Crayon drawing by a Tukanoan I ndian of Amazonian Colombia, depicting one of the images experienced during an a boriginal caapi intoxication. Collected in the field by the Colombian anthropologist Dr. Gerardo Reichei-Dolmataff, who studied the mythological signifiCance of hallucinogens among the Indians.
psychoses " - artificially induced states similar to some abnormal mental conditions-m ight be a va lua ble ana足 lytic tool. There are many similarities between psychotic conditions, such a s schizophrenia, and the mental state ind uced by hallucinogens. Whether or not the use of hal lucinogens to create such model psychoses will be of therapeutic va lue is sti l l a question, but there is little doubt that hal lucinogens may be of experimenta l help in understa nding the functioni ng of the central nervous system. One specialist states that studies of " various as足 pects of the norma l a nd the a bnorma l " may elucidate certain a reas of the " hinterland of character. " It must be remembered that alteration of the function of the centra l nervous system by chemica ls is not new; it is older than written history. In the past, especially in primitive societies, hallucinogens were employed in magico-relig ious and curing rituals, rare ly for plea sure. 1 55