Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-08-15
GALVANIsM.

corpse Of a negro man, who was executed in Win
chester in June last, by Doct ]. R. w. DUS-
EAR.
Negro Ben, the subject of these ex-
periments, aged 26, was a stout, well
built subject, the muscular tissue Of the
body remarkably well developed, in
dicating great power. He was sus-
pended from the gallows about thirty
five minutes, and in ten minutes after
being cut down was delivered TO a pro-
fessional friend by the sheriff for me,
and brought to a room (where every
thing was arranged forthe experiments)
which had been literally granted by
the mayor, adjoining the town-halI.-
The body was Immediately placed on
the operating table. The acid mixture
dilute muriatic acid) was thrown on
the plates as soon as the conveyance
Irlnging the body appeared in sight.
1t was discovered from the unusual
freedom Of motion in the neck, that it
was dlslocated-or, as it is called in
common language, the neck was bro
ken; and upon cutting down in a sub
sequent stage Of the experiments, it was
satisfactorily ascertained that the first
and second vertebr@ (atlas and denta-
tag where separated q space sufficient
to admit the end of the little finger
The appearance of the face was quite
natural, and seemed as if the unhappy
subject of the justly offended law had
passed from life with none of those
struggles and dreadful agonies which
attend the throes Of dissolution, and
particularly in this most horrible mode
of causing death.
The experiments were now com.
menced by gentleman to whom was
assigned the anatomical part, exposing,
by very handsome dissection, an i'm
portant nerve in the neck, which sup
plies the nervous power to the lungs
and stomach (par vagum, or pneumo-
gastrlc). A long silver needle, similar
to those used in accupunctuation, was
now introduced, through the space be-
tween the ribs, deep into the substance
OF the heart. The object of introduc-
ing a needle into the heart was to en-
deaVor to ascertain whether any irri-
liability remained, and to attempt to
throw some light on a disputed ques-
ton, whether the heart was susceptible
of excitation by the Galvanic fluid.
The positive pole ofthe battery was
now applied to the nerve (par vagum)
and the negative pole to the silver nee
die IN the heart. There was no per-
ceptlble action Of the heart, as it would
IN all probability have been evidenced
by the quiyering motion of the needle
IT 1t had taken place; and in no way,
that we could discover, was its irrita.
blllty evidenced, either by the simple
introduction ofthe silver probe, or the
action Of the Galvanic fluid. But the
effect on the other parts was very evi.
dent. The muscles Of the neck and
chest were affected by strong conyul-
slve twltchings, most strikingly dis
played IN those muscles called by ana
tomlsts platysma myoideus, sterno-thy-
roldeus, and mastoideus, pectoral and
lntercostal muscles. There was also
q cOnvulsive motion of the muscles in
the region of the stomach, and con-
traction of the muscles of the throat,
as in the act Of swallowing.
a needle was now inserted into the
tendinous head of the diaphragm, the
positive wire of the battery applied to
the par yagum nerve, and the negative
to the needle. The result was a Slight
convulslve motion extending over the
chest and abdomen. The contraction
and relaxation of the diaphragm was
very evident from the protruding and
relaxation Of the abdominal muscles;
the effect seemed to increase rs the a.
cid had time to act on the battery
Tho positive wire was now applied to
needle inserted into the seat of the
phrenlc nerve Ga nerve distributed to
the diaphragm, and has an important
influence in the function of breathing);
an nclsion was made down to the ten.
dnous head Of the diaphragm, and the
other wire (negative) applied to the in
clsIon' The result was very similar to
the preceding experiment, with the adj
dltlon of an agitation ofthe chest, com.
pared by an intelligent gentleman pre-.
sent, and a close observer, to that of a
person affected by hiccough.
l think it proper to notice, at this
stage, peculiar action of the Galya-
mic fluid on the nerve and muscular f.
bre, observed by myself, and confirm
ed by one Of the gentlemen assisting
me. The positive pole, whenever it
touched the nerve or muscle, produced
an action or whitening very similar
to that which is produced by lunar
eoustic when applied to an exposed