ARTIFICIAL CONSCIENCE: #scifi The R’il’nai literally share in the emotions of others, which they referred to as empathy. Riyan society evolved with the assumption that everyone had this trait. The rare children lacking this ability were considered badly handicapped and treated while young to react as if they felt the pain of others. In severe cases, this could lead to a treated individual actually convulsing or collapsing if he or she caused pain to another, but this was considered better than having one individual disrupt the whole society.
Tag Archive: healing
ACCELERATED HEALING MODE: Under normal circumstances, the body reacts against rapidly dividing cells. A Healer can temporarily suppress this reaction, allowing healing to take place much faster than normal. However, this state is not normal and can lead to cancer if not reversed within a few days.
TACK-HEALING: #scifi In Healing broken bones, the growth of calcification tends to be much slower than aligning the bone fragments and forcing rapid growth of cartilage. The most common way of Healing such injuries is to use Healing to align bone fragments and accelerate cartilage growth, known as tack-healing because the bone, while “mended,” has only a fraction of normal strength. The patient is then instructed to avoid putting excessive stress on the damaged bone while calcification is occurring.
COUNTERSHOCK: #scifi a medication that suppresses shock symptoms, but by itself has no pain-relieving properties.
ISOLATION SATELLITE: # scifi A satellite designed for complete biological isolation and used for study of potentially dangerous diseases. Part of the Riyan medical system.
ISOLATION SUIT:#scifi A suit, rather like a space suit, designed for complete biological isolation. Isolation suits are completely self-contained, carrying their own air and temperature control systems. Even with levitation circuits to take some of the weight, they are very uncomfortable to work in.
PEACEMINT: A plant originally grown by the Jibeth healers for the tranquilizing effect of its mint-citrus odor and of a tea brewed from its leaves. It also acts as a muscle relaxant when rubbed on the skin. The leaves are bright green, overlain with a sheen like gold dust.
ESPER SHOCK: Intensive use of esper talents can run blood sugar down to dangerously low levels. The resulting hypoglycemia is called esper shock. Any source of rapidly absorbed sugar will counter it, but honey is widely used. For lasting treatment, the carbohydrate is normally followed with protein. Virtually identical to insulin shock, with similar symptoms and treatment.
FLOAT CHAIR: An invalid chair kept at a more or less fixed height by levitation. Unlike our wheelchairs, it can be used up and down stairs and over rough ground. A float chair can be controlled either by a brain-wave pickup or by physical controls. It may have a speed governor or have the height above ground set within narrow limits, but these features are generally adjustable and may even be controlled by the occupant.
JIBETH: Originally a philosophical group based on bodily health and the obligation to help others attain that health. With time, it has become primarily a school of holistic medicine noted especially for its herb lore and the use of massage as an adjunct to other forms of healing.
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