Lion's share of the cosmological truth?--cat purrs=io shouHello everyone, I am
sending you this interesting article that Michael sent to me... I too mas
mowning and purring while I was in the hospital to relieve the strange
sensations I was going through with the chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant.
I could not record what I was doing, and did not have anyone around me fit to
work with the computer. I miss that opportunity, but I must say it did relieve
me a lot.
Happy new year 2007,
Love
Marysol


----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Heleus
To: mheleus1@...
Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2006 10:29 PM
Subject: Lion's share of the cosmological truth?--cat purrs=io shout 8ve
shifted=Bflat Big Bong 8ve shifted


http://www.bksv.com/2798.asp
Solving The Cat's Purr Mystery using Accelerometers

Related Links
Product Data: Endevco Model 22 Accelerometer

Elizabeth von Muggenthaler and Bill Wright

Ever since the Egyptians started worshipping the cat, philosophers,
scientists and cat lovers worldwide have wondered why cats purr. Fauna
Communications and ENDEVCO initiated a novel research study that recorded the
purrs of five species of cats - cheetah, puma, serval, ocelot and the domestic
cat. This research has contributed valuable information that may solve the
mystery behind the cat's purr.

It is commonly believed that cats purr when content. However, cats also purr
when they are severely injured, frightened or giving birth. So if cats were
purring solely out of happiness they would not purr when injured, especially as
the generation of the purr requires energy, and an injured animal will generally
not expend precious energy needed for healing on an activity not directly
connected with their survival.

Since the purr has lasted through hundreds of generations of cats, there
must be a survival mechanism behind its continued existence. Suggesting that the
purr evolved to function solely as a vocalisation of self-contentment goes
directly against the basic tenets of evolutionary psychology and natural
selection. Could the purr in any way link to the fact that vibrational
stimulation not only relieves suffering in 82% of persons suffering from acute
and chronic pain but also generates new tissue growth, augments wound tissue
strength, improves local circulation and oxygenation, reduces swelling and/or
inhibits bacterial growth?

Survival of the Fittest
Throughout history, the cat has been the most worshipped and the most
persecuted domestic animal. Perhaps the most popular cat saying is that they
have "nine lives". This type of old wives' tale usually has a grain of truth
behind it, especially since there is also an old veterinary school adage that
states "If you put a cat and a sack of broken bones in the same room the bones
will heal".

Most veterinary orthopedic surgeons have observed how relatively easy it is
to mend broken cat bones, as compared with dogs. In a study of "High Rise
Syndrome" found in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
Drs. Whitney and Mehlhaff documented 132 cases of cats plummeting from high-rise
apartments, the average fall being 5.5 storeys, or 55 feet. The record height
for survival was 45 storeys. Ninety percent of the 132 cats studied survived
even though some had severe injuries. There is also literature that suggests
that domestic cats are in general less prone to postoperative complications
following elective surgeries

Cats do not have near the prevalence of orthopedic disease or ligament and
muscle traumas as dogs have, and non-union of fractures in cats is rare.
Researchers believe that self-healing is the survival mechanism behind the purr.
There is extensive documentation that suggests that low frequencies, at low
intensity, are therapeutic. These frequencies can aid bone growth, fracture
healing, pain relief, tendon and muscle strength and repair, joint mobility, the
reduction of swelling, and the relief of dyspnea, or breathlessness.

In order to measure the domestic cat's purrs and how purr vibration is
spread throughout its body ENDEVCO Model 22 accelerometers were used. Weighing a
mere 0.14 gram, this is the world's smallest accelerometer. It mounts
adhesively, requires no external power and is ground isolated. It is typically
used on such small objects as scaled models, circuit boards and disk drives.

During tests, the cats relaxed on blankets, and were encouraged to purr by
occasionally stroking them. The small, lightweight Model 22 accelerometers were
placed directly on the skin of the cats and stabilised using washable make-up
glue and medical tape. Each recording session lasted between 6 and 10 minutes.
Data was recorded on DAT recorders and analysed.

Results indicated that despite size and different genetics, all of the
individual cats have strong purr frequencies that fall within the range of a
multitude of therapeutic frequencies and particular decibel levels, see Fig. 3.
Frequencies of 25 and 50 Hz are the best, and 100 Hz and 200 Hz the second best
frequencies for promoting bone strength. Exposure to these signals elevates bone
strength by approximately 30%, and increases the speed at which the fractures
heal.

Purring the Pain Away
All the cats had purr frequencies between 20 Hz and 200 Hz. With the
exception of the cheetah, which had frequencies 2 Hz from the rest, all the
species had frequencies, notably 25 Hz, 50 Hz, 100 Hz, 125 Hz, and 150 Hz, that
correspond exactly with the best frequencies determined by the most recent
research for bone growth, fracture healing, pain relief, relief of
breathlessness, and inflammation. All of the cats' purrs, including the cheetah,
had frequencies 4 Hz from the entire repertoire of low frequencies known to be
therapeutic for all of the ailments.

That fact that the cats in this study produced frequencies that have been
proven to improve healing time, strength and mobility could explain the purr's
natural selection. After a day or night of hunting, purring could be likened to
an internal vibrational therapeutic system, a sort of "kitty massage" that would
keep muscles and ligaments in prime condition and less prone to injury.
Additionally, the purr could strengthen bone, and prevent osteodiseases.
Following injury, the purr vibrations would help heal the wound or bone
associated with the injury, reduce swelling, and provide a measure of pain
relief during the healing process.








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