RESUSCITATING THE DEAD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2284, 13 July 1880, Page 3

RESUSCITATING THE DEAD.

R. A. Proctor, in the “Australasian,” gives the following extraordinary account of the eifect of electricity in stimulating the nervous and muscular system ;—“ A scientific experiment, differing’ in some respects from tJJjpjap,

winch Gal vani tried on dead bodies, has been carried out on the bodies of two men who were hanged in Tennessee. The experiment was rather horrible, but as it seems to throw light on the probable value of certain restorative agents after unconcionsnoss has been produced by suffocation, it may be worth citing. In the present case, of course, the men were actually dead, but the muscles used in breathing, as well as those unconsciously acting muscles on which circulation depends, were excited to action, and this would be unquestionably an effective process in the resuscitation of partially suffocated or drowned persons. Two men, Smith and Hall, were hanged in the usual way, Hall appearing to die after two shrugs of Ids shoulders, but Smith struggling and writhing for several seconds. In about 17 minutes both were pronounced dead, cut down, placed in coffins, and hurried as speedily as possible to a house 300 yards distant, where Doctors Byrne and Mufree, of Mufreesboro, and Dr Sieger, of Nashville, Lad arranged instruments and appliances as if for purposes of resuscitation. In the presence of a large number of physicians, thirty minutes after the rope had been cut, the experiment was tried. The clothing of the dead murderers was quickly torn from their bodies, which were wrapped in hot blankets, the dislocation of their necks was reduced, and artificial respiration was kept up. Electricity was then applied to different portions of the brain and spinal cord, and stimulants used. Muscular movements soon seemed to be apparent, the pulse boat feebly, the temperature of the body rose to 103 deg., the eyes opened and appeared to be directed to different objects in the room. At this time the breathing seemed regular, and the pulse steady, though weak. There was a curious expression of the face and eyes, a sound with each each inspiration and expiration, and the bodies presented a life-life appearance. Dr Sieger then stated (bat the desired object had been attained, which was to show the action of electricity and other modes of stimulation upon the nervous and muscular systems. The stimulants were then removed and the bodies ceased to show any signs resembling those which accompany life. The bodies were then given to doctors (as the murderers-had requested)-for dissection.”