Chapter XXV. International Thermoelectric Academy
- In 1994 - recalls Lukyan Ivanovich - I invited to our institute colleagues from different countries and showed them our exhibition. The exhibits made a huge impression on the specialists. Even they could not imagine that thermoelectricity decides such a wide range of problems. And then I realized not know what their colleagues are doing. All that led to the idea to organize an intellectual club where specialists in thermoelectricity could regularly exchange ideas. And then there was the idea to create the International Thermoelectric Academy. Its purpose - to gather qualified scientists in the region and to identify promising areas that should move on.
Now it is accepted to begin serious undertakings from the advertising noise and steep PR. Without it, according to all the marketing rules, the new venture is doomed. Anatychuk also made vice versa. Everything was done simply, quietly, because it was clear - by its very existence Academy is obstacle for many. Perhaps this was the right way ...
After ten years of hard work it became apparent: Academy - is not some kind of accident, temporary education. It is a community of the best specialists in the world in this field. And do we need to explain why so many years the same president of the international organization is Lukyan Anatychuk?
The academy made an important conclusion: much of that can be of great benefit lies on the shelves of researchers. It is only three to five percent which are implemented in practice. Among the recommended areas of practical attachment there was thermoelectricity and medicine.
Own experience Lukyan Ivanovic at the time consisted mainly of developments that have been made for space and military. He even felt a spiritual discomfort due to the fact that virtually all his life was perfecting the weapons of mass destruction. Like many scientists of the same generation, he wanted to do something like that, that would help people live better lives. The first proposal was received also from the military. Moreover, in such a way that Anatychuk first told them a categorical "no!"
It was in the Military-Industrial Commission of the USSR - a highly respected institution, composed of experts from various industries, science and technology. These were suggestions on the use of various innovations for military purposes. Sometimes proposals were just crazy, and, characteristically, the authors were often schizophrenic persistence, trying to convince the commission in the prospects of their ideas.
In the Kremlin, which contained the Military Industrial Commission, Anatychuk stopped by one of its members and asked to meet with the military doctor. Seeing dumb amazement on his face scientist explained that this doctor has a very interesting idea of using Chinese needles on the battlefield.
Lukyan Ivanovich tried to object - he, physics seems to savagery is quackery. Member of the Commission smiled softly:
- Do you find it difficult to listen to a man? I do not believe in all this nonsense, but we should not dismiss any reasonable things ...
- Soon, already in Chernivtsi a man of middle age came to Anatychuk. Submit:
I am a military doctor ...
He produced quite adequate impression and immediately grabbed, as they say, the bull by the horns:
- I understand that you are a busy man, so I briefly explain the essence of the matter. It is known that about half of the battlefield soldiers die not from mortal wounds, but from a painful shock, which leads to loss of consciousness. In this state, the wounded can not help themselves, bleeds and dies. For several years I have been studying Chinese medicine, acupuncture treat. It turns out that in the auricle is a singular point, and if you act on it with a needle or weak pulses of electric current, the person ceases to feel pain. My idea is to create a miniature device that gives such impulses, and put it in the ears before the attack. When wounded soldiers did not lose consciousness, binds the wound and save yourself. I was told that you are able to obtaine electricity from the temperature difference between the human body and the surrounding air. So, today you are the only person who can implement my idea. Help!
Military doctor was keen and persistent man. Seeing skepticism Anatychuk to the problem, he spoke at length about some meridians in the human body, about the specific points on the body and their relationship with the cosmos. But he only strengthened the view Lukyan Ivanovich, that all this is another nonsense, for the people who know little about the basics of physics. He was about to lend a guest hand to say goodbye, but those suggested a few sessions of acupuncture. His motive was quite reasonable.
- In the evening you get tired, and I'll come to you before the end of the day, and my needle will return to you courage. You experienced firsthand that my proposal - not absurd! - the doctor intrigued.
The prospect of lengthening the working time was seducing, and Anatychuk agreed. That same evening, the doctor stuck under the fingernails of distrustful physics long thin needle. However, nothing but grief for lost time, he has not experienced. Then the doctor began to stick to the body tiny shiny buttons.
Two days later, when Lukyan Ivanovich was already tired from these procedures, he went to a military doctor with a question:
- Did you read the Ilf and Petrov?
- Of Course! Handbook ...
Yes, you probably remember how Bender requested an audience with Rabindranath Tagore ...
- And after an hour of a boring lecture, - continued laughing doctor - Ostap said to the interpreter: "No need to translate, I began to understand in Bengali" ...
- That's right - supported laughter of the doctor Lukyan Ivanovich - it seems that I, too, have begun to understand in Bengali. Maybe, in the East these tricks with needles are working, but I feel only slight irritation. So finish the experiment. It was interesting, but I can not afford a third night in a row to be engaged in what I do not believe ! ..
Military doctor pulled out his buttons and needles. Thrown out of equilibrium, with a broken mood he went, realizing that he had lost.
The day was heavy. Acupuncture session Lukyan Ivanovic, despite promises, not cheered, and he lay down on the couch. Suddenly, his cheeks became hot, and his head is slightly turned. "Apparently, the pressure" - thought Anatychuk.
He measured the pressure, it was really high. And health was deteriorating. He swallowed the pills. However, the pressure continues to grow. Had to call the "fast help". Medics arrived, gave him an injection. The pressure began to fall.
Around midnight Anatychuk could go home. He went to bed and then again felt - cheeks burning. And the pressure again beyond norms. The situation became critical. That evening, the house was empty. The wife went to Moscow.
"What should I do? Call again" fast "? Again introduce drugs that reduce the pressure. But they do not seem to help." Thoughts become confused. Scientist felt that he was about to lose consciousness. "We have to look for the cause, and not treat the results. I have never had such a high pressure. What happened?"
Lukyan Ivanovich went through last night in memory. The usual work, not more intense than usual. In the evening again needle. Stop! Today needles was more than usual, and most importantly - the buttons were in the ears. He felt his ears - it is! One button from the left ear inventor hurry forgot to pull out. Gently slipping a fingernail - the button moved, and almost immediately in the eyes brightened.
He began to measure the pressure - it plummeted, soon became normal, but did not stop. It is clear that the button has provoked high blood pressure, and when he took it off, tablets and injections continued to operate and reduce the pressure.
Soon pressure was dangerously low. He again felt that he was losing consciousness. Death from an overdose of drugs lowers blood pressure became more and more real. Anatychuk understand that you can not stand to help themselves - a cup of coffee or cause "fast" - blood could be removed from the head, and he'd finally will lose the consciousness.
In the frantic search for a way Anatychuk remembered that recently during a medical examination he "rode the bike", and the pressure was rapidly increased. Lying on his back, he raised his feet and began to move them, portraying pedaling. And again measured the pressure - it is no longer declining. "So, if you want to save, you have to force yourself to" turn the wheel ", while the effects of drugs will not weaken ..."
By morning, wet and incredibly tired, he finally saw that the pressure increases. It was salvation. He slept till noon. Once risen, he called the military doctor. Instead of answering the question about the state of health, said: "Starting to do the instrument.."
After that case Lukyan Ivanovich interest to the use of thermoelectricity in medicine extremely increased. Medical theme at the Institute gradually squeezed military. Scientist felt much more comfortable when he developed machines that improve human health. Today, he and his colleagues have made dozens of devices for medicine, including those that help extend the life of the patient for ten or fifteen years.