SURVEY ON LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE WITH MULTIPLE SUBSEQUENT DOCUMENTS DATED 18 MAY 1953 THRU 10 NOVEMBER 1955

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00184428
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: January 21, 2025
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: May 4, 1953

A
Chief, dJcini Disision, 5.1
Chief, Illoehertistry & pharnacalocy Drench, SI
Surrey on I.Tsorgie Acid Diethylesticim
38 /7
YitIv 1951
L. 5,11rtitt,nd horsvith is a bria,f resume of the rr.thnr exteheire
zotrru,. on Lys,)mic Acid Diotilit-ni x3zjk8n by the staff =Albers
this brarch upon the request
2 e4Qt. data be..ng assembled for the subeequent attc:Itiun,
of I a obtained with the cc,operation !
f ollcering, individual s
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AMOS11OPIM11060 ( 2 flay 5))
/44.11110,84Aw
Old Diataxylmmids tum-25)
t
I � , r Iissuzel ;1: .
Although, the e.ffecta at ergot have bean known and accararienceditr�;�,01,.,'-,��.:,�!,
rarty countries darn through recorded historyl, the' parent coupound�
acid, was not discovered until 193L:iTtrii1ik affect on the rind was' not
(3) '
obeerved until 1943 ..� .L.StF� Produces a wide rungs of pharmacological,
siological andcpsythophysiological reactions in both ran and ani,mals1;4,''
Some of, the, ;iore outstanding effects are, the rental con.fusien,',Ialp7,
iessness and tutrisae' arnciety *ticks are proluoed by minute dope of, this ;,,;;
5 7 8
, substance Based upon these reactions. its potential use in ottensivFO�
psychological wart are arid in ,I.nterrog atlas is conaiderable arsi it als.), become
- ; ; .1.. � :',:,,��(r
,erxe of tbe most inix)rtant of the peychochettiaal agerrts.� The r 10(114 *.4 action,
al though no t c maple telly known to date, is . believed , to be due 4 to an } reasod,
glycogen FieLabolism wit.h a prcbahl,y block caf,,the hararteronophoephato catabellsr.,
�'�, Tp ,ctatz there, la no known antidote?.
`
Orekt ; interest lies br�en shvin by Soria t bloc countriod this; cr.r.pc,ural
rvliorto ans available which. indicate coraiderahle traffic' in thir(idrui,'
and. the raw orgirt, frcn which it. is prepared.' One* report indicates _that
suf icient ma Lerial for 50,0004,000 doses , bras purch.ased by� the ,,Sov iate � f
10 � �.: .�r,�; �4
,7tritparland in 1951 . Dia to lcrw potency of the ergot mlincted in /Ant
3�.flerutanr:e rithes and co-workers hare undertaken the aultivatiory
� . � � ,
DS selected strains of ergot and the artificial infection o/ both ,ryv and
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barley, the latter succeeding readily. , i.tothes .40 started drpuri,smts �
-�,--�-
,',I� . .
;1
' with biocyrIthi f potent ess a
...agent/ found in ergot.12, ." Manufacture a( ly-sorgic �,���
' 'i �� ,. ;4^ '
acid is controlled by SA11DOZ Ltd.' of Switsorland to whom the patent was .losi'lnil, .�
�s�.� �
This conpany had a virtual monopoly on the purc.h.ase of ergot grown in thls
r� country. It is reported, however, that , thsliNalallia is currently
111 , �
obtaining 10-12 tons ,of ergot sach month fro* screened rya in Michigan Int;�,;,�
. ,
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t the U.S. considorable interest has been aroused in psychocher.....icalal-,ente
pa.rt cularl,y in lysergic acid. 'r At present extensive researzh on . t.4is
1 '
potuld is ,buirw, idone, by �
j� ; ir
,
1.c
sit '.1�������
undo i� Ulla c ontrac t. an '�
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D-1,,y-sor4ic Acid Dlot.ftylooLiiia is a paythesciaectical �.-eat or oonaidaule-1a'.1-
; 411'1)0W:it/41 value as a stratagic ofrento 1,
3civict n has shown Rreati interast in it uhd ha
,
, arable apantltiss of
.; Ti f1.4.10.)7. Lts. or 5 Its()
Fnbatonco, al.thoug
asaital ogee
',44Locarch on this scent is gol.ng on in this ootastrys both in tho field of
the syn-t.essris of &rivet/ass ard payabalogiaal stall's.
