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The Body Electric
ferent input of current, as well as surgical removal of scar and cysts. The
electrode material would have to be chosen carefully, for some metals are
toxic to nerve cells. Also, humans have a low ratio of ependyma com-
pared to spinal neurons, so we might have to add more. However, it
should be relatively easy to culture more ependymal cells from a sample
of the patient's own, and then inject them when we put in the electrode.
POSSIBLE TREATMENT FOR PARAPLEGIA
Not too many years ago spinal accident victims usually died of infec-
tions or other complications quite soon. Now we can prolong their lives,
but only at enormous social, financial, and psychological cost. Looking
ahead, as in the case of heart damage, we now have hope for releasing
regeneration in humans. Actually, the outlook for spinal regrowth is
more promising. The cellular processes are more familiar, and there are a
few groups,
like
the
American Paralysis Association,
that
sponsor
re-
search more imaginatively than the government agencies. Thus the elec-