The studies are progressing well; it won't be all that long till they are
submitted for publication so WAIT!!!!!!!!  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!!!!!
Asking someone to NOT go through normal channels is the same as asking him
to put his reputation on the line to anyone who might accidentally mangle
it, and the best way for the info to be used is for a journal article (or
preprints/postprints should that journal have them) to be read, understood,
evaluated, and used by trained vets.  It's actually a very large imposition
to expect a professional to put himself on the line by giving out
incomplete information to non-professionals since the probability of
something being passed around which is incorrect due to misunderstandings
becomes very high.  Would you pass on your OWN most tender professional
information to someone who doesn't understand the critical aspects of the
work and then be willing to deal with the damage that
misuse/misunderstandings/rumors/phone-chain-reconfigurations could cause?
 
I have NEVER understood WHY people who would NEVER work for free, NEVER
share sensitive corporate information with the known world, NEVER expect
unknowns to call out of the blue at all hours many times a day to present
partial pictures and expect correct advice, NEVER not go from wholesale to
retail prices before selling an item, NEVER fail to understand that THEY
certainly have to earn a wage and pay taxes and buy equipment, etc. can
then go on to expect vets to live on air and beatifically bestow gems of
wisdom to any who ask, even those not seeking the first stages of
professional advice locally.  It makes no sense at all.  (That's a rank
which relates to several things received recently in private mail as well
as some things read here.)
 
Charlie has discussed some aspects with some vets who NEED to know what
he's looking at and that's a kindness many researchers would not extend.
Supposedly, the people who WANT his data ARE USEING VETS; if they have a
critical case then those vets can contact Charlie THEMSELVES.  Remember
that the studies are about ferrets which are NOT good surgical candidates
and the surgery is still THE treatment of choice!!!!
[Posted in FML issue 2612]