Miracle Mike

by Kurt

Posted: 11 years ago 21 replies

OFF TOPIC

Miracle Mike, AKA Mike the Headless Chicken was a chicken in Fruita Colorado that had his head cut off in 1945 and lived for 18 months after.

As unbelievable as it sounds, it's fairly well documented. Supposedly, food and water was "poured" into Mike's neck.

So the next time you hear the phrase "like a chicken with its head cut off", think of Mike.

mike the headless chicken - YouTube

(PS, I believe the Fruita High School should name their teams the Fruita Dalooms.)

WalkingCarpet

Banned 11 years ago

Someone i have a feeling you're gonna bring Joe into this.

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lanfear63

11 years ago

Originally Posted by WalkingCarpet

Someone i have a feeling you're gonna bring Joe into this.

Not unless they they bring out dounuts in liquid form.

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Claude Whitacre

11 years ago

The brain stem was intact. So all the automatic functions were still working, like swallowing, digesting, walking....

What a strange thing, to want to keep it alive. What a sad existence, a chicken without its pecker.

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lanfear63

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

No worse than a Claude without his Tip.

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Kurt

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

The brain stem was intact. So all the automatic functions were still working, like swallowing, digesting, walking....

What a strange thing, to want to keep it alive. What a sad existence, a chicken without its pecker.

It brings up an interesting subject, which again is, what is life and death? In the past you've been of the opinion is was brain activity. In this case, it would be just brain stem activity.

But the brain, which is responsible for things like memory and emotions, is non-existent in this example. So while the heart still beats and the body is "alive", there's no personality, etc. It's similar to someone being on life support, but with no brain activity.

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Jack Gordon 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Kurt

...while the heart still beats and the body is "alive", there's no personality, etc. It's similar to someone being on life support, but with no brain activity.

Not to derail the thread with actual IM talk but this sounds an awful lot like many businesses I have seen, particularly around here.

Technically alive, but no personality and little to no brain activity.

We could all learn a lot from that poor headless chicken.
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Claude Whitacre

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Kurt

It brings up an interesting subject, which again is, what is life and death? In the past you've been of the opinion is was brain activity. In this case, it would be just brain stem activity.

Brain death means everything that makes a living being aware....of anything...is gone.. But if this chicken was hooked up to the MRI machine, it wouldn't be brain dead. There is still brain activity. it's just in the brain stem. The brain stem is part of the brain. Some animals (amphibians, for example) literally have nothing but a brain stem. It's what some call "The reptilian brain", If the chicken's entire brain were missing, it would die.

Originally Posted by Kurt

But the brain, which is responsible for things like memory and emotions, is non-existent in this example. So while the heart still beats and the body is "alive", there's no personality, etc. It's similar to someone being on life support, but with no brain activity.

The part of the brain that is responsible for memory and emotions is missing. (in this chicken example) But not the entire brain. Some of the brain is still intact.

If there is no brain activity at all (meaning the person has to be on life support for every bodily function), that "person" is gone. The body can keep going, as long as nutrients and oxygen nourish the cells....but everything that make that person, a person, is gone. And that's why organs can be harvested. The person is gone, but the organs haven't ceased functioning.

If you cut off an arm, but keep it's cells alive....is it alive? Technically. But there isn't any consciousness, no person.

In fact, my Mother died from quick onset alzheimer's disease.

But, when did she die? When her heart stopped? When her cells stopped processing oxygen? When the brain stopped registering input? pain? Dying (except from trauma) is a slow process. Like a fan you turn off...it slows, the motor cools down...the fan blade eventually stops. When is the moment of death? I don't know. I don't even have an opinion.

But biology isn't politics, religion, or opinion..... And, there has never been a case of brain death, when seen on an MRI, where the person was revived. If, or when someone is revived from real brain death...then our definition of death may change...or get blurred.

I really hope this doesn't start a "debate". This is all pretty basic biology.

added a little later; To me, the chicken isn't really alive. It's organs are alive. But...there are simpler animals that live their entire lives with less that the chicken's brain stem. What does a bee's brain look like? It's a muddy area, at least to me.

Kurt; Most of this wasn't directed at you. I just wanted to be thorough.

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Kurt

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

I admit I'm not an expert in chicken biology, but I'm not sure this is correct. The trachea and esophagus were exposed, which is how food, water and air got into the system.

Is there part of the "brain" that is below where the esophagus and trachea start? Are you positive it was brain stem activity and that it wasn't another part of the nervous system?

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Claude Whitacre

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Kurt

I admit I'm not an expert in chicken biology, but I'm not sure this is correct. The trachea and esophagus were exposed, which is how food, water and air got into the system.

Is there part of the "brain" that is below where esophagus and trachea start? Are you positive it was brain stem activity and that it wasn't another part of the nervous system?