� The a/at:oats at this acapzext is long and difficult, aai starba cccur
in the organic trynthemts. Tim yiald of this material is ineobst to be vary
�
� abro:ki ie rasearch
itan cbtained thrown partial riot:maim Ira* srget
Itoo ; .3:: . ., ei ',.',5. it,' ,f,,.',, '";�Li .1. in. f
6.3 biosynthesisbe
is ,ira; undartoiess in this crrintry, althr-Ach it, la appliod
.':' n thplant isiortituta of Cistorslabsn of East
, :, � � '� ,i-,-,.�?,
., . .
tyit. 7. ..., 3fro c.Linical,dats are,availablA ,on its ass both in ,this courrtry and,, in
w., ik,u. �,; ..,,',..spf;.,,si 9.!.".!,17-. .'; 1 `,. : ''',, ' '� ,",::hqr :. ' , ,,,r�...',,,,,t .".., i '� t ,
rl, rl,
'elf t it
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1.-.13urwer, Alfred, Hedisinal CassAi.s�ti7., Vol.. I, pp. 350, 1451.
� Jacobs, W. A. & I.. C. Craig, Journal or Ilol.Chas. Told 104 '
PP. 5147� (19310
-3.. Stoll, W. A., Schweiz. Arch. f. Astral. a. Prychiat., pp. 60,
(1947), ,
,-.
. SandosLt.i., Report (mil the Pharmacology Iaborstorims, Horembar,1952,
., Condrau, O., *Clinical Eaperionoes with Lypergic Acid-Diethylanide'in
Nornal and rantalLy Sick Persons.7,:, Acta Psychiat. at Neural., Vol. ,
PP. 9-32. 1949.
. Porrer, D.R. & Goldner, R.D. ritxperirserrt Physiological Studies vitli
. 1,y1,rr,ic A,.:1,1 'LliethyLcsaide (LSD)-25)�. Arch. of lietu�olot7.and Psyc , :liatr7 1:4
-
. pp., 65, 5:33...588. 1951 ., - ' ...,,. . , -,..-
.
Tape Row:tied Interrogation of
,...._ , n .
. Fri vu
, , ...�
4
SavaGe, Chailo:.!.. "Ici,-1 :,-,,c Acid Diethirlataicka (1.3D-25) 4 C__..uaLcal-Pty�
choluglcal Study' f,:iessoroll Eis,}ort Prct /21� "Cfn. -1 6.:1:6.02. 9 sopuali),7- r �
.
19`.j.....:1A, Aserican JcPartIAL oi isychlatry, 'our.. 1.n.1, pt. d96, War, l�,.,
;10,1',1i. ,'� L ft, , ,
.' li . liuyo r-Oross, McAdam, W,,, liallar, J .5i ,. 1;11"J !I Londipo, Vol. 160, pp. 027-
, .
1-"t
' 0, 82t1.7' 1951. �� "Psychological. & Iiica:hernical771 ,. s ot Ly:st!isg,lc,l'il:;ti,e,'
r Jut )�/�!4�..)11
rcthos, K (1 , FA Silber K. *Cultivation of k.rgot" Die Pharnazie, VII, , pp.316-* A
313, 1952, ' , ' t�
12.
Infornation Irani Etiology Consultant,
.13)Patent Specification 579,144-' App].. Data (U.L.), April 20, 1944.
