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The Hashish-Rausch:
Contributions to an Experimental Psychopathology
By Ernst Joël and Fritz Fränkel (Berlin, 1926.)
[Translated from the German by Scott J. Thompson]
The German word "Rausch" has only recently been adopted in English speaking countries as rausch and may still be unfamiliar to some readers. Etymologically speaking, the English cognate is "rush," and a number of important works on Benjamin, e.g. Susan Buck-Morss's Origin of Negative Dialectics have so translated this word. Buck-Morss has also translated rausch as "high." Edmund Jephcott has translated the word as "trance," but this is a more accurate translation of the German word "Entrückung" and fails to capture the essential characteristics of "whirling, swirling, buzzing and thundering" which seem particularly appropriate when "Rausch" is used in an adjectival form such as "rauschendes Wasser" [rushing water]. Werner Dannhauser has even translated "haschisch-rausch" as "hashish trip". Despite the etymological correctness of the English "rush," the numerous slang connotations of this word and its frequent use to describe the sensation of velocity experienced in amphetamine-like substances have led us to opt for the German original, and we have found precedents in scholars like Margaret Cohen, whose Profane Illumination has preserved the original as well. Benjamin scholar, John McCole has astutely presented the case for this usage in his Walter Benjamin and the Antinomies of Tradition. "'Rausch' is far more suggestive than the English equivalent 'intoxication': it quite naturally bears the connotations of such overwhelming feelings as exhilaration, ecstasy, euphoria, rapture, and passion; its onomatopoetic qualities have an equivalent in the slang term 'rush'. 'Intoxication' is the only real option for rendering "Rausch" in English, but its strong associations with alcohol and toxicity can be misleading. Benjamin referred to it to refer to various states of transport. . ."
The Hashish-Rausch: Contributions to an Experimental Psychopathology
By Ernst Joël and Fritz Fränkel (Berlin, 1926.)
PART I
The intoxicant-rausch [Giftrausch] is a psychosis, but it is usually so fleeting in character that it eludes clinical observation. If the clinical observation of toxicated patients [Giftkranker] were supplemented by the investigation of arbitrarily engendered rausch-states in appropriate test subjects, there would not only be a better understanding of rausch and addiction phenomena, but also a path beyond it would be cleared for studying general phenomena of psychopathology.
KRAEPELIN [1] had already designated the rausch as a "derangement in miniature" ["Irresein im kleinen"] --- but, contrary to the original conception, his pharmaco-psychology does not comprehend the whole human being. Based on individual results of Wundt's psychology, it artificially separates partial functions of the psychic life, which are then altered by pharmaka [Arzneimittel] and subjected to testing. In a concluding observation (1925), Kraepelin called the results of this work "discouraging".[2]
As an alternative to pharmaco-psychology, we propose experimental psychopathology, which attempts a total comprehension [Gesamterfassung] of the altered psychic life by utilizing the methods of the newer psychology, especially those from the phenomenological, analytical and Gestalt theoretical schools. The works of SERKO [3] and MAYER-GROSS and STEIN [4] already tend in this direction.
Following studies of cocaine [5] and ether, and eventually mescaline and kava-kava as well (which will be discussed at a later date), it was Indian hemp (hashish) that proved itself in an extensive series of investigations to be an outstanding agent for evoking rausch-states.[6]
We employed an English extract which Prof. Magnus made available, and whose high potency was already familiar to us from experiments in the Pharmacological Institute of Utrecht.[7] Experienced individuals, with whose characters we were well-acquainted, served as test subjects in the self-observation. The average oral dosage was 100 mg.
PART II
One of the first signs that the hashish is beginning to take effect is a dark feeling of foreboding and apprehension, something alien, inescapable closes in. Activity ceases, a feeling of powerlessness can take hold. If the inebriated individual surrenders to this new power, he soon realizes just how captive he is, hunted and oppressed by mental images, thoughts, words, actions, emotions and emotional outbreaks, which he does not desire, and which do not at all appear to belong to him.
