Pont Saint Esprit mass insanity event – did the CIA secretly poison an entire town with LSD?
The 1951 Pont Saint Esprit mass hallucinogenic event – ergot poisoning or did the CIA secretly dose an entire town with LSD It began in August 1951 in a small, quiet village on the banks of the River Rhône in southern France after an outbreak of food poisoning, upset stomachs, vomiting and diarrhea soon gave way to mass folly and collective delusions. Dozens of Pont Saint Esprit (or Pont St. Esprit) villagers developed fever-like symptoms, suffering hallucinations and exhibiting bizarre mannerisms. Then it quickly spread to hundreds more. One man tried to drown himself, screaming that he was being eaten from the inside – by snakes. Another man believed he could fly and flung himself from the third-story window, breaking both of his legs. Then he