CRAW #3
The following quotes are from my current reading material.
“To learn the weight of a human soul, in 1907 a Massachusetts physician engineered a special bed-scale upon which he installed his dying patients. At the precise moment of their passing, he watched for a downward twitch of the needle. By his determination, the soul weights three-quarters of an ounce – about the same as the big toe.”
[]~~~~~~~~~[]~~~~~~~~~[]~~~~~~~~[]~~~~~~~~~[]
“Since brain death is the legal definition of death in this country, H the person is certifiably dead. But H the organs and tissues is very much alive. These two seemingly contradictory facts afford her an opportunity most corpses do not have: that of extending the lives of two or three strangers. Over the next 4 hours, H will surrender her liver, kidneys and heart. One at a time surgeons will come and go, taking an organ and returning in haste to their stricken patients. Until recently, the process was known among transplant professionals as an ‘organ harvest,’ which had a joyous celebratory ring to it….”
~ from STIFF: THE CURIOUS LIVES OF HUMAN CADAVERS by Mary Roach
I’ve really liked these recent selections, not that I haven’t liked those that came before it.
Oh, the weight of a human soul. You have inspired me again, Terry.
Brilliant.
Good post.
Thanks for the visit and comment.
WOW.
and so it goes on . . .
Nice extracts, but more than that – I absolutely love this picture. It’s like China Melville or something, so much can be made of it’s shapes – brilliant!
Surreally exquisite…