Chapter 18

           Suspendedanimationisnothingnew,notaloneinthevegetableworldandinthelowerformsofanimallife,butinthehighlyevolved,complexorganismofmanhimself.Acataleptictranceisacataleptictrance,nomatterhowinduced.FromtimeimmemorialthefakirofIndiahasbeenablevoluntarilytoinducesuchstatesinhimself.Itisanoldtrickofthefakirstohavethemselvesburiedalive.Othermen,insimilartrances,havemisledthephysicians,whopronouncedthemdeadandgavetheordersthatputthemaliveundertheground.

           AsmyjacketexperiencesinSanQuentincontinuedIdweltnotalittleonthisproblemofsuspendedanimation.IrememberedhavingreadthatthefarnorthernSiberianpeasantsmadeapracticeofhibernatingthroughthelongwintersjustasbearsandotherwildanimalsdo.Somescientiststudiedthesepeasantsandfoundthatduringtheseperiodsofthe“longsleep”respirationanddigestionpracticallyceased,andthattheheartwasatsolowtensionastodefydetectionbyordinarylayman’sexamination.

           Insuchatrancethebodilyprocessesaresoneartoabsolutesuspensionthattheairandfoodconsumedarepracticallynegligible.Onthisreasoning,partly,wasbasedmydefianceofWardenAthertonandDoctorJackson.ItwasthusthatIdaredchallengethemtogivemeahundreddaysinthejacket.Andtheydidnotdareacceptmychallenge.