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THE WAY I SEE IT By NEVILLE WILLIAMS Back to the stone age: down with audio, radio & AC mains! If we were to overreact to the contents of an ostensibly learned paper passed on to me during the month, we might he tempted to re-think our reliance on coherent man-made electromagnetic energy of any kind and any frequency. We'd most certainly question assurances that everyday electrical/electronic activities are environmentally innocuous. Just before examining the abovementioned paper, it may be appropriate ·to acknowledge sundry other observations that have come my way since I first raised the subject of questionable electricallybased therapeutics. For the most part, they've been along the line: did you happen to see or hear about this, that or the other? Some of them had nothing to do with electricity or electronics and these I set aside, as outside my area of expertise and inappropriate for these pages, anyway. On second thoughts, I'll mention just one, brought to my notice by a lady whose husband is a regular reader of SILICON CHIP. At the request of an aging relative, she'd called in to a health food shop to buy some pills and potions. When she mentioned that they were for an elderly lady, the whitecoated attendant inquired about the latter's mental state. Assured that there was no problem, he went on.to say that they had just put into stock a new medication for treating Alzheimer's disease - the tragic loss of mental function that affects 24 SrLICO N CHIP more than one in 20 aging people. The lady wasn't impressed; nor was I. Alzheimer's disease is currently the subject of intensive research in developed countries where, within 10-20 years, it could well become the No.1 social problem in their gradually aging populations. It requires more credulity than I can muster to accept that a cure is already sitting right there on the shelf of a suburban health food shop! Crystals and whatnots But getting back to electricity and electronics, there's the matter of crystals and the extraordinary therapeutic powers attributed to them. Did I see the incident on television, some weeks ago, when a crystal was used in an apparently vain effort to save a child's life? Did I see the item in the "Sydney Morning Herald" about the professional numerologist who wears a crystal on his forehead to aid concentration when he is "discerning" Lotto numbers? Have I noticed their repeated promotion on talk shows? The answer is yes, yes and yes again, all of them making me shake my head at this outright quackery. Indeed, after putting the aforesaid numerologist's discernment to the test with hard cash, Harry Edwards, national secretary of Australian Sceptics, found good reason to be more sceptical than ever! As far as I'm concerned, crystals may look cute in certain situations and may provide the basis for a bewildering array of electronic devices but as for mystical, magical or supernatural qualities, no way! Oh yes. And did I know that a certain practitioner in a certain Sydney suburb has an impressive array of electronic instruments in his consulting rooms? No I didn't but my informant may well have chosen exactly the right adjective! Which brings me to a booklet produced by K. J. of Nelly Bay, Qld, and posted to me "with compliments" via the SILICON CHIP office. Titled: How Nature "Cures", it was endorsed "See Part 4". In it K. J. is highly critical of what he classifies as "empty boxes". Included in this group are cylinders, pyramids, pendulums and "nonsense therapy" gadgets, plus an assortment of electrical and electronic devices which may as well be empty boxes for all the good they do! However, lest I draw too much encouragement from his remarks he also rejects most other direct "healing modalities,., including conventional and homeopathic medicine, herbalism, biochemic This high-voltage transmission line passes through the north-western Sydney suburb of Carlingford. To date, there has not been a shred of evidence to suggest that such installations pose a biological hazard to anyone. salts, mineral spas and saunas, vitamins and food supplements, acupuncture, faith healing and so With the "sundry other observations" duly dealt with, we can revert to the matter referred to at the outset: the allegedly disturbing effects of electromagnetic radiation on at least some members of the community. It was raised in a letter from a reader in Carlton, NSW. I quote: and I would like to bring something to your notice. Last year, I became aware that homeopaths prescribe the taking of drops of water which has, as they say, been energised with the signature of the energy pattern contained in other therapeutic substances. The "signature", I understand, can be imparted in a few minutes in a machine which subjects it to particular electromagnetic fields. At first I treated this with great disbelief but more recently I came across an article, as enclosed, which I thought