August 6, 1946. � �
Ili. Special RI port by Dr. D. PL. Crooks, Dapartasont of Agriculture,'Dirisiun
rceacc.c, 1d1oin..L ,fa 3pet.ial Crops , ' I ,' �
. Docker, A. N. �The Yrjellopei.halogy of the 'georgic Acid Distlirlanide
- Lfleat.� Winn. Z. Nervocchk. Vol. II, pp. 1...54. 1949. ID. 7140993. 't..'''',
--
16. Rinks", 11,, DeShois, 11..1. 'lids, R. W. h Salomon, H.C. wlisperisosatal ;
Schiscptirchia,-Like Sys/Acme.* laterican Journal of Psycliiatrx, Vol. 108,
, pp. 572-578, 1952. , .. ' � � , . , ,s,�' '; ., r .
17, .t:,,DeSbosi, Ii.J, Rialcol, 1L., I. Solomon, K. C. 15:ent-al Chacges VaperieentaLly ;
� 1.4)�,; Produced by Lysergic Laid Disthylsai TI:op ds.� , Psychiatric quartor1y, VoL, 26,
t_i_ -L,' , pp. 33--53, 1952. ', '. ,,, ,',.., .. . ' , , , .... - � � , ',f!,;',,,,r� -
' . ', ' . ' 'V ' ..1 ' s' - ; ,,..
., , 4 .-
,. ',..� .,�f 4 ,..
44'
137,1, Itoch, P.11., Ca,ttaLl, JoPe, it Pete*, D� na Its �Lffects of Kescali and 1 V.
t
Lysergic ,Ar....i.d" ,,, A, orican Journal of Psychiatry0 Vol. 108/ p.r. 579-1,614, 1952,:, '
r,.,..,,, +4, 1,1 441�1 0", N / - . . / � r � Of A ,...,,,, ,1,, , ., . , � , I \
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44. ����141147-7
Chief, Chemical Division, TSS
'Deputy Director of Security
' Newspaper Article of 14 May 1953.
1
18 May 1953
Reference is made to our conversation concerning the attached
newspaper article which appeared in the 14 'May issue of the Washington
Star. Please nbte the report fi.om Gallup, New Mexico reported by,,
doctors that re iidents of that.,tity have been bothered.by a wave
4.
nausea.andlightheadedness. Although the possibility is remote,'� it may
' � � -
/ � be that "seranirnh could be involved and it is suggested that a routine
inquiry, through Public Health, be made as to the facts of the case.
�
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PRIORITY CONFIDENTIAL TO WASHINGTON F41118011w.
//�
P/ I t
a R.1-7/
TO ONSISCR SCI BRAIMI1kall001011111W-ssEcuRrry
INFORMTION -CITE 040111111r
LYSEIGIC ACID AMIDES ARE' PR)DUCED BY THE SANDOZ CCMPANY IN BASEL,
SWITZERLAND. THIS CrtiPANY HAS A US RYI US SUBSIDIARY IN .NEW YOKK Ft }4
WHICH YOU CAN OBTAN A S/UIPWE FOR PHA:MACOL,XlICAL AND CLINICAL TESTIhG.
THE DIRECTOR OF I HE US RPT US CCRYAN T 1:141011111111MIlinitMailiferer��
THESE CatPOUNDS ARE BE!-NG INVES'NA iCtYI, A.MUNG OTHERS,
BY1111611t06"1411416100.04,1110,11100$0111r
041101404.RPINNIMIN ITALY RAN EHXTALLKE COMP()UNDS
INDEPENDENTLY AND AS EVIDENCED BY HIS PuBLICATION HE HAS PREPARED AND
STUDIED PHAPMACOLa3ICALLY AND CLINICALLY SUCH CuMNIr.- FOR OBSTETRICAL
EFFECTS AS WELL AS FOR SYtiPATHOLYIIC F.FPECTI-, �,�:1 AS FAF KlicAi, NOT
FOR THEIR EFFECTS ON THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. HIS WURI. PUBLISHED
IN RDIDIcorrri ISTITUTO SUpERICRE DI_SANITA, VoLli0 IT, PART..X, L',;'.7 RFT
RENDICUNTI LISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITA, VOLUME XV, ?MC X, 1952 -- A
SPECIAL NaDER ON SYNTHETIC EIOOT.
