Life's Potentials
99
THE DC FIELD NEAR A FRACTURE
slim unless I could publish another paper fast. I decided to use the
equipment I had for a simple measurement during one of the most pro-
found changes in consciousness—anesthesia.
Burge was right. The electrical responses were dramatic and in-
controvertible. As each animal went under, its peripheral voltages
dropped to zero, and in very deep anesthesia they reversed to some ex-
tent, the limbs and tail going positive. They reverted to normal just
before the animal woke up.
I had enough for a short paper, and I decided to try a journal on
medical electronics recently started by the Institute of Radio Engineers.
Although most of what they printed was safe and unremarkable, I'd
found that engineers were often more open-minded than biologists, so I
went for broke; I put in the whole hypothesis—analog nervous system,
semiconducting currents, healing control, the works. The editor loved it
and sent me an enthusiastic letter of acceptance, along with suggestions
for further research. Best of all, I soon got another small grant approved
and bought my multi-electrode chart recorder. Soon I had confirmed my