In a message dated 99-03-29 04:30:09 EST, you write:

<< 1. Cologne would NOT want to anger her own villagers by experimenting on 
 them. Family ties create all sorts of paperwork and repercussions, you 
 know.
 2. This is an *experiment*. Now that she knows it works, she can push 
 the WHOLE VILLAGE up to that level.
 3. If Ranma had been killed, it would have been no great loss to her.
 
 How do you like THOSE reasons, hmmm? >>

Those are pretty darned good reasons.  
And you know what, I just may steal them.
However, since I will explain why (though i did hit upon it very, very briefly
in the chapter itself.  {Well, ok, it was just IMPLIED, but ...}) in the next
chapter.  I hope.  Let us just say that Ranma is one of those lucky few that
the LIGHTNING (that Lightning bolt gave Ranma his speed) is drawn to at
certain times, and Cologne knew it.  
Remember that the potion he drank (though it was only Cologne's word on it . .
.) was only to keep him sane enough to go through the Lightning.

-Murmur the Fallen
THANKS FOR READING, BY THE BY