Images and sequences of images, long-submerged memories appear, whole scenes and situations present themselves. At first they excite interest, at times delight, and finally, when there is no staving them off, torpor and anguish follow. The individual is surprised and overwhelmed by everything that happens, including what he says and does. His laughter and all his utterances befall him like external events. He also attains experiences that border on inspiration and illumination. All these oppressive forces cannot be disspelled by simply saying, "This is not reality, it is only the effects of a drug [Giftwirkung]." Nothing takes shape arbitrarily in the hallucinatory perceptions [Trugwahrnehmungen], one knows that they are hashish apparitions, but they persist. These hallucinatory perceptions are mostly illusionary distortions of the environment, which at the time had become unfamiliar and striking. Space can become expansive, the ground steeply sloped, atmospheric sensations arise: vapor, opaqueness, sultriness; colors become brighter, more luminous; objects become more beautiful, but also clumsy and menacing. Agonizing doubt about the reality of things surfaces. The alterations that occur in every animate thing are remarkable; they tend toward mask-like expressions of fixity and lifelessness. Physiognomies become like gypsum, wax or ivory. Actual hallucinations are rarely seen. In the haptic sphere, the feeling of the body's cohesiveness often disintegrates. Dynamic sensations of being incessantly catapulted and other similar sensations arise. All this unfolds not in continuous development but on the contrary, what is typical is an incessant fluctuation of dreaming and waking states, a constant and ultimately exhausting sense of being tossed back and forth between entirely different worlds of consciousness; in mid-sentence this sense of being submerged or of surfacing can occur. For the comprehension of the rausch-episode, this precipitous fluctuation is of great significance. The dream-like phases exercise an influence over the often grotesque over-estimations of time spans, which is also a quite distinguishing hashish phenomenon. Mood and affectivity fluctuate according to the consciousness of compulsion, the restriction of activity and the feelings of defenselessness and dependence which often result. Or a simple feeling of well-being may arise, which can intensify to a state of blissful euphoria and ecstatic rapture. An agonizing juxtaposition of incongruities, which often exists in the way of thought and opinions, can also dominate affectivity and lead to moods of affective perplexity and inner strife. All this the inebriated individual reports to us in a form which deviates considerably from the norm. Connections become difficult because of the often abrupt discontinuity of every memory from what preceded it, thought does not take form in words, the situation can be so overcome by hilarity that the hashish eater is capable of nothing but laughter for minutes on end. His other forms of expression, facial appearance, gestures, and his entire motor behavior are changed as well. Contracture states alternate with periods of increased motility, bizarre movements and sudden outbursts. Recollection of the rausch is particularly clear. As for the bodily symptoms, dry throat, coughing, and occasionally increased blood pressure may be mentioned. Fatigue in the usual sense does not develop. Frequently there is a marked feeling of hunger, and considerable quantities of food are consumed with a pleasure not ordinarily experienced, in spite of the tongue being coated and dry. Objective sensibility is not disturbed. It has already been emphasized in an earlier article[8] that hashish does not cause any local anaesthesia. Aphrodisiac effects are lacking. As for the phenomenon of habituation, we can make no assertions, since repeated ingestion only occurred after longer pauses.
Naturally we can only convey an approximation of a rausch here, being fully aware that phenomenological observations depend not upon general but rather detailed description. Therefore we refer to the published protocols themselves. Likewise for the evaluation of the observations. In the course of observation, a series of psychopathological questions can be elaborated in an attempt at a response. A few short remarks here should merely indicate the direction for locating the results.
PART III
General Significance of Experiments with Psychopharmaka:
Without proposing a blanket identification of spontaneous psychotic episodes with the phenomena observed in these experiments, we nonetheless maintain that an experimental way of penetrating abnormal states exists here, which allows us to investigate how far the individual can deviate from the norm, and to determine which psychotic symptoms in general are within the realm of the normal individual. The rausch provides a remarkable yield of sympathetic understanding for pathological symptoms (compulsion, schizoid behavior, delusions, incoherence, etc.). One acquires a new understanding for the mythic and the mystical. As for the alteration of particular qualities or the lack of such alteration, first we must identify the qualities in the norm, if the conditions of normal psychic processes are to be disclosed by pathological modification.
Rausch-consciousness:
A series of gradations in consciousness are traversed in the hashish-rausch, from the most luminous clarity to the deepest trance (Entrückung]; levels of consciousness neither suspected by the normal inner life nor disclosed by the mentally ill one are experienced as distinct episodes. The difficulty of verbalizing illustrations at times forces the test subject to demonstate the differentiation numerically, as on a scale. In itself the manner of change in consciousness is entirely capable of being visualized. From here it is possible to gain insight into dreamlike states of varying formations [Genese].
