Reviving dead people in the movies.

[Sizzle]

Since we are on the topic of movie faux-magic, one movie power that I think would be really cool to have is the ability to dip the tip of my finger into a substance, taste it, and then determine within seconds exactly what it was.

It seems that most cops in movies are able to tell raw opium from heroin from various grades of cocaine to arsenic, strychnine, and iocane powder.

I have always wanted to be able to to do this.

Yes. I believe it is in the movie "Showtime" with Eddie Murphy and Robert DeNiro that Murphy's character is showing off the ability to identify cocaine when DeNiro's character makes him look like a total ass and calls him on it, saying you never taste the substance... What if it is rat poison?

[wuapinmon]

1. No, it's never done. It's true that epinephrine can make a dead heart beat for a minute or so, but as soon as it wears off, the heart would again stop.

2. Adrenaline (another name for epinephrine).

3. The results would be nothing like the film. You would feel a pulse return, but the person would certainly not sit up and start talking to you.

I was having problems getting numb for a root canal one time and the endodontist told me he needed to use some epinephrine to do something to the nerve so it would numb up. He touched it to the hole in my tooth and about 3-5 secs later I felt my heart start GALLOPING in my chest and it did it for a couple of uncomfortable minutes. The tooth did go numb. I don't ever want to experience that again.

[il Padrino Ute]

I have always wanted to be able to to do this.

Try it sometime. Let us know how it works out.

[smokymountainrain]

And I'm amazed at the fighting prowess of so many who, with only one punch, always knock out the recipient. Ali, Foreman, Tyson and others usually had to administer many blows, and often went many rounds without getting a knockout, but I assume that's solely because they were wearing gloves.

Seriously, I'd welcome a movie when, after somebody delivers a blow that you know will lead to the victim getting knocked out (it's the movies, after all), the victim simply rubs his chin and says, "Ow!"

You need to watch more MMA. You see one punch knockouts with regularity.

[cowboy]

One of the more shocking and bizarre scenes in Pulp Fiction was when the OD'd Uma Thurman gets brought back to life by having a syringe's needle jammed directly into her heart. She popped up instantly, gasped for air, and was pretty much back to normal.

I've seen similar scenes in more recent movies, such that it's becoming rather trite. My questions, for the physicians, would-be or otherwise, are:

1. Is such a treatment ever actually done? If so, I assume that's a rather touch needle to get through the sternum, or does one approach from the side between the ribs?

2. What drug is used?

3. If effective, are the results immediate or anything like that shown in film?

BTW, I assume real physicians roll their eyes at much of the medical stuff on the screen as lawyers do at the legal stuff.

I'm no doctor, but I deliver hundreds of babies each year, and when a baby comes out and isn't breathing, the first thing I do is stick straw in its nose. If that doesn't work, I try a hypodermic needle. That usually elicits a sneezing response that get them breathing. It does the trick about 60 percent of the time.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I'm no doctor, but I deliver hundreds of babies each year, and when a baby comes out and isn't breathing, the first thing I do is stick straw in its nose. If that doesn't work, I try a hypodermic needle. That usually elicits a sneezing response that get them breathing. It does the trick about 60 percent of the time.

As a friend and devout carnivore, I'm concerned about your hemorrhaging ranching operation, and I'm wondering if sticking straws up the noses of your newborns might not be the best approach here. But I'll do what I can to help, and I vow to double my consumption of beef in the coming weeks to help out.

[cowboy]

As a friend and devout carnivore, I'm concerned about your hemorrhaging ranching operation, and I'm wondering if sticking straws up the noses of your newborns might not be the best approach here. But I'll do what I can to help, and I vow to double my consumption of beef in the coming weeks to help out.

I actually learned the straw-sticking trick from a vet. He was educated, so I'm sure he was smart. Thanks for buying beef on my behalf-If I can ever figure out how to keep the stuff frozen, I still plan to send you a couple of packages of home-grown steaks.

[creekster]

As a friend and devout carnivore, I'm concerned about your hemorrhaging ranching operation, and I'm wondering if sticking straws up the noses of your newborns might not be the best approach here. But I'll do what I can to help, and I vow to double my consumption of beef in the coming weeks to help out.

You were struck by the straw? It was the needle that bothered me. If somebody stuck a needle up my nose it owuld defintiely elicit more than a sneeze. These must be wyoming tough calves.

[SoCalCoug]

And I'm amazed at the fighting prowess of so many who, with only one punch, always knock out the recipient. Ali, Foreman, Tyson and others usually had to administer many blows, and often went many rounds without getting a knockout, but I assume that's solely because they were wearing gloves.

Seriously, I'd welcome a movie when, after somebody delivers a blow that you know will lead to the victim getting knocked out (it's the movies, after all), the victim simply rubs his chin and says, "Ow!"

Here's one.

[youtube]3C6VElhOQEk[/youtube]