RE: x-rays (veering off-topic)

["Neil, David M" <neildm@id.doe.gov>]

This guy has my (grudging) respect for his willpower. According to a
book I once read on, among other things, the microecology of the lower
GI tract, food residues form only a minor part of the "output" in
humans. 

An apocryphal anecdote was offered concerning two ascetics who were
'dueling'. After a week of fasting, one said to the other; "For a week,
we have sat not eating but sh*tting as usual. Let us now begin to eat as
normal, but not sh*t." Whereupon the second backed down.

This has veered off-topic, so let's take any follow-ups to e-mail.

Dave Neil
neildm@id.doe.gov

On Thursday, December 10, 1998 5:49 PM, Andrew McEwan
[SMTP:Andrew@nrl.moh.govt.nz] wrote:
> 
> 
> Franz
> 
> Your comment
> "Finally one should not forget a traditional and conservative method
to
> check whether a suspect is smuggling drugs in his/her stomach:
Laxatives
> and waiting. Then one would have followed the ALARA principle."
> 
> reminds me of an event here.  Administering laxatives to a smuggler
who 
> refused examination wasn't permitted so the person was lodged at a
hotel 
> with a non-flushing toilet arrangement but refused all food for 1
week. Then 
> the Police had to get another court order to hold him for a further 7
days. 
>  I believe he managed to hold out for around 14 days before 'producing
the 
> evidence'.
> 
> I think in this situation the cost to society more than outways the 
> detriment to the suspect from the radiation dose from x-ray
examination. 
>  Further, there is commonly a benefit to the smuggler as cases of
ruptured 
> swallowed containers have led to life threatening situations for some
drug 
> smugglers.
> 
> Andrew McEwan
> 
> _________________________
> Andrew C McEwan PhD
> National Radiation Laboratory
> PO Box 25-099
> Christchurch, New Zealand
> 
> Ph 64 3 366 5059
> Fax 64 3 366 1156
> acmcewan@nrl.moh.govt.nz

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