this intoxication lasts two or three days and then 

 ceases ; it is a common food of the Chichimecas, for it sustains them and gives 

 them courage to fight and not feel fear nor hunger nor thirst; and they say 

 that it protects them from all danger. ^ 



The plant itself was described by Hernandez as follows, under the 

 heading De Peyotl Zacatecensi, seu radice molli et lanuginosa : 



The root is of nearly medium size, sending forth no branches nor leaves 

 above ground, but with a certain wooUiness adhering to it on account of which it 

 could not be aptly figured by me. Both men and women are said to be harmed 

 by it. It appears to be of a sweetish taste and moderately hot. Ground up 

 and applied to painful joints it is said to give relief. Wonderful properties 

 are attributed to this root (if any faith can be given to what is commonly said 

 among them on this point). It causes those devouring it to be able to foresee 

 and to predict things ; such, for instance, as whether on the following day the 

 enemy will make an attack upon them; or whether the weather will continue 

 favorable ; or to discern who has stolen from them some utensils or anything 

 else ; and other things of like nature which the Chichimecas really believe they 

 have found out. On which account this root scarcely issues forth but conceals 

 itself in the groiind, as if it did not wish to harm those who discover it and 

 eat it. ' 



From the above description, which applies perfectly to the plant 

 from Zacatecas shown in plate 6, it follows that the peyotl zacate- 

 censis of Hernandez is identical with Lophophora Williamsii. Speci- 

 mens of the drug collected in northern Zacatecas by Dr. Francis E. 

 Lloyd are shown in plate 7. They bear little resemblance to the 

 mushroom-like buttons shown in plate 5, and it is not surprising that 

 they should have been supposed to be distinct from the teonanacatl 

 by the early Spanish writers. 



iTuna, the Spanish name for the fruit of the Opuntia, or prickly pear. 



2 Sahagun (1490-1590). Hist, general de las cosas de Nueva Espana (cd. Bustanianto) 

 3:241. 1830. 



3 Hernandez (1415-1578). De Hist, plant. Nov. Hi.sp. 3:70. 1790. 



