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Shulgin AT, Sargent T, Naranjo C. 
“The chemistry and psychopharmacology of nutmeg and of several related phenylisopropylamines”. 
Psychopharmacol Bull. 1967 Dec 25;4(3):13.
Abstract
Our report today has been divided into two separate portions. The discussion of nutmeg and its composition, and of the possible involvement of its chemical components. The psychotropic intoxication has a natural division into two areas of presentation. The first is a brief description of the plant a presentation of the methods and procedures for the isolation and the identification of the many components in the oil from the plant , and a careful definition of those components that are most probably involved in the intoxicative syndrome.

The extension of these components in to the corresponding amphetamines, their effectiyeness in humans, and the likelihood of their being an acceptable explanation of the effects of the total nutmeg, will constitute the latter part of this report. In the previous paper there was presented some of the history of nutmeg, and a description of the style and extent of its usage in various cultures. In the reports that will follow, specific descriptions of the human syndrome of intoxication, and some of the pharmacological ramifications of its study, will be presented.

At this point we would like to present a factual description of the various chemical materials that have been found to make up the volatile and presumed active fraction of nutmeg. On the hypothesis that one or more components may be appropriately assigned the responsible role for the nutmeg intoxication, there is a need for an exact chemical definition of nutmeg. But even before this, we must define in botanical terms just what is meant by the name nutmeg.
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