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Trippin' with Mr. Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson's famous "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" was evidently influenced by his experience with ergotine, which is like LSD a derivative of ergot, and which has side effects similar to the effects of LSD. A couple of British professors believe that ergotine injections created a transformation similar to Dr. Jekyll's. [Link]

In the letter, dated “end of August, early September 1885”, Stevenson’s wife wrote to William Henley, her husband’s friend and literary agent: “Louis’s mad behaviour . . . I think it must be the ergotine that affects his brain at such time.

“He is quite rational now, I am thankful to say, but he has just giving up insisting that he should be lifted into bed in a kneeling position, his face to the pillow.”

Two weeks later Stevenson began writing his famous work about the duality of human nature. The story recounts the adventures of Dr Jekyll, who takes drugs that separate the good and evil in his psyche. Although the doctor is purified, the evil Mr Hyde is created as a terrible side-effect.

jon posted this at 8:51 AM
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