X-Message-Number: 10357
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998 10:08:43 -0400
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: CryoNet #10348 - #10356

Hi Paul Wakfer!

I will send you a bibliography I did on the damage as it was known
before cryonicists began their still scanty research. The results are
both better and worse than you say. 

As for internal damage, I believe my discussion included that issue
for neurons, the most important cells for us. It is a message of
ignorance to refuse to pay attention to what is known about the 
deterioration which happens when a person dies, and the knowledge 
about the effects of freezing. I do not and will not claim that they
are trivial kinds of damage, but that does not mean that with an
advanced enough technology using SOME kind of nanotechnology might
not revive those suspended with current methods. The major question
in MY mind is exactly that issue of connectivity and hence of 
memory. If we cannot work out, directly or indirectly, the memory
of someone has been suspended then they cannot be revived by any
amount of technology. It is exactly the deterioration of neurons
which bothers me about suspension.

And I will stay with my major contention that the major kind of 
damage in suspension occurs above the level of cells, as their
relations to one another become disrupted by external ice. Certainly
we'll have other damage, but that first is the controlling one.
Not only that, but when we speak of neurons here, since neurons
can have axons or dendrites running all through our brain, that
disruption will disrupt the individual neurons (cells), too.

			Best and long long life to all,

				Thomas Donaldson

PS: Dammit, Paul, the problem is not that SOMEDAY you might be
revived, but with the uncertainty of that someday and that revival.
Any research we do to improve the process will remove a lot of that
uncertainty, even if it comes a bit short of complete reversible
suspensions --- though I too think we have a good chance at working
out how to do reversible suspensions. And I contributed to your
Prometheus project, both financially and otherwise (until it changed
its name, for reasons we both know). I can hardly be thought to be
complacent about the possibility of revival. Moreover I will continue
to keep up my pledge of support for that 10 years.

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