Albert Hofmann discovers the effects of LSD (1943)
Being in the throws of a rather intense hallucinogenic event can create significant stress and disorientation. A contemporary user can certainly combat these feelings by the comforting information that LSD is a widely used, and well studied chemical, and the effects are non-lethal and presenting in their proper manifestations.<p>For Hofman, this was not the case. It must have been extremely concerning to be without this information. The complete alteration of the perception of all of his senses, no information about the duration or magnitude of the event, and unsure if he had been fatally poisoned.<p>Given his initial experience, it is amazing that he persisted the way he did.