Re: pain from coil strikes (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2007 23:46:39 -0700
From: Frank <fxrays@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: pain from coil strikes (fwd)

RF burns are some of the most painful and take a long time to heal.

Unlike LF AC or DC, RF does penetrate the body. An RF burn destroys 
the nerve endings and desiccates the surrounding tissue and goes deep 
and takes a long time to heal. Because or nerve damage, there is not 
an immediate sensation of severe pain but as the body starts to heal, 
it will hurt a lot!
The severity of the burn is a function of duration, area of contact 
and power of the source.
A serous RF burn can cause permanent internal damage that is not 
obvious because it does not hurt immediately and many not manifest 
itself for days.

If you  are taking an arc over a large surface area, chances are you 
will not be harmed, provided you are insulated from ground.
By holding a metal tube or rod of at least 1/2" in diameter, you can 
take a TC arc of a large magnitude without harm as the current is 
spread over a large area and the metal is taking the point contact 
BUT, if you point a finger and have it take the arc, the current 
density or current per unit of area is very concentrated and damage will occur.

I take arcs from a 12" coil all the time holding a metal rod or 
wrench (remember to take rings off tho) without harm or even 
sensation, but taking a direct hit to the flesh is another subject.

Frequency has a lot to do with it too, a small pancake coil that 
throws a 3" hot arc will give a strange hot/ cold sensation and can 
be uncomfortable.
This approaches diathermy ranges where heating the body by RF occurs.

Microwaves are a different animal too. A common microwave oven will 
probably burn a hand or destroy an eye but not affect a large body 
mass such as a thigh or internal organs. MW's heat from the outside 
in and to penetrate a large mass, you would need a lot of power, like 
standing in front of a 50 KW radar.

Medically, they made a machine called a Microtherm to heat body 
tissues using microwaves. The output was about 5-10 watts and the 
heating intensity was determined by the shape of the antenna and the 
distance to the patient. I have such a machine and the original manual.

Frank

At 08:55 PM 8/6/2007 -0600, you wrote:

>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:12:38 +0000
>From: Jeff Behary <jeff_behary@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: pain from coil strikes (fwd)
>
>Well done on the explanations.
>
>For those that don't believe you...here is something extreme to show the
>effects on tissues...
>a small Conical Tesla Coil cooking breakfast...I assure you the bacon and
>eggs felt nothing at all:
>http://www.electrotherapymuseum.com/Articles/BreakfastDiathermy/index.htm
>
>You can see after cutting the bacon a clear burnt track well "inside" (as
>opposed to simply a burn on the surface).  The current paths through the
>meat vs. the fat of the bacon were completely different.  A lot of the fat
>began to melt both inside and outside of the bacon.
>
>Here is a piece of steak getting zapped from a coil - you can make your own
>grill marks w/o a grill!
>http://www.electrotherapymuseum.com/Films/MSD-1.wmv
>
>Here are some insulated surgical clamps holding a piece of steak - one side
>Tesla currents, the other side grounded...
>http://www.electrotherapymuseum.com/Films/BC-2.wmv
>
>Even when you are well insulated and attached to the top of a Tesla Coil
>there are effects that take place inside you that you must at least be aware
>of.  After 10 minutes or so your blood pressure will begin to decrease.  The
>effect isn't permanent, but for extended periods greater than that you can
>lower it to dangerous levels if the currents are high.  This is known as
>"Auto-Condensation".
>
>Now, to keep things in perspective, this coil was producing only a 1/2" - 1"
>spark from the ball terminal.  It was powered by a 10kV transformer, approx.
>300 watts.  Its not the average Tesla Coil by any means, and its intended
>use was for surgery to cook and cut tissues.  But...
>
>Even painless low current sparks dehydrate the skin and cause it to redden
>if concentrated too long in one area.  If you are using vacuum tubes or
>electronics instead of spark gaps this effect is more pronounced.
>
>I'll be posting an interesting historical Tesla Coil and article on this
>subject tonight to the list.  It was a unique Tesla Coil that was powered by
>a Static Electric Machine instead of a transformer...a real neat design,
>cylindrical coils, with the primary coil on the inside and the secondary
>coil on the outside(!)...
>
>Jeff Behary, c/o
>The Turn Of The Century Electrotherapy Museum
>http://www.electrotherapymuseum.com
>
>_________________________________________________________________
>Learn.Laugh.Share. Reallivemoms is right place!
>http://www.reallivemoms.com?ocid=TXT_TAGHM&loc=us