Memorandum from Linus Pauling to Frank Catchpool. February 15, 1960. Page 1  Larger Images / More Information. 2 pp.  View Transcript

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Activity Listings

• Check from AHP to Pashgio Brothers for $47.88.  [Filed under LP Biographical:  (Business and Financial:  Bank Statements and Canceled Checks, January 1960-December 1961), Box #4.026, Folder #26.1]  [Also filed under LP Biographical:  (Business and Financial:  Check Registers, 1951-1960), Box #4.075, Folder #75.6]
• Check from AHP to Pearl M. Jordan for $1,000.00.  [Filed under LP Biographical:  (Business and Financial:  Bank Statements and Canceled Checks, January 1960-December 1961), Box #4.026, Folder #26.1]
• Check from Dr. Jesse Fuchs to Caltech RE: $100 check for the Richard W. Lippman Fund. [Letter from DuBridge to Fuchs February 16, 1960] [Filed under LP Science: (R.W. Lippman Memorial Fund, 1949-1962), Box #14.040, Folder #40.10]
• Check from Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Nathonson RE: $25 check for the Richard W. Lippman Fund. [Letter from DuBridge to Nathanson March 10, 1960] [Filed under LP Science: (R.W. Lippman Memorial Fund, 1949-1962), Box #14.040, Folder #40.12]             
• Check from Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Drummond RE: $50 check for the Richard W. Lippman Fund. [Letter from DuBridge to Drummond February 23, 1960] [Filed under LP Science: (R.W. Lippman Memorial Fund, 1949-1962), Box #40.040, Folder #40.12]
• Letter (In Italian) from Francesco Giordani, to LP. RE: Continues his letter from July 24th, 1959. Informs him that he has been elected as a Foreign Member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. [Letter from LP February 26, 1960] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (G: Correspondence, 1960) Box # 141 Folder #141.5]
• Letter (in German) from Kuack Pauling, to LP. RE: Discusses the possibility that they may be related. [Filed under LP Correspondence, (P: Correspondence, 1960) #314.1]
• Letter from Ben May to LP. RE: Thanks him for his letter. Encloses a paper by Burton. Thinks he sleeps better after taking nicotinic acid. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (May, Ben) # 244.5]                     
• Letter from Crellin Pauling to LP and AHP. [Filed under LP Biographical: Family Correspondence: Edward Crellin Pauling, 1930-1995, No date: Box #5.048, Folder #48]

  15 February

  Dear Mama and Daddy,

  Yesterday we had a few inches of wet, wet snow, but it was enough to amuse Cheryl. Unfortunately she didn't get out into it, as it was pretty slushy, but she marveled [sic] at the sight. It was gone by evening.

  I am taxing genetics this semester; it is really a pleasure to take a course from MTM Rizki again. He is a marvelous instructer [sic] - he manages to inject enough humor in his lectures to keep everyone interested, and the hour is over in no time. Freshman physics is such a bore that I don't spend enough time with it, or haven't as yet. However my thesis is coming along quite well.

  When I was up at Univ of Washington the man at Reed that everyone asked about was Rizki. I haven't heard definitely from Motulsky et-al, but I certainly got the impression at the interview that they were interested in me. The more I consider it the nicer that situation looks to me, especially in view of the PHS money.

  Unfortunately Consumers Report doesn't have the circulation of This Week Magazine, as the CU article on fallout in milk looks quite cogent to me after a brief skimming, and certainly is better than Teller's falsehoods in that article in This Week. I'm glad to see that some people have some sense - I heard or read that the Great Lakes Maritime people won't allow atomic - powered ore carriers until the dangers of such ships are further studied.

  Last summer I must have left at home a bunch of little waxed-type paper envelopes to hold negatives - I think that there were 100 envelopes, and that some of them had negatives in them. I thought that they were here, but I haven't been able to find them since we arrived here in September, and I would like them. If you have seen them, do you think that you might send them to me. I want the envelopes to put new negatives in, primarily. They are roughly 2-1/2 inches wide by 10 inches long.

  Lucy is pleased with the mixer, although I think that she would like the book that goes with it if you still have it. Cheryl just looks darling in that dirnol.

