In the recent SD collumn, Cecil uses the phrase “drugs ranging from LSD to ergot.” Now, correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t LSD made directly from (or was at one point) ergot? If this is true, then is Cecil trying to tell us the dangers of LSD, or was he just not thinking about drug history?
Though ergotamine alkaloids are natural precursors to LSD, I believe the context would be to the effect of the spectrum of bizarre and nasty behaviors being associated to incidents ranging between accidental ingestion of naturally-ocurring ergot fungus (e.g. witch scares in the distant past) to the deliberate experiments with LSD in the 50s and 60s, to PCP.
The paragraph in question is specifically about psychedelic drugs.
I’m going to go Grandpa Homer Simpson on you, remembering the 70s: That reminds me of a commercial that mentioned this diner had “the best coffee between Council Bluffs and Omaha.” The Missouri River is all that stands between Council Bluffs, IA, and Omaha, NE.
Later in the 70s I was at my grandmother’s wake. In the next room was the wake for a Mrs Hoffman. I met her son while having a cigarette and he told me how his cousin, Albert, had invented LSD. Young Mr Hoffman appeared to be tripping for his own mother’s wake. dropmom, if you happen to go first, though I doubt it, I promise I won’t do more than drink at your wake.