few examples where researchers conducted experiments on themselves in the name of science.Some of these experiments led to the discovery, while others ended up in tears.
1. Crash test with a man
John Paul Stapp (John Paul Stapp) was an experienced officer in the Air Force and the aviation physician who has studied the impact of rapid acceleration and deceleration on the human body.To improve the safety of aircraft and equipment, he decided to demonstrate this effect for yourself.
At that time it was believed that the human body is able to withstand the overload in the 18 G, before it leads to death.Stepp decided to prove that this limit is much higher, and exposed himself to the most incredible overload that man can experience.
Using powerful rocket sled to accelerate to supersonic speed and then braked sharply, Stepp proved that man can withstand an overload of 46 G.
Although he survived, Stapp suffered significant body damage: broken limbs, retinal detachment, burst bloodvessels and other injuries.
During one experiment, he decided to fly on a jet plane at an altitude of 13,700 meters with an outdoor shower, exposing themselves to the wind, which was moving at a speed of 917 km / h.He found that if the pilot inhaled pure oxygen for 30 minutes before take-off, he could better withstand the incredible height.
Stapp developed various belts, which later became mandatory for vehicles.
2. The operation to remove appendicitis
Many people have confidence in themselves the surgeon if necessary, surgery.But an American physician Evan O'Neill Kane (Evan O'Neill Kane) decided that nobody will do this job better than him.Kane had surgery on himself to better understand it from the point of view of the patient.He used local anesthetics, which then had to be applied in patients unresponsive to general anesthesia.
Although Kane previously amputated one of his fingers, this type of surgery he carried out the first time.He used as an anesthetic Novocain and began removing the appendix with the help of mirrors.It's worth noting that the operation in those days required a much deeper cuts than it is today, which makes it more dangerous.
Despite the risk, 60-year-old doctor to perform this procedure more than 4,000 times on other patients.This operation is no different from previous ones.The next day he was able to get up and move.The operation lasted only half an hour, and the only frightening moment occurred, when a strong inclination popped his intestines.
After 10 years, when Kane took to remove a hernia, he again resorted to the surgery itself.This time, however, there were other complications, and a few months later he died of severe pneumonia.
3. Tough diet
Fredrik Helzel (Frederick Hoelzel) became known that, as a teenager, sat on a diet, in which he was eating foods that do not contain calories.There is only one thing: these non-nutritive objects was difficult to name the products.Helzel started eating corn on the cob, cork, feathers, dust, asbestos, cellulose, and the barrel of bananas, as well as your favorite product - surgical cotton wool.
Being a researcher at the University of Chicago, Helzel decided to see how fast these products will go through it.Small steel and silver objects leaving somewhere after 8 hours, and the golden ball was required as much as 22 hours.At the same time, the glass beads were held for 40 hours.The fastest way to digest a piece of twine - 1.5 hours.
He adhered to this diet for many years, making an exception only for Christmas, when he allowed himself to eat a small portion of the edible food.His weight loss method proved to be extremely effective, since then, Helzel became pale, thin, with dark circles under his eyes and protruding Adam's apple.By the way, he never became a professor and was an assistant in physiology.
4. Pain in the testicles
For many men, the mere idea to hang a burden to the testicles can cause soreness.However, the two scientists Herbert Vullard (Hebert Woollard) and Edward Carmichael (Edward Carmichael) decided to try their luck.
Although it is not known exactly who has become a "guinea pig", they both studied the phenomenon of reflex pain.Reflex pain - a pain that occurs when internal organ damage, but is felt in another part of the body.
One of the men lay on the table, while the other hung a variety of gravity to the testicles.All observations were recorded, ranging from "mild discomfort on the right side groin" to "severe pain in the testicles at 650 grams."Both scientists actually proved that the damage to the testicles leads to reflex pain that spread to the back, where the weight reached 900 grams.
However, their work and conclusions of the reflex of pain has not been confirmed, as none of the other scientists did not want to repeat the experiment.
5. Sleep deprivation
American expert on studying sleep Nathaniel Kleitman (Nathaniel Kleitman) became one of the first scientists, through which we learn about the cycles of REM sleep, circadian rhythms, and sleep deprivation.In one experiment, a scientist deprived himself of sleep for 115 hours to learn about the effects of sleep loss on mental activity.At some point he developed hallucinations, he began to argue with someone and shout out different phrases.
In another experiment, Kleitman and his assistant, decided to find out if people have a biological clock.He spent 32 days in Mammoth Cave in Kentucky.It was the perfect place to shift the biological clock by 28-hour cycle because of the lack of natural light, constant temperature and lack of signals from the environment.
While his partner was able to switch to a new regime in a week, Kleitman decided to continue the trial after spending two weeks on a submarine, exploring the dream of sailors and trying to find a way to make them work more effectively by changing the sleep cycle.