Yes, positive. I read about this example a few months ago. If the brain is severed at the top of the spinal chord, there is convulsing and lots of wings flapping...and the chicken eventually stills. I have a good friend that owns a farm. I helped kill a few chickens one day. Not a pleasant activity.

For the bird to swallow, walk, breath...for the heart to keep beating for days....it needs a brain stem. I don't know precisely what a chicken's brain looks like, or where the trachea is...relative to the brain. But I know what the brain stem does, and this is what it does. And I don't know if a chicken's heart will still beat for a few minutes after the head is cut off. But it sure seemed like forever before those stupid chickens settled down. Blood was everywhere.
And now, I'm going home for dinner. I hope it isn't chicken.

Later, I'll try to find a definitive article about this chicken, and post it.

Here you are;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_the_Headless_Chicken

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Kurt

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

Yes, positive. I read about this example a few months ago. If the brain is severed at the top of the spinal chord, there is convulsing and lots of wings flapping...and the chicken eventually stills. I have a good friend that owns a farm. I helped kill a few chickens one day. Not a pleasant activity.

For the bird to swallow, walk, breath...for the heart to keep beating for days....it needs a brain stem. I don't know precisely what a chicken's brain looks like, or where the trachea is...relative to the brain. But I know what the brain stem does, and this is what it does. And I don't know if a chicken's heart will still beat for a few minutes after the head is cut off. But it sure seemed like forever before those stupid chickens settled down. Blood was everywhere.
And now, I'm going home for dinner. I hope it isn't chicken.

Later, I'll try to find a definitive article about this chicken, and post it.

Here you are;
Mike the Headless Chicken - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm familiar with the articles. The reasoning is that since Mike's organs kept functioning that part of his brain stem must still be intact.

However, if you look at pictures of Mike without his head, then look at the anatomy of a chicken, it seems that his head was severed below where his brain stem would be.

Refer to the video I posted to see where his neck was severed and compare to the image below. It's possible to sever the neck and keep the brain stem and open the esophagus and trachea, but it would be tough. And the pictures of Mike in the video seem to show that his neck was cut below this line:

You are probably correct that at least part of the brain stem is still there, but I'm not 100% certain. Either way, it's amazing that other things didn't happen, like an infection, bleeding to death and that the brain stem could be kept "alive" under these circumstances.

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Claude Whitacre

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Kurt

No idea how the chicken stayed alive for so long. But the main artery wasn't severed, so maybe that's the reason.

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Kurt

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

No idea how the chicken stayed alive for so long. But the main artery wasn't severed, so maybe that's the reason.

Is there any truth to the rumor that after the sideshow tour Mike began a second career as a feather duster?

And I'm hurt no one appreciated my suggestion that the Fruita high school teams should be called the Fruita Dalooms. (sounds like Fruit of the Looms, get it?)

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Claude Whitacre

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Kurt

And I'm hurt no one appreciated my suggestion that the Fruita high school teams should be called the Fruita Dalooms. (sounds like Fruit of the Looms, get it?)

Was that a joke? Could you explain the joke, and then explain what made it funny?

You think Fruit of the Loom, a respected brand of boys underwear, is funny? What kind of sick mind do you have?

And Fruita Dalooms was the name of a 1950's Kabuki dancer, who died from brain cancer. You think that's funny?

Man, I think you should apologise to everyone here, especially me...because Fruita Dalooms was my mother!

I can't stop crying. Feel better?

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Dan Riffle 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

I can't stop crying. Feel better?

I do after reading that.
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- Claude Whitacre 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Dan Riffle
  
  I do after reading that.
  
  I can't figure this out. Either you and I share some of the same comic sensibilities, or you have somehow figured out what strikes me as hilarious...
  
  But that was hilarious.
  
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lanfear63

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

It's a well known fact that Fruit of The Loom underwear Contains banana's, plums and Vaggitables.

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Claude Whitacre 11 years ago

Originally Posted by lanfear63

It's a well known fact that Fruit of The Loom underwear Contains banana's, plums and Vaggitables.

Sometimes, when my son calls, I say, "Hello, Fruit of my loom".

It's funny to me, at least.

Vaggitables......clever.
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- lanfear63 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre
  
  Sometimes, when my son calls, I say, "Hello, Fruit of my loom".
  
  It's funny to me, at least.
  
  Vaggitables......clever.
  
  Never buy Russian Underwear. Chernobyl Fallout.
  
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bizgrower

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Kurt

I thought 'daloom' was what they call live, headless chickens.

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Kurt 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

What a sad existence, a chicken without its pecker.

A cock without a head...
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yukon Banned 11 years ago

Mike the chicken is also where the phrase Be Like Mike originated.

[j/k]
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Miracle Mike

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