may interest you. Can you offer any more enlightenment on the subject? Incidentally, I have enjoyed SILICON CHIP from its first issue. Keep up the good work. R. M. (Carlton, NSW). Dear Mr vVilliams, Recently, in "The Way I See It", you raised the subject of the therapeutic qualities of electricity Being fairly busy at the time, I merely scanned through the enclosed 10-page article to see what it was all about. The immediate im- on. His basic philosophy is that only the body can restore itself and the proper way to "cure" disease is to remove all impediments and provide the right biological environment in which nature's own healing processes can operate. If only that was all there was to it! Electromagnetic radiation pact was a sense of incredulity which persisted when I later went through it more carefully. Prepared by Ray V. S. Choy MB BS, Jean A. Monroe MB BS and Cyril W. Smith PhD, it had all the appearance of a paper delivered to and published on behalf of a learned society: accreditation, abstract, keywords, introduction, section headings, discussion, conclusion, appendix and references. A logo on each page and the words "Clinical Ecology" suggested that as the probable title of the original publication. Identified only as Volume IV Number 3, the most recent of the listed references is another presentation by the same authors dated 1985. Seeking further information, I rang R. M. but he wasn't able to help. Photostat copies of the paper had been handed out at a meeting attended by a friend. Puzzled, the friend had shown it to R. M. who he knew to be interested in elec]UNE 1989 25 THE WAY I SEE IT - CTD tronics. Equally puzzled, R. M. had posted it on to me. The paper is entitled "Electrical Sensitivities in Allergy Patients". Abbreviated to conserve space, the accreditation of the joint authors is as follows: • Dr Ray Choy is Assistant Medical Director of the Allergy and Environmental Medicine Unit at the Lister Hospital, London; and of the Allergy and Environmental Medicine Clinic (The Sunbury Hill Clinic Ltd) Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK. • Dr Jean A. Monro is Medical Director of the above groups. • Dr Cyril W. Smith is a Senior Lecturer, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Salford, UK. He has been investigating the subjective effects of electromagnetic fields for 12 years, in cooperation with Professor H. Frohlich FRS of the University of Liverpool. What's it all about? The broad thrust of the paper is summarised in the Abstract, which I quote in full: Some patients with multiple allergies complain of extreme sensitivities to atmospheric electrical conditions and to many man-made electrical, magnetic and electronic devices and systems. Experiments confirm that there are real and objective effects as well as subjective effects. The sensitivities are frequency specific rather than intensity specific. They have been observed as patient's specific frequencies from millihertz to Gigahertz and, in the most sensitive patients, at field strengths approaching the theoretical noise level limit, even in the presence of much stronger fields at other frequencies. A protocol for clinical testing has been devised based on the confrontation neutralisation technique used for chemical allergens. Neutralising frequencies can usually be found and magnetic fields at these frequencies can be used to "potentise" water for therapeutic purposes. In a given patient, the symptoms provoked electrically are similar to those provoked chemically and those provoked by the patient's environment. Electrical and chemical stimuli and neutralisation appear to be interchangeable. You're allowed to re-read the above if you didn't get the drift of it the first time through! But read on, anyway. Early in the paper, the reader is reminded of the allergic reactions that some people have to certain foods or other substances to which they may be exposed. The authors refer briefly to skin surface and intradermal tests to determine a subject's sensitivity to potential allergens, and the appropriate treatment. They emphasise the minute quantities - or high dilutions - of allergens often used in such tests. While an expert may have reason to quibble, it sounded routine enough to this medical layman. However, the reference to chemical allergens serves mainly as a back-drop to the real substance of the paper. Let me summarise the basic philosophy: Man has evolved, say the auth!lrs, in an environment which is flooded with all manner of natural electromagnetic radiations. The body itself depends on cellular and intercellular changes in electrical functions and may well use certain coherent oscillations for its own control purposes. But during the past century, various forms of highly coherent electromagnetic radiations (precise in frequency and phase) have been introduced into the environment. These may well interfere with a living system to produce abnormal reactions. I quote: "The abnormal reactions due to a (man-made) electromagnetic field stimulus are consistent with their being described as an allergicresponse in the widest usage of the term". By way of enlargement: "This paper postulates and documents that another situation also exists: namely that external electrical stimuli can initiate changes in the body's general homeostasis, including electrical. Homeostasis represents the 'normal' state of the body - in the allergic state this is perturbed and patients may become abnormally sensitive (hypersensitive) to electrical stimuli. Many of our patients give a history of hypersensitivity to a wide range of electromagnetic fields and devices in addition to their other allergic sensitivities''. The authors claim that undesirable "allergic" reactions to some frequencies can be "challenged" and neutralised by other frequencies, either by direct exposure to them or by intradermal injection of droplets of "potentised" water which carry the appropriate energy "signature", as mentioned in the abstract. Does it make sense? Setting aside, for the present, the business of potentised water, the basic proposition sounds feasible enough. Homo sapiens most certainly relies heavily on electro-chemical body functions and has had a long time to adapt to natural electromagnetic radiation and rhythms. It is also true that, over the past century, our immediate elec- During the past century, various forms of highly coherent electromagnetic radiations have been introduced into the environment. These may well interfere with a living system. 26 SILICON CHIP tromagnetic environment has been invaded by countless man-made radiations, coherent and otherwise. It is therefore not unreasonable to postulate that: • Some or many of these manmade radiations could conceivably affect the normal functioning of our bodies - our so-called "homeostasis"; • And that some people at least are unusually sensitive to particular types of radiation - as allergy sufferers are to certain substances. This does, however, tend to conflict with conventional wisdom, which holds that ordinary, everyday radiation from AC power wiring, broadcast and communications services, radar and correctly operating electronic appliances poses no measurable biological threat - presumably to anyone. In situations where people may be exposed to unusually intense electric or magnetic radiation, standards and work practices are in place which should anticipate and obviate possible harmful effects (see references to the subject in the September 1988 and January 1989 issues). What we have in the present paper is a postulation that a certain percentage of the population is hypersensitive to man-made (usually coherent) electromagnetic radiation. Furthermore, that this "allergic" reaction is not predominantly a function of field intensity but has more to do with frequency, ranging all the way from millihertz to Gigahertz. While it would be presumptuous of me to get too involved in the biological/medical aspects of the a hove proposition, it is not unreasonable for readers of SILICON CHIP to look critically at the electronic methodology on which it is based. It was in this area where some of my early reservations had their origin. I've never met millihertz! Prominent in the abstract is the term "millihertz", presumably relating to frequency phenomena so low that the repetition rate is more conveniently specified in thousandths of a cycle per second: one A "phoney" cure for baldness? According to "The Australasian Wireless Review", April 1923, the Hounslow (England) Wireless Society grabbed international attention when it solemnly declared that baldness could virtually be eliminated if everyone continued to use headphones - ignoring the growing popularity of loudspeakers. The vital difference is that the electrical waves in the headsets stimulate the scalp. Clear evidence of this is provided by the luxuriant growth of hair that characterises radio operators who wear headphones for long periods. The Hounslow Wireless Society seemed to have overlooked the fact that, in the early 1920s, most radio operators were young men, fresh out of Marconi School! millihertz would be equivalent to one thousandth part of a cycle in 1 second, or 1 cycle in 1000 seconds or 0.278 hours. Many readers may not have heard of the term "millihertz" but that doesn't mean that such a frequency can't exist. In fact, the paper lists, as one of the instruments used, a Farnell Synthesised Generator, model DSGl, with a frequency coverage from 10- 4Hz to 10 + 5. In short, a range extending from O.1 millihertz [one cycle in 2.78 hours) to lOOkHz . This is confirmed by a reference in the paper to patient S. L. who is said to have shown reactions over a frequency spectrum extending from the millihertz '' 1 cycle in 2 ¾ hours" range to the 2GHz range (of another genera tor). I must say that my mind boggles at the idea of a 1-metre "aerial" (see later reference) connected