6. The effect of LSD
Albert Hofmann (Albert Hofmann) became known worldwide as the "father of LSD."It happened when he was trying to find a medical use of ergot fungus.During the research, he came across a chemical substance lysergic acid diethylamide, or, in other words, LSD.
His first experience was accidental, when a small amount of the substance fell on his fingers.He described it as "an unusual excitement, combined with a slight dizziness. At home I lay down and sank into a pleasant state similar to drunkenness, characterized by enhanced imagination. I watched a steady stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense kaleidoscopic play of colors."
In 1943, Hofmann intentionally took 250 micrograms of LSD and the experience became known as the "Day of the bike."On the way home on a bicycle, he felt the full effect of LSD and experienced vivid hallucinations unforgettable.Later Hofmann has developed a range of psychoactive substances.He died in 2008 at the age of 102 years.
7. Eggs worms
Giovanni Grassi (Giovanni Grassi) was an Italian physician who is mostly interested in parasitology and zoology.Once he performed the autopsy man whose gut was filled with worms.
In the name of science Grassi decided to swallow some eggs of these worms in order to demonstrate the life cycle of the worm, and show how it is transmitted.The doctor pulled the eggs out and placed the corpse in a solution, to keep them alive.
to make sure that he was not infected before, Grassi studied their droppings under the microscope for a year, and then swallowed 100 eggs of worms.A month later he began to experience discomfort in his chair and appeared worm eggs.He took herbal remedies and get rid of worms.
After that, many professors and students began to ingest the eggs to grow worms that sometimes reaches almost 2 meters.But that Grassi was the first who discovered that the worms are transmitted through the faecal mass man.
8. black widow spider bites
Alan Blair (Allan Blair), who was nicknamed "the real Spider-Man" is known for its research in the field of entomology and toxicology.Blair decided to test the impact of a spider bite "black widow".Scientist properly angered female spider, do not feed it for two weeks before the bite.
Then he let a black widow bite itself within 10 seconds.This time was enough to all the poison entered the body.
He noted that feels the bite was like a needle, and a burning sensation was amplified with time.The bite was tiny, and Blair could not see it, but the area around the bite turned pale and red finger.Then the throbbing pain began to spread, and the arm was numb.
toxins circulating in his lymphatic system, and he began to feel pain in the lymph nodes and other parts of the body.The wound began to swell, and the experimenter was taken to the hospital.He could not speak and breathe, and fell into a state of shock.
introduced him morphine to relieve pain that lasted for three days.During this time, Blair gave the doctors all the symptoms that appear when black widow bite that makes it easier to diagnose the victims of the bite, as well as learn how spider toxins that affect the body.
Blair recovered, but refused to participate in a second experiment with a bite to confirm the results.
9. Spinal anesthesia
August Bier (August Bier) was a German surgeon who performed the first operation in the world, using spinal anesthesia.Spinal anesthesia gave hope to many patients who do not tolerate general anesthesia.
While during anesthesia, cocaine was injected into the spinal cord of the patient, that he felt no pain, but was conscious.Beer was able to perform the surgery on six patients using spinal anesthesia, before decided to yourself to experience what it is.
After surgery, patients have complained of nausea, vomiting, severe headache, pain in the legs and arms.Bear asked his assistant Gilderbrandta August (Augustus Hildebrandt) to apply this type of anesthesia, but did not approach the syringe to the needle, and a large amount of cerebrospinal fluid leak, and after the experiment in the spine remained pretty big hole.
After a few hours at the Bir experienced anesthesia Gilderbrandte.This time, the experiment was a success, and soon he did not feel his legs and could not move.Bir checked the degree of numbness in the body of an assistant, hit him on the ankle, using a hammer, burning cigars, pulling pubic hair and even beating of the testicles.
Fortunately subject did not feel anything, and the experiment was a success.After anesthesia was over, both men felt all the symptoms, including headache, which complained about their patients.However, they discovered a new form of pain relief, which has taken root in the world of medicine.
10. gassing
British physiologist Joseph Barcroft (Joseph Barcroft) was interested in the idea of blood oxygen saturation.To carry out a study he conducted several experiments on himself.
In one of the first experiments, he studied the harmful gases that cause choking in the use of chemical weapons during the First World War, he decided to lock yourself in a chamber filled with hydrogen cyanide for 10 minutes.Although a dog that was with him, lived just 95 seconds Barcroft was able to hold all 10 minutes.
In another experiment it was in a glass chamber to know what is the minimum amount of oxygen necessary for human survival.During the week, he lived under similar to those observed at a height of 4900 meters, which caused a blue body.
In the last experiment on myself, a scientist locked himself naked in a cold chamber to examine the effects of cold on mental activity.
He found that at some point close to the fatal hypothermia, a person begins to feel warm, not cold.The researcher was able to get out of the camera at any moment, but he decided to stay until he lost consciousness, and aides had to save him.
Articles Source: infoniac.ru
