At 09:46 AM 1/3/2003, THX0001@aol.com wrote:
>The implant might not be required for the Grim Reaper to pop in for a visit.
>Many years ago I read an article in the IEEE Spectrum which explained some of
>the whys and wherefores of electrocution.  I am still surprised at what a
>minuscule current can cause death.  Depending on its path, 10 - 15 milliamps
>can cause fatal fibrillation.  If you watch an experienced electrician

George, with an implanted electrode, people have been killed with 50-100
*micro*amps...

Of course it doesn't help that 50-60 Hz is pretty much the optimum
frequency to induce fibrillation!

For those who don't know, might be interesting to understand how a
defibrillator works -- it applies a massive DC current (total energy about
400 watt-seconds, so might be well over a kilowatt  pulse) which completely
immobilizes the heart muscle briefly.  The hope is that the normal
heartbeat generator will restart in coordinated mode instead of the random
quivering that is fibrillation.

david

--
David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"