Pharmacologic studies1of benzedrine (beta-aminopropylbenzene or benzyl methyl carbinamine) indicate that it has a sympathomimetic action and a profound stimulating effect on the central nervous system. Clinically its sympathomimetic action has been utilized particularly in the treatment of congestion of the nasal mucosa,2in maintaining blood pressure during spinal anesthesia3and in orthostatic hypotension,4and for the relief of spasm affecting the gastro-intestinal tract.5The stimulating effect on the central nervous system has led to observations on the effect of benzedrine in many psychiatric and neurologic conditions, including narcolepsy,6disorders of mood and affect (chiefly depression7), postencephalitic parkinsonism,8psychoneurosis,9and to observations on its effect on normal persons and on those10suffering from states of exhaustion.11 The method by which benzedrine produces a stimulating action on the central nervous system and the part of the brain which it stimulates is