1. Human Experimentation Evan Yieh May 25, 2010 Ms. McCarron

2. What is human experimentation? • By definition, human experimentation is the use of human beings as experimental subjects. • Experiments can range from psychological testing to physiological testing. • Evidence of human experimentation can be found as far back as Ancient Roman times.

3. Nazi Human Experiments • Modern human experimentation began with those carried out in concentration camps. • Tests included high altitude, freezing temperature, and sea water experimentation. • Experiments carried under the direction of Dr. Eduard Wirths and Dr. Josef Mengele, “The Angel Of Death.” Dr. Josef Mengele http://lesstewart.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/josef-mengele-1935.jpg

4. High Altitude Experiments • Tested the limits of human endurance and existence at high altitudes without oxygen. • Designed to mimic the conditions in which German pilots faced in combat. • Victim would be locked in an airtight, low-pressure chamber. • Pressure would be set up to 68,000 feet. • Many died as a result of the drastic change in pressures.

5. High Altitude Experiments All images found at: https://owlspace-ccm.rice.edu/access/content/user/ecy1/Nazi%20Human%20Experimentation/Pages/High%20alt.html

6. Freezing Temperature Experiments • Tested ways to treat those who have been exposed to extremely low temperatures. • Simulated conditions German pilots would face if they had crashed at sea and conditions in which German soldiers might face. • Also tested ways of re-warming surviving German soldiers. • Used large cold water freezing tubs and large amounts of ice to bring water to 0 degrees C in order to effectively freeze the subjects. • Subjects were subject to many different variables.

7. Freezing Temperature Experiments https://owlspace-ccm.rice.edu/access/content/user/ecy1/Nazi%20Human%20Experimentation/Pages/Freezing%20temp.html

8. Sea Water Experiments • Tested different ways of desalinizing water. • 44 experimental test groups split up into 4 different groups: no water, sea water, sea water processed by the Berka method, and sea water without salt. • Subjects who received any type of sea water experienced excruciating torture, diarrhea, convulsions, hallucinations, foaming at the mouth, and madness or death. • Subjects often received no food.

9. Sea Water Experiments https://owlspace-ccm.rice.edu/access/content/user/ecy1/Nazi%20Human%20Experimentation/Pages/Sea%20Water.html A gypsy forcibly given a sea water injection.

10. Other Famous Human Experiments • “The Monster Study” – Stuttering experiment on orphan children. • Stanford Prison Experiment - Psychological study of human responses to captivity and its behavioral effects on the inmates and the authorities. • Project MKULTRA – Mind control experiment by the CIA. Images found at: http://listverse.com/2008/03/14/top-10-evil-human-experiments/

11. The Benefits of Human Experimentation • Finding potential cures to diseases and disorders. • See the effects of potential medications and treatments on humans directly, instead of relying on mice. • Determine the endurance of humans in extreme conditions. • How people react to certain stimuli.

12. The Negatives of Human Experimentation • Experiments are often sadistic in nature. • Many subjects are not informed of the nature of the tests. • Under privileged families are often targeted for human experiments. • Deaths are often a result of these experiments. http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rmc/lowres/rmcn70l.jpg

13. Human Experimentation is Essential • Although the subject of human experimentation is controversial, it is essential in finding future treatments to diseases as well as investigate how humans react to certain stimuli. • Will yield more accurate results than lab animals. • Subjects must be well informed of the nature of the tests.

14. Sources • Nazi Human Experimentation: • https://owlspace-ccm.rice.edu/access/content/user/ecy1/Nazi%20Human%20Experimentation/Pages/Home.html • Miscellaneous sources: • http://listverse.com/2008/03/14/top-10-evil-human-experiments/ • http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/news/2008_spr/milstein.htm • http://www.naturalnews.com/019189_human_medical_experimentation_ethics.html • http://www.faqs.org/health/topics/36/Human-experimentation.html