VISIT TO THE USPHS AT LEXINGTON, KY.

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00153389
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 21, 2025
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: September 4, 1953

17V.1:1F- r
4 September 1953
tremorandum For the Record
1.- The writer. and Dr. Felikan visited Dr. Isbell at Lexington on the 2nd and 3id.
of September to observe and discuss project (Exa.) A good deal of the single .,
dose work ha e now been done and several interesting developments have occurred.
2. The experiment was started by establishing the subjects (5) in the test ward
and-allowing them to become used to the personnel, environment, etc. for a few
weeks. The normal values for these subjects for a large battery of tests were
then determined. The tests include physiological-, neurological, psychological,
and Such thing d as clinical observation and EEgy etc. The subjeots were then given
daily doses of LSD and-placebo and the testing continued. The doses given were
of the order of 100 gamma. All of the usual symptoms were reported on the first
dose; .however, -.hen that sere dose wae repeated on the next days no symptoms
developed. In the course of further testing it became more evident that a tolerance
was rapidly-developed by the .subjects. At the present time the data indicate that
after a dose of ICC gamma on. a given day, at least 4 days have to elapse before he
will again show symptoms of the drug. We observed one subject who was showing no
symptoms an 135 gamma after having had 80 gamma the previous da7 and then we saw
him the next day after he had been given leo gaema. The only symptoms he was
showing at this level were Aieht patellar hyperreflexia and very slight mydriasis.
He indicated in all these trials thathe felt--no drug action while on the orig inal
80 gamma dose he had reported intense, reaction in all departzents. It would seen
at first glance that this property-wruld impose a...211122mi..EEL]r:EfiLhe 1.17a
usefulness of this drus.
3; Dr. laklerhae gotten very- interesting results from photic stimulation while
running the Ens on reactlpg euhelects. His general conclusion is that LSD poten-
tiates the visual illusions brought on by this tyre of stimulation. One subject
had clonus and approached an epileptic seizure under this treatment. He saw
himself become first larger and then prozressivel smaller until he had to con-
clude that he was observing himself in the embryonic state. At this point a marl
with a shotgun er.tered the picture in a threatening way and the patient was so
close to corn-u/sion that the experiment, had to be teminated. The subject in+.er-
preted the e-isode as an attempt on 'is mother's part to abort she s carrying
him. He also felt that Dr. 7.iikler was sLocle.in.g him. with the electrodes and that he
Wikler) . road his subconsciouS Another s-ub.,?", ect s-ot a strong
'
centered Ei.rotwid his r'ecir-es-s.eci-.. te �
.4. The supply situation with regard to LSD is critical. Dr. Isbell is in contgct
with Yr. Erickson at Sandoz and has been premised whatever ..aterial becomeavailable
but the outlook is not good. -A supply of LAE has also been ordered and while there
is very- little in this country at the present time, the outlook for more is very
good. Dr. Isbell plead to go to high doses of LSD to test reversal of the tolerance,
so. the experiment is using much more material than was orieinally indicated. Even
if Sandoz can supply all of the LSD that hae been ordered, it probably will not be
possible to complete the present experiment as originally planned. The LAE was
ordered as = first attempt to fill this gap.
5. To sum up the results so far, it has been found that tolerance developvs on the
first dose of LSD and four or five days are required to overcome it even with a 50;.;
increase in dose, LSD plus photic stimulation carries the subject back in time And
tn=?:es all ru't'.ve reel.ir,:s1 the tcbv4
in th-
been those involving the size nd color of hands and feet, and LSD potentiates the
effects of 7hctic stimulation. In addition: no toxic manifestations as exibited by
liver, urine, or blood changes have been found. There is no cross chan;:e in the
EEG. The r:ub,fects sleep all ri7ht the r'-ht followinE = dcsel but soetime= cc7:_a4n
of a hancvar t e 'ext :hey don't ea: so much under the influence as icr'l
(5CD cal vs usuaI25:0). Several physical changes during intoxication have been
observed. 7he: blcod rre:,sure is "01,2P1)1y e7evate-I from Around 115 to near 3;-.:7
-about 100 gamma, 'and the pulse rate increases along with the respiratory rata. The
pupils- are uniformly dilated by about 3mm. Hyperreflexia seems always to occur.
6- In :roceed'r-, Dr. Tsbell feel his'ay to '1ihTr doses in an attcrtt
to
break down :he tolerance. He also plans to carry out the chronic testin7 :ore or
;:-1nned, but 't yill no (1-.t :o at :er levels o'
Fe -rill bcfn wor? wi'h LAE -,,hen he has a s.tpply and wh.sn the 11.,JD eaq:crisent will
llow it.
4'16 1.416i � y
- _ectass Les!: m914-7,1 8 75�
date - B 1977
7: Dr. Isbell has talked to Charley-Winters of Merks about the new Nalline
.derivatives that were discussed at the last meeting. He found that all of
the good materials had already been turned over to him. He felt that there
� would be little profit to us to try anymore of these materials, since none
of them show any real promise. Uniformly, they have such serious side and ,
after effects that they are quite danzerous to use. He pointed out that,Cait
41eraggt
while testing one of the acetylmethadols in a patient, almost lost.
the man and had to make a wild telephone call to Lexington to find out what
to do to bring the man out of it.
� 8. The writer rakes humble apology for the interminable length of this report.
Declassified by 187475
--
date
4 FEB 1977