Aye, don't want em having a bad reaction and coming out in a rash or summink (nod)
I dunno, I was thinking they were awake, more so since Rowans posts above
I'm wazzed and in parts exotic, but if either of u've got the inclination, there's a French revolutionary philosopher who did some pretty extreme experiments in which he grabbed guillotine victims from the Tumbrel and then roared questions in their ear. There seems to be some kind of confirmation of continuing conscioussness. Which is nice. sorta.