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The 18-year old Klemm twins, who battled Cambridge and University police in the Leverett House Junior Common Room Monday afternoon, will probably be arraigned tomorrow in East Cambridge District Court, it was reported yesterday.
The sisters are at Cambridge City Hospital recovering from the effects of a still unidentified stimulant, which was non-alcoholic. They could not be arraigned after the disturbance because of their condition.
Cambridge police have questioned several students who were reportedly acquainted with the girls. Contrary to earlier rumors, however, no investigation by narcotics officials is being carried out at the University until the exact nature of the stimulant is discovered.
Hospital tests have revealed no traces of any stimulants in the girls bloodstreams.
Several students told the CRIMSON last night that they knew of incidents within the University where stimulants derived from Mexican cactus plants, either peyote or mescaline, were used. Both produce intoxicating drugs when bulbs from the roots are boiled in water.
Peyote greatly heightens the individual's senses, causing him to react more sharply to sounds, smells, and light. It also distorts his perspective, often making him feel taller than he actually is. Mescalene reportedly incites mild delusions.
Neither of the two is habit forming, however, and thus it is questionable whether they can be outlawed as narcotics. Similar drugs are used in the rites of certain tribes of Indians in Mexico and the southwestern United States. The cactus plants are reportedly available by mail from biological supply houses in that part of the country.
According to Aldous Huxley's Doors of Perception, a book on the effects of peyote, use of the drug does not cause any sort of aggressive tendencies, as does use of alcohol or narcotics. Instead, it tends to make the user quiet and introspective during the approximately 12 hours it has effect.
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