to such a generator, which could put out a few volts at most, radiating a significant electric/magnetic field as the voltage upon it changes or increments almost imperceptibly through one cycle over protracted periods of up to 2 ¾ hours. I boggle also at the notion of a subject being sufficiently relaxed for long enough periods to react either adversely or helpfully to what, over much of the millihertz range, would have to be mere segments of a single cycle; segments short enough to differ little from a sample of slowly varying (incrementing?) DC. It is of little wonder that the authors remark: "It is difficult to assess the response of patients at . sub-hertz frequencies and this is still a research exercise". No less to the point, sub-hertz phenomena have negligible relevance to everyday man-made electronic activity - even if they could be initiated in other ways. Maybe my maternal greatgrandmother enjoyed her oldfashioned rocking chair because she was unknowingly oscillating through the Earth's magnetic field at a fortuitous 333mHz (once every 3 seconds). Maybe generations of ocean travellers have suffered mal de mer because the ship has been rolling and yawing in the Earth's magnetic field at a still lower and less agreeable frequency! Signal purity? But there's another disturbing thought. I know nothing of the Farnell Synthesised Genera tor DSGl but the coverage and the name suggest that the output frequency is not generated directly but is derived (divided down?) from a much higher frequency source. Having in mind that (according to the paper) there is no physical connection to the patient and that the field strength of the test signal is well down in the noise, one cannot help but wonder what other frequency components of comparable strength may be leaking from the instrument in any one of a number of ways. The dial(s) may indicate "x" millihertz but could the subject be reacting to one or more components of a much higher order? The authors' remark about millihertz observations being "still a research effort" prompts the devil's advocate in me to suggest that a similar remark might be applicable to other aspects of their " protocol" - at least as conveyed by the paper. JU NE 1989 27 r R. F. DEVICES PTY. LTD. 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F. DEVICES PTY. LTD. SUITE 1A, 9 LYN PARADE, LURNEA, NSW 2170. X 1X 55 75 100 10 X 16 18 20 4½ DIGITS 0 OHM ADJ USTM ENT • TRANSISTOR TEST • • COUNTER QUARTZ CLOCK $169.94 same as Scope 1x 1 X / 10 X 1 X / 10 X 1 x/10x C (pF) • • 1X 10 X Ix 10 15 10 5 100 80 60 35 50 70 3 5 7 TOLL FREE: (008) 02 367 4 TELEPHONE: (02) 607 8811 FACSIMILE: (02) 607 3763 TELEX: 127948 * ALL PRICES INCLUDE SALES TAX. * ENQUIRE ABOUT OTHER QUALITY TEST EQUIPMENT. X * DISTRIBUTORS REQUIRED IN OTHER STATES. VISA Diners Club /111ema1io11al ' THE WAY I SEE IT - CTD It would seem that the total fields being created by the signal generators were not - or could not be - objectively or continuously monitored in relation to intensity or purity, or even their effective existence verified in the context of the electrical noise level. The field strength relative to the subjects appears to have been varied quite arbitrarily by relying on radiation from the 2cm long output connector, or by connecting to it a 1-metre length of wire trailing on the floor; or by the use of a small loop on the end of the ea ble in the case of a microwave generator; or by moving particular generators into a separate room 30m away, or onto a separate floor. The tests proceeded essentially on the basis of subject reaction as the frequency spectrum was progressively examined from lHz upwards. As indicated from the title and abstract, the subjects selected for detailed examination were confirmed allergy sufferers who had also complained of allergic reactions to electromagnetic radiation of various kinds. In certain cases, their apparent sensitivity threshold was well below the electromagnetic ambient from other sources - eg, less than an (estimated?) microwatt per square centimetre. electrically sensitive patients within perhaps 100 metres of the testing room .. . unless they are supervised and it is known that they can be readily neutralised" (turned off?). If that statement is to be accepted at face value, it's time we stopped arguing about mental telepathy and set about finding an environment and building a receiver that can sense the presumably electromagnetic radiations that had to be allowed for by Messrs Choy, Monro and Smith. You might also like to think about the "potentised" water mentioned in the abstract and R. M.'s letter. In what way is water modified - for up to several weeks - when it is exposed to coherent electromagnetic energy? I mean variously modified, according to the frequencies involved, so that it can, by injection or dosage, counteract hypersensitivity to other specific frequencies, or to ordinary chemical allergens. I quote: "We have challenged