From: voiceofreason@sanity.net   
      
   The following came from vjp2.at@at.BioStrategist.dot.dot.com:   
      
   >    You  have to  recall  the Russian  electrosleep  therapy where  the   
   > depressed patient was  put to sleep for a few  weeks. It was mentioned   
   > in my Rypins two decades ago.   
   >   
      
   Hibernation isn't 'sleep'. It is more like a partial metabolic shutdown or   
   form of suspended animation.   
      
   Some creatures have adopted this mechanism for surviving extended periods   
   of cold weather when food is scarce, and they prepare carefully well in   
   advance by increasing their food intake during the abundant autumn months   
   in order to store body energy reserves.   
      
   In a hibernating animal the body temperature falls sharply (often to just   
   above freezing) and vital functions such as respiration and heartbeat slow   
   to a bare subsistence level. In sleep these functions slow down to some   
   degree but not appreciably. As well, a living thing is fairly easily roused   
   from sleep but a hibernating animal can endure quite vigorous stimulus   
   without being disturbed. A hibernating animal typically requires a fairly   
   extended period to revive from this state.   
      
   Some creatures (squirrels and raccoons come to mind) may sleep for extended   
   periods during cold weather but this isn't true hibernation as a mild spell   
   will see them up and around looking for food.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)