Star Trek and History by Nancy Reagin Page A

control over their bodily functions that they can shut down their own motor systems to heal themselves after being injured. There have been several occasions in which a Vulcan was thought to be dead while in this self-induced trance. Vulcans can literally stop themselves from thinking or feeling anything. Because they have so much conscious control of their bodies, and because of cultural practices like intense meditation, they are able to achieve telekinesis, mind melds, and the transference of the katra.
    Vulcans’ physical and psychological strength may play a role in their longevity. Spock’s father, Sarek, lived to be 202 years old, and in one of several parallel realities, Spock lives to be at least 197 years old. With all this talk about how physically and mentally strong the Vulcans are, and considering their long life span, it is hard to imagine that Vulcans could be susceptible to any disease, but in fact there are several ailments that can severely impair and even kill a Vulcan.
    Many Vulcan diseases directly affect the brain. Tuvan syndrome, Pa’nar syndrome, and, worst of all, the dreadful Bendii syndrome are deadly to Vulcans. Bendii syndrome is a degenerative neurological disease that is often seen in elderly Vulcans. Its symptoms include lethargy, fever, and the loss of emotional control. Sarek had suffered with this illness for many years before succumbing to it in 2368 ( TNG , “Sarek,” “Unification 1”).
“Vulcans. Deep Down, You’re All Just a Bunch of Hypochondriacs”: The Dreaded Vulcan Sex Drive
    Adult Vulcan males experience a mating drive, called pon farr, every seven years. They experience what is called plak tow or blood fever, an unrelenting urge for sex or violence. It is one of the few times in a Vulcan’s life when he does not have any control over his emotions. It is considered a taboo among Vulcans and is kept as a closely guarded secret, leading the Doctor to comment, “For such an intellectually enlightened race, Vulcans have a remarkably Victorian attitude about sex!” ( VOY , “Blood Fever”)
    There are three known ways for a Vulcan to quell these urges: return to Vulcan for the koon-ut-kal-if-fee to take a mate, or take a suitable mate nearby; meditate, which seldom remedies the urge; or participate in the kal-if-fee, a ritual where two males fight to the death over a female. Once the fight is over, the effects of pon farr will dissipate in the surviving combatant. During Spock’s pon farr, the woman to whom he was betrothed in childhood, T’Pring, opted for this challenge in order to avoid marrying Spock. To protect the man she preferred to marry, Stonn, from harm, T’Pring cleverly chooses Captain Kirk as Spock’s opponent, since Kirk would not be able to remain on Vulcan with her. Spock overpowers Kirk and is led to believe that he was killed, and he almost immediately returns to his senses ( TOS , “Amok Time”; VOY , “Blood Fever”).
    At the young age of seven, Vulcan children are paired with their future mates and must undergo a special ceremony that telepathically links them until they come of age. Although it has never been openly stated, the logical reason for arranged marriages is to lessen the possible side effects of pon farr on male Vulcans. If Spock had gotten married when he first felt mating urges, he might not have had to experience irrational anger or lust. It is only because Spock’s arranged marriage goes wrong that the audience has a chance to see the reason for the typically early Vulcan betrothal.
“My Mind to Your Mind . . . My Thoughts to Your Thoughts . . .”
    A special feature of Vulcan physiology is the mind meld, a telepathic link that enables the sharing of thoughts. Vulcans initiate mind melds usually through physical contact, by touching nerves and blood vessels on the head (although there have been several instances where mind melds can be accomplished