AN AR:fILLE IN MODERN HOSPITAL, MAY 1953 1 AGE 98 RPT MAY 1953, PA-G6 98,
-- �
THE
EFGOT ALKALOIDS -- THE RELATION OF STRUCTURE TO OXYTOCIC PROPERTIES
BY EDWARD F. DOMINO.,.,MD.R.FT,ED.JACD F. DOMINO, HD, CONTAINS A LIST CF
_
ERENCES ON THIS SUBJECT.
SANDOZ AN 0 41111011h.RE THE (JULY SYNTHESIZERS OF THE MILDES THAT a)URCE
�
I
4/4 // 38/i
1. Returned herewith is your report on Lysergic Acid and
related compounds which youjorwardedito this Office for study.
�
� 2. .In the writerte opinion, this is an excellent work and
one which should be disseminated to proper personnel as soon as pos-
sible since the knowledge contained herein is important and definitely
needed. '� !.
_
. 3. The writer feels that while it is wise to avoid expressing
_Agency interest in uso of the chemicald mentioned, it is very foolish
. not to rake certain of �ilr.. people cognizant of LSD and related psycho.,
genic chcmicals.
14 It would be greatly appreciated if when this paper is
'published that the Security Office be given at least four copies.
5. � he psychiatrist 1410 worked with
the ART= group unt 1 his retirement 30 June 1954) studied the ,
pamphlet and he commented in writing concerning the paper as followsf,
"A conprehonsivu descriRtion and superior analysis of the chemical
and its effect,"
6. The courtesy in allowing thid Branch to exanine this
- paper is greatly appreciated. _
� , .�, , .
� " � �
�
'.;.,
�
� �
�
, � �
-
AL approximately 9:0 Al, fe 19 .Jui 1.25J140110100*--Viorirt----.
.nformed the writer that at thr !resent time there is being held
in ashinrton sore type of scientific cenfrrenco in which4WANIWAW N-6-/
41111116and American scientists have been discussing various items of
interest to intelligence. Farticularl interesting was the fact that
Aone of the scientific officers in de a tment stated
that a WORRITIOMP who is now in Washington, scientist, 14- 45V/
rode the statement that experimentally LSD haft been used in interroga-
tion and had proved remarkably successful. .is alleged to
have stated that 100 gamra of LSD was given to a officer who had 11-40,
been instructed not to r; a signilLeant military secret. After:-
1 de /
the LSD was given to the offi If
all. under interrogation, he gave /
all the details of the secret which was recorded and after the effects
of the LSD had worn off, the officer had no knowledre revealinfil(44
the information (complete arnasia). Not only that but the H- B/
officer did not believe he had revealed the information and was
adounded it had been revealed in such complete, accurate detail.
2. 111000160111V wanted :to find out whether,or-not the writer or
any representatives interested in interrogation from Security could
talk with ..if an arrangement along those lines could .be made.
As far as knew, WOMMINOMPR was still in Washington and
may ossitAy be here for the next several days. The writer asked)0611
to obtain all details possible through his own staff which
will arain meet in conference with theldINIMOI andillalgrocirntistsH
and find out how loni!ligrilMirill be in town and whether or not
wignaIrtould be willing to talk along lines of interest.
3. The writer informetift000000e that he in turn would put
the problem up to Security and see if authorization could be obtained
for .the writer, pcseiblyVIMMINSOMAkand pOs::ibly others to talk
to VONINININNW particularly along lines of "dTensive techniques."
h. This information is extremely important because it is the
first actual reported use of LSD in successful interrogation along
intelligence lines although there is some information along criminal
lines coming_out of Germany. flue facts, however, and details are at
the present .writing very limited.