chemically - neutralised chemically, challenged electrically - neutralised chemically, challenged chemically Human transmitters? If you have the urge to debate any of the above, there's more to follow: According to the authors, it proved advisable to store microwave signal generators elsewhere until needed for the tests, because the passive microwave resonant cavity appeared to trigger an allergic reaction in those patients who exhibited extreme sensitivities in the microwave region. I quote: "This implies that such patients may emit radiation and hence there may also be mutual interactions between the patients, in which case they must be tested singly". And again, during the taking of case histories: · 'There should not be any other In most suburbs you can see power poles with 33kV or higher voltage lines plus the occasional pole transformer. Again, there is nothing to suggest that these are a biological hazard. neutralised electrically and challenged electrically - neutralised electrically". The authors offer certain tentative explanations and also include clinical information about a group of subject patients (3 men and 16 women) which medically qualified readers may care to study in greater detail - if you can locate a copy of the paper. In brief, the complaints extend from fatigue, depression, headaches, rhinitis, asthma and eczema, through hyperactivity and tinnitus to paroxysmal tachycardia (sudden rapid heartbeats) and colitis complaints which are often sai<l tc have emotional connotations. The most frequently blamed electrical "allergen" source is, by far, overhead high voltage transmission cables, which also happen to be the most "visible " of all electrical devices (see SILICON CHIP, January 1989, p.65}. Electrical appliances are also represented, with one woman unable to tolerate meats cooked in an electric oven. Electric typewriters, video terminals, computers and word processors receive unfavourable mention. It so happens that these same devices are often nominated by people who feel intimidated by them. Fluorescent lights, television sets and computer games are also listed as electrical allergens but no mention is made of the possibility of visual stimulation due to the flicker rate or, in the case of video equipment, the (barely) supersonic aural energy from the scanning circuits. Curiously, no one complains about tape recorders, even though they all contain a bias/erase oscillator operating in the 50-lO0kHz region. Nor for that matter, do they complain about the 19kHz subcarrier used in stereo FM broadcasts. To me, there is so much scope for "suggestibility" in all this that the postulation by Messrs Choy, Monro and Smith is best regarded as interesting and provocative, while requiring much more rigid examination with adequate checks and controls. One other point: of the 19 subjects listed, one professed to became aphonic (complete loss of continued on page 91 JU N E 1989 29 Membrane switches are used to turn it on or off although it will turn itself off after five minutes of no use. The Arlec Digi-Scale is available at $59.95 from David Reid Electronics, 127 York Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. Phone (02} 267 1385. Volume control for extension speakers Buy direct from Australia's leading manufacturer and save on quality AVTEK Modems. A range of 16 internal &external modems from low priced manual to fully automatic 2400 bps models complete with power supply, instructions and telephone connections. 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Another became unconscious when exposed to transmission lines, in a highly allergic state. A third suffered convulsions and coma in similar circumstances. 'fTEK VISA DATA COMMUNICATIONS (A Member of the Ne!Comm Group of Companies) A fourth missed out on the tests. He had an acute attack of asthma while driving under overhead lines, stopped immediately but died while walking under the lines, seeking help! It makes startling reading doesn't it? But Australian highways are criss-crossed by huge transmission lines and hundreds of thousands of cars and passengers pass beneath them every day of the week - apparently without catastrophic effect. If there was to be such, those crossings would surely have emerged as accident black spots on our road maps, at least for allergy sufferers. So there you are R. M. For me, it doesn't add up but I'm open to be convinced otherwise. For the pre- sent, I'd rather leave the ChoyMonro-Smith paper in the pending basket! But the Editor-in-Chief, Leo Simpson, takes a much stronger line. He says that while human beings might be sensitive to electromagnetic radiation in ways we still don't know about, the rest of the paper, particularly the part about potentised water, is utter garbage. What do you think? ~ Subscribers Are you about to change your address? Please advise us by the middle of the month to ensure that your next issue arrives at your new address. JUNE 1989 91