  Love from,

  Crellin, Lucy, Cheryl, Kristin

• Letter from David Pressman, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, to LP. RE: Encloses articles translated from Russian literature. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Pressman, David) #309.7]
• Letter from F. J. W. Roughton, to LP. RE: Hopes all is well with him. Informs him that he has sent in a paper to the Royal Society. Hopes to visit the West Coast soon. [Letter from LP February 22, 1960] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Roughton, F. J. W. (Jack)) # 336.8]
• Letter from Jeff Pearson to LP, RE: For a high school science project Pearson is trying to prove if there is radioactive material from fallout in his home state.  Pearson is enclosing a print of a radio autograph that was left in a darkroom for 16 weeks.  Pearson thinks that the autograph shows the presence of radioactive material and is asking for LP's opinion.  [LP's reply February 25, 1960]  [Filed under LP Peace: (Materials re: Strontium-90, 1960), Box #7.013, Folder #13.19]     
• Letter from Jessica Smith, New World Review, to LP. RE: Understands that the burden of judging an essay contest is too much. [Letter from LP February 12, 1960] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (N: Correspondence, 1960) # 288.4]
• Letter from John Donovan to LP, RE:   Donovan wrote a letter to a prominent drug company and in it he referred to LP's letter to the New York Times.  The response, in part, from the drug company was that LP's idea is still unproven and that increased calcium intake will often increase kidney stone formation or results in calcium deposits in the kidney itself.  Donovan does not agree with this reply and would welcome LP's thoughts on it.  [LP's reply February 23, 1960] [Filed under LP Peace: (Materials re: Strontium-90, 1960), Box #7.013, Folder #13.19]
• Letter from Joseph Tobin to LP RE: Tobin requests a brief interview with LP to discuss the field of psychiatry during his (Tobin's) time in San Francisco in late February. [Letter from LP to Tobin February 22, 1960] [Filed under LP Science: (Orthomolecular Medicine and Mental Health: Materials re: Ford Foundation grants for the study of mental disorders, 1955-1966), Box #11.088, Folder #88.14]
• Letter from June E. Bayless, California Library Association, to LP. RE: Is delighted to learn that he has accepted the invitation to address the opening general session of the California Library Association. Informs him that of the exact time and location. [Letter from LP February 17, 1960] [Filed under LP Speeches: (Speeches by LP, 1960) Box #1960s2 Box #1960s2.13]
• Letter from L.A. DuBridge to Albert Maltz, cc: LP, RE: Thanks Maltz and acknowledges receipt of his $25 check donated to the Richard W. Lippman Memorial Fund. [Check from Maltz to Caltech January 25, 1960] [Filed under LP Science: (R.W. Lippman Memorial Fund, 1949-1962), Box #14.040, Folder #40.10]
• Letter from L.A. DuBridge to Dr. Bernard Lown, cc: LP, RE: Thanks Lown and acknowledges receipt of his $50 check donated to the Richard W. Lippman Memorial Fund. [Check from Lown to Caltech February 8, 1960] [Filed under LP Science: (R.W. Lippman Memorial Fund, 1949-1962), Box #14.040, Folder #40.10]
• Letter from L.A. DuBridge to Edith B. Wollman, cc: LP, RE: Thanks Wollman and acknowledges receipt of her $20 check donated to the Richard W. Lippman Memorial Fund. [Check from Wollman to Caltech February 10, 1960] [Filed under LP Science: (R.W. Lippman Memorial Fund, 1949-1962), Box #14.040, Folder #40.10]              
• Letter from L.A. DuBridge to Edward D. and Anna Mitchell, Family Foundation, cc: LP, RE: Thanks them and acknowledges receipt of their $200 check donated to the Richard W. Lippman Memorial Fund. [Check from Mitchell to Caltech February 5, 1960] [Filed under LP Science: (R.W. Lippman Memorial Fund, 1949-1962), Box #14.040, Folder #40.10]                      
• Letter from L.A. DuBridge to Mr. and Mrs. Alexander M. Alpert, cc: LP, RE: Thanks the Alperts and acknowledges receipt of their $5 check donated to the Richard W. Lippman Memorial Fund. [Letter from Alpert to Caltech January 30, 1960] [Filed under LP Science: (R.W. Lippman Memorial Fund, 1949-1962), Box #14.040, Folder #40.10]
• Letter from LP to Henry Allen Moe RE: LP sends his report on Group Chemistry I and II and on Group Biochemistry, for his recommendations on who deserves a Guggenheim Fellowship. [Letter from Moe to LP June 2, 1960] [Filed under LP Science: (John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, 1953-1975), Box #14.015, Folder #15.7]
• Letter from Marjorie R. Gray, National Association of Social Workers, to LP. RE: Invites him to be the Jane Addams dinner speaker on April 27th. [Letter from LP February 16, 1960] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (N: Correspondence, 1960) #288.4]
• Letter from Paul H. Marston to LP RE: Informs that they have received a bill for his 1960 Guardianship bond. Asks him to make an appointment with them to complete the figures and prepare the final account. [Filed under LP Biographical: Family Correspondence: Edward Crellin Pauling, 1930-1995, No date: Box #5.048, Folder #48.8]
• Letter from Paul Mandelstam to LP RE: Provides some self-background and asks if he could meet with LP when he is in St. Louis to discuss the possibility of him joining LP's group studying the chemical basis of mental disease. Handwritten "Did you see or talk with him in St. Louis?" [Filed under LP Science: (Orthomolecular Medicine and Mental Health: Materials re: Ford Foundation grants for the study of mental disorders, 1955-1966), Box #11.089, Folder #89.11]
• Memo from LP to Catchpool. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Catchpool, John Francis, 1960) #62.2]

