Physical Control of the Mind: Toward a Psychocivilized Society

Positively, to this reader at least, the most fascinating part of the book was Chapters 4 through 8. This section deals with poisoned weapons, early Spanish exploration, native exploits, and the preparation of raw curare. These are not usually included in the "dry" histories. Also interesting were the stories of Humboldt, Waterton, and Gill. Negatively, the unfortunate part of this book is that the author seems compelled to teach pharmacology, anesthesiology and the entire history of surgery in order to place his historical narration about curare in very specific perspective. He has striven for too much completeness, and hence will satisfy neither the profession nor the laity. Arrows of Mercy is pleasant and informative (or bedtime) reading.