6144600111Pagak
20 July 195h
-10-/
38
Chief, Medicine Divieion, Si
Acting Chief, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, M/SI
Experiments with LSD-25
,
1. Accordin7 to t! Tperiments
with ID-25 have been carrieu _1 le e: ,est the
deses required, at least 12 human seljects of not too high mental;ty
were selccterl. Thcy :rere '3nly that Th uae being tested
and promised that nothing serious or dangerous would hannen to them.
They were given doses of from 50 to 150 , some on alternate and
others on every fourth day. During the intoxication they realized that
something was happening, but were never told exactly what. All of
the testing was done under the supervision of a trained psychiatrist.
2. A dose of 150 was finally selected to be used on a test
subject in the interest o telli ence. The subject is believed
to have been an . He was told the nature
of the test and then given the LSD-25 in water by a psychiatrist who
was the only person to witness the test. Although no 'ddrect questions,
were asked, the psychiatrist led the general conversaticns into
appropriate channels and the subject disclosed certain information
which he had been previously warned against revealing. At the
conclusion of the experiment,!the subject stated that to the best
of his knowledge he had disclosed nothing. When confronted by the
statements he had made, he was amazed.
3. The dosage varies greatly from person to person, but it
seems that the higher the mentality, the higher the dose, and
conversely.
4. The source of IZD-25 was Sandoz, Ltd., of Switzerland.
Further, Sandoz has supplied several laLoraterie w iarnnle LSD-25
to conduct research, including the
In addition, anyone- in the world who wan s samples of this material
may obtain them providing, of course, they are legitimately engaged
in research pertaining to the subject. This presumably- applies to
East Germany and any other Bloc countries, as well as to the USSR.
5. 'feels that the (THU could produce this material
;,..t any time, 1 i 11,=+s nbt already done so, and if it is not obtaining
adequate samples directly from Sandoz.
IOW
6. It appears as though th- activity of L51:-25 decreased rather
markedly around the fourth day afLe.r it is ,ut into solution. One
explanation for this fact, advanced by , is that the
few bacteria in water are either metabolizing the LSD-25 or their
by-products are destroying it or otherwise inactivating it. The
magnitude of the decrease in activity in four days is roughly forty
per cent or thereabouts.
7. This is the only experiment of its kind known bY
tc have been conducted in the interest of intelligence in /4'61- /
He had no knowledge of any future tests with LSO-25. It must be
kept in mind that, other than planning the experimental design and
reviewing the results, he took no active part in the experiment.
Finally, inasmuch as 1SD-25 is a relatively new drug, the dosages of
Which are sti P rded as undetermined for eliciting specific
respcnses, feels that many more experiments should be
conducted b fOre more definitive ansers can possibly be elicited.
101111M-21 Jul 54
COPY: 13 Aug 54
�
478, t,
V.;
1. jejlise
claims that
has completed the synthesis of
Lysergic Acid.
a) What evidence is available? hearsay, verbal, written, recorded?
b) What scope of accomplishment? gamma, mg. gm. quantitation
c) Is any of this synthesized LS:available � how much?
a
2. claims LSD is/relatively rapidly destroyed substance
a) What incidence is available? hearsay, verbal, written, recorded?
b) Under what conditions is stability secured?
c) Under what conditions is stability uncertain or failing?
d) What metabolic evidence is available of breakdown?
3. Where does VII11160 obtain his supply of LDS?
4. 0.11111*
laims harmine is less effective than LSD.
,
a) What evidence is available, hearsay, verbal, written, recorded?
b) Where did he obtain harmine?
5. Where doesOdi0A obtain his supply of serotonia?
_
6. Can 011,11010ormulate his conception of the mechanism of action'
of LSD?