  15 February 1960

  To: Dr. Catchpool

  From: Linus Pauling

  Subject: Measurement of Heat Capacity

  I think that it would be worth while to make some measurements of the heat capacity of brain, both anesthetized and unanesthetized, and also of some model systems.

  I think that the unconsciousness that sets in when the brain is cooled to about 27°C results from the formation of microcrystals in the brain, which interfere with the conduction of the electric oscillations responsible for consciousness. These microcrystals are, I think, probably largely water, including also, however, some protein side chains and solute molecules. I think of the microcrystals as being similar in structure to the gas hydrate crystals with cubic units of structure either 12 A or 17 A on edge, or the hydrates formed by tetrabutyl ammonium salts.

  The formation of these microcrystals on cooling should be accompanied with the evolution of heat, and their destruction on warming with the absorption of heat. Accordingly the formation of these microcrystals or their melting should contribute to the heat capacity of the brain.

  I think that in the presence of an anesthetic agent, such as chloroform, the temperature at which the microcrystals form is raised to 37°C and that accordingly the evolution of heat on cooling or absorption of heat on warming should occur at a somewhat higher temperature.

  A comparison of the heat capacity curves of a sample of brain tissue without anesthetic agent and another sample of brain tissue with anesthetic agent might provide evidence about this hypothesis. I would expect that the heat capacity curve for anesthetized brain tissue would lie below that for unanesthetized brain tissue in the 27°C region and above it in the 37°C region.

  In order to check this point, we need to have a heat capacity apparatus. I suggest that the apparatus be of the simple Dewar flask sort, designed to hold perhaps ten or twenty grams of brain tissue. A thermopile can be used to measure the temperature, and the thermopile readings can be recorded on a chart by use of a Varian Associates strip chart recorder, a Leeds and Northrup Speedomax, a Brown recorder, or some similar instrument. There are several of these recorders in the laboratory.

  It may be worth while to set up two preparations, in separate Dewar flasks, one of unanesthetized brain tissue and one of anesthetized brain tissue, with a differential thermocouple, which would record the difference in temperatures of the two specimens.

  In each case energy can be introduced into the cooled specimen at a steady rate, by an electric heater.

  I think that it will be worth while to use the same apparatus to study model systems of various sorts. A concentrated protein solution or even a coagulum of denatured protein might have its heat capacity determined in the absence of and the presence of an anesthetic agent. Similarly, the melting points of hydrate crystals of anesthetic agents could be determined as a function of the activity of the anesthetic agent. There is some material in the literature, but I think that much more needs to be gathered.

  I think that the change in state accompanying anesthesia involves perhaps only one tenth of one percent of the material in the brain. You might calculate from the heat of fusion of ice how big an effect on the heat capacity would be if one tenth of one percent of the weight of the brain were to change its state over a temperature of about two degrees centigrade, and design the apparatus to have a sensitivity such as to detect this effect.

  Linus Pauling:jh

• Minutes: Meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy. [Filed under LP Peace: (SANE, 1958-1966, 1982), Box #4.003, Folder #3.15]     
• Newspaper Clipping: "Offers Method to Reduce Sr90 in Bone", Dental Times, February 15, 1960. [Filed under LP Biographical: (LP Scrapbooks, 1956-1960), Box #6.007, Folder #7.500]
• Note from Dr. Margaret Goetsch to Caltech RE: Encloses a $10 check for the Richard W. Lippman Fund. [Letter from DuBridge to Goetsch February 23, 1960] [Filed under LP Science: (R.W. Lippman Memorial Fund, 1949-1962), Box #40.040, Folder #40.12]
• Note of Loan from LP and AHP to Pearl M. Jordan RE: Jordan received a $1000 loan from LP and AHP to be repaid during the next year. This loan increases the amount due to $9, 069.81. [Filed under AHP: AHP: Financial Materials: Box #3.017, Folder #17.2]
• Statement submitted by Abraham Gorenfeld RE: ACLU states that they should support expelled machinists. Discusses the nature of union, the character of "right to work" laws and the arena, and the conduct of expelled machinists. Encloses the memorandum from Lloyd M. Smith [January 27, 1960]. [Filed under AHP: AHP: American Civil Liberties Union: Box #5.002, Folder #2.8]