Reality-consciousness:
The object-world [Gegenstandswelt] loses its reality-character in the rausch. The question is not one of shifting intensity, in the sense of a diminution of lucidity, but rather one of qualitative variation. That a decrease in lucidity is irrelevant to the phenomenon of reality-attenuation [Realitätsschwäche] is proven by the fact that the sensation of the unreal is at times combined with a loud and clear perception, like an extract of the objective situation. A special act of concession and self-possession is necessary, without ever attaining its goal. On the other hand, the tendency to take possession of oneself remains of unquestionable reality because it is not subject to that confusing, phase-like fluctuation of the world picture, and in it alone the continuity of the Self is maintained.
Time-Sense:
The experimental estimation of short stretches of time, for the most part correct in their results, contrast markedly with the stunning overestimations of time which occur spontaneously. The disturbance [Störunng] of time-sense proved to be independent of abnormal perceptions of space and motion, which otherwise appeared with much less frequency. With respect to factors of episodic complexity [Erlebnisdichte] and trance, which considerations of the disturbance must take into account, the latter was more significant. A succession of observations nevertheless allows for the possibility of immediate disturbance of time-sense. It is therefore probable that the sense of time is autonomous.
Compulsive Episodes:
The inebriated individual considers himself in a state of being driven [Getriebenheit] (mental images, impulses, motor phenomena). In a commanding subject the compulsion will not become externally projected. A remarkably common tendency among inebriated individuals to believe themselves under the hypnotic influence of the test director could also be discerned.
Motor Phenomena:
Dyskinetic phenomena can range from simple reflexes to complex actions. From a phenomenological perspective, it was seen that functional variations of motor reflexes were represented in the interior experience [im seelischen Erleben], even in cases where the singularity and unfamiliar interpretation of the motile outflow [Bewegungsablauf] made it inaccessible. Regarding the problem of mobility-psychoses, it is significant that the individual's ability to self-portray the dyskinetic syndromes remains intact in the hashish-rausch.
Outflow of Mental Images:
The arbitrary outflow of mental images is impeded, whereas the involuntary outflow is extraordinarily accelerated. (Reciprocal relationship.) A particular group of mental images can exhibit extraordinary animation without possessing the criteria of pseudohallucinations or hallucinations. The convincing content of the dispostion which accompanies them and their arrangement into scene-like events can turn them into the equivalent of situations. We call them pseudosituations.
Outflow of Thoughts:
It can be varied in a twofold respect. (1) In place of abstract-logical thought, sequences of mental images are thrust to the fore, representing the thought process in a return to more primitive stages. The corresponding mechanisms in cases of amentia were referred to by Schilder.[9] (2) Thought becomes "naked", i.e. without context. Just like perception at times, it dispenses with that "sphere" that ordinarily surrounds thought.
Primitive Reactions:
The rausch deconstructs the complex personality and allows characteristic reaction-forms to get through. These are of a deliriant, motile, paranoid type. These types can detach and reattach themselves within the same rausch. In almost all rausch-states, a regression to the infantile was recognizable.
Ernst Joël and Fritz Fränkel [Klinische Wochenschrift, 5: 1707, 1926]
Endnotes:
["rausch"] See Introduction, translator's note, this page.
[1] Emil Kraepelin: Über die Beeinflussung einfacher psychischer Vorgänge durch einige Arzneimittel, (Jena 1892).
[2] Emil Kraepelin: "Bemerkungen zu der Arbeit von J. Lange, Zur Messung der persönlichen Grundeigenschaften," Psychol. Arb. 3, 181.
[3] A. Serko: "Im Meskalinrausch," Jahrb. Psychiat. Neurol., (1913), 34, 355-66.
[4] W. Mayer-Gross & H. Stein: "Über einige Abänderungen der Sinnestätigkeit im Meskalinrausch," Z. ges. Neurol. Psychiat., (1926), 101, 354-386.
[5] Ernst Joël & Fritz Fränkel: Der Cocainismus, (Leipzig, 1924). [--Trans. note]
[6] It is remarkable that hashish toxication [Haschischvergiftung] up to now has not been treated experimentally. The most articulate depiction of the hashish-rausch is to be found in Baudelaire (Paradis artificiels).
[7] Ernst Joël: "Haschisch (Beitr. zur Pharmakologie der Körperstellung und der Labyrinthreflexe)" Pflügers Arch. f.d. ges. Physiol.,209, 526, (1925).
[8] Ernst Joël: "Ist in Deutschland der Anbau von indischem Hanf notwendig?" Klinische Wochenschrift, 5, 364-365, (1926).
[9] Hartman & Schilder: "Zur Klinik und Psychologie der Amentia," Zeitschrift f.d. ges. Neurol. u. Psychiatrie, 92, 531, (1924).
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