X-Message-Number: 9569
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 12:05:26 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Henry R. Hirsch" <>
Subject: Future of Cryonics

I believe that Bob Ettinger and Saul Kent are both right about what we
should do to improve the chance that cryonics will thrive. Very briefly

Bob points out that we must continue to offer and promote service for those
who die right now. Our techniques cannot be demonstrated to work, but they
surely offer the best chance of eventual reanimation for the time being.
Although one provider may be better than another, any of the methods
currently in use is far superior to burial or cremation.

Saul is correct in stating that cryonics would gather a tremendous amount of
support from a demonstration that it works. In my opinion, if rats could be
revived from one month's storage in liquid nitrogen, the line to sign up for
cryonic suspension would stretch from Ranch Cucamonga to Clinton Township by
way of Scottsdale.

Finally, my personal experience indicates that lack of support from the
academic establishment is a very serious handicap to the research that needs
to be done to show that cryonics works. Last summer I had to turn down an
attractive offer from 21CM to work on cryonics research during my sabbatical
leave because a university department could not be found to sponsor the
work. No financial or other contribution would have been required from the
sponsor, but it would have been necessary for a faculty member and his
chairperson to have their names and reputations associated with cryonics
research. This could not be done.

Eventually a noted gerontologist at UC Berkeley sponsored my sabbatical, and
arrangements were made for me to do a small amount of cryonics-related
research. However most of my time was devoted to more "respectable" research
on the demographics of aging. It was a useful experience, but did not
benefit cryonics as much as I would have liked. If we had the support of
mainstream cryobiogists, we would be able to get a lot more done.

                                        Hank Hirsch
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Henry R. Hirsch                      
Department of Physiology                   Phone: (606)323-5438
MS508 Chandler Medical Center              Fax:   (606)323-1070
University of Kentucky                     E-Mail: 
Lexington, KY 40536-0084
USA

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