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From: dgary@ecsvax.uncecs.edu (D Gary Grady)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,sci.misc,sci.research
Subject: Re: Strange results in Nature article
Summary: What about previous contaminants?
Keywords: homeopathy
Message-ID: <5473@ecsvax.uncecs.edu>
Date: 27 Jul 88 13:38:52 GMT
References: <10465@lll-winken.llnl.gov> <20850@beta.lanl.gov> <2444@cxsea.UUCP> <6052@spool.cs.wisc.edu>
Reply-To: dgary@ecsvax.UUCP (D Gary Grady)
Organization: Datalytics, Inc.
Lines: 22

It is claimed that a biologically active substance diluted in solution
retains its bilogical activity even when effectively diluted out of
existence.  The author of the Nature paper suggests that the solution
has somehow retained a memory of its previous contents.  Well, maybe.
I try to keep an open mind, but...

It seems to me there's a logical problem here.  Suppose the results are
valid.  Was the water used in these experiments somehow primordial
(i.e., was it perhaps created by burning hydrogen)?  Otherwise, it would
seem, it might carry with it the memory of some past contaminants,
unless dionization or distillation produced aquatic amnesia..

Also, if the results are true, it bodes ill for wastewater treatment.
Once contaminated, always contaminated might be the rule, barring (say)
distillation or electolysis.

Where *do* homeopaths get their water, by the way?
-- 
D Gary Grady
(919) 286-4296
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