������� � )7,,, L.,' �
STVIOAA0 FO.M 64 IOW"
41/4/, az'
Office Memorandum � UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO
: Chief, Technical Branch, Security Office DATE: 17 December 1954
FROM Chief, Contact Division, 00
SUBJECT:
REFERENCE:
74000V*C.._
1. Tin recently interviewed chairman
of the Department of Psychiatryr
was the author of Which we
enfoou under4441111INK,
2. ave us the enclosed document concerning his
temporary u y in Japan, Okinawa, and Korea. While the document
itself is robably of no great interest, it gives an indication
that imself might be of interest to TB/SO. Our repre-
sentative, during the course of a casual conversation with
was interested bylIMBOWS statement that the approach now e rig
used in psychiatric interviews is more apt to produce results than is
the approach currently being used by field interrogators; however, he
did not criticize efforts currently being made by intexirogators nor
did he indicate that psychiatrists would make better field interro-
gators.
3. Our representative
dealing with this subject.
and had re a
asked00101111181for
JtTJ*said that
enti 1 4
a lead to documents
he,
With this book, there is a set of phonograph
r cords of actual initial interviews.
4. We have requested a name check clearance oat...0k a
He is a naturalized U.S. citizen and a cleared consultant of the
Office.
Enclosure
�����1
1
� I
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
16 narch 1955
SUBJECT: Distribution o - "OSI Report on "The Strategic
Medical Sigaificance of the PSychae,enic Lg. LyzerGic
Acid Diethyl Amdde, Jr-1)-25 and Related Cctvounds'
1. D&CM1118t4 o be sub eet report was discussed on
ItAr 11 Mar 55 with Deputy Director of Security.
2. It liun recognized that a great part of the report was
preliered ith unclassified literature au its basis. However,
JLJL.J
pointed &;,t that the Agency's study of and interest
.,....
In the Subject is not am:att.= of general knowledge and must be
very cloSely held.
3. It was his recomendation, agreed to by the undersioled,
that distribution of the subject report be identical with that
given .a evi Gc ntific atelligence Memoranchui on the rar,11?
subject) 5 August 19541 which was as
follows:
I. Copy DCI (pe onal file)
I. " DDCI
1 * DD
1 "
2 "
2
9 " Dir. Security
7 " AD/si
Copiea to:
AD/SI
Dir. of Security
SI/SS-Eng
4147i
LLT
chrOno
file
/1/146 3!//4!3
10 November 1955
T i information derivedigoM
'
neurosurgeon at the
College of Surgeons in Chicago. A0POMMWOMOW toldre
is that he had lunch with41111111111Muring the rliiit
meeting of the American Co tS
111104111that he himself had recently visited the Brain Institute in Moscow at the
invitation of Soviet scientists.
44111111111111Wfurther stated that he had found out that the Moscow Brain
Institute was undertaking intensive work in conditioned reflexes in humans. In
fact, he also stated that the Soviet Governmeht requires that all physiological
� laboratories produce work in conditioned reflex responses. It is of particular
-interest to us tha bserved two cases in which reflexes had been
conditioned. In one of' hee:e cases--that of a young boy--a salivary fistula had
been produced. The boy was conditioned so that when he thought of or said the
number "14", he salivated. When they demonstrated him for 01101111111they asked .t
him to divide 8 by 2, and before he could actually verbali. ; number "4" he
salivated. Another case was that of a:man with a duodenal ulcer who had been
conditioned to the face of a dial so that when the dial Indicated a certain number
his stomach contracted. There was a similar case in which a man had been conditioned
so that his bladder contracted as he watched a dial indicate a certain number--and
thus he urinated in response to the dial. apparently asked 000
whether he thought that these conditione reflex experiments in hiimins
might be undertaken in slave labor camps or have some other ominous;si nificanne. N
did not explain the background of his question.) gave C.
i la negative, with some evidence of distaste.
It is of further interest that_:the Rpesians have translated
book on the cerebral cortex
epilepsy and functional anatomy
. . This is of interest because these books conta n the basis for his work
on memory--and this is the part of the books with which the Russians are most
concerned.
4